New ‘Safe Area’ Announced For Nelson Hospital
A new abortion services ‘Safe Area’ will be in place around Nelson Hospital from 24 September 2025, to protect the safety, wellbeing, privacy and dignity of people who are accessing or providing abortion services.
Safe Areas cover up to 150 metres around a premises where abortion services are provided. They prohibit certain behaviours that could be considered distressing to a person accessing or providing abortion services.
Nelson Hospital’s Safe Area has been approved by the Government and published in the New Zealand Gazette. It is in addition to 14 others around New Zealand, which came into force in 2023 and 2024.
The law allowing for the creation of Safe Areas, the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion (Safe Areas) Amendment Act (2022), was passed in March 2022.
Safe Areas are determined on a case-by-case basis and abortion services providers have to apply to have one created at their premises. Safe Area regulations can only be created by the Governor-General, by Order in Council, on the recommendation of the Minister of Health, in consultation with the Minister of Justice.
The Code of Health and Disability Consumers’ Rights outline the rights all people have when accessing a health service. This includes the rights to be treated with respect, freedom from discrimination, coercion, harassment, and exploitation.
The behaviours prohibited in a Safe Area are outlined in section 13A(1) of the Act. Examples of prohibited behaviour include:
New Zealand Police are primarily responsible for the enforcement of Safe Areas. A person convicted of engaging in prohibited behaviour within a Safe Area may be liable for a fine of up to $1,000.
Maps showing each Safe Area are can be viewed at Safe Area locations.
https://www.health.govt.nz/news/new-safe-area-announced-for-nelson-hospital