This page outlines what information the Ministry of Health – Manatū Hauora collects, what health practitioners need to report and the reporting process.
Manatū Hauora (the Ministry) is required to collect and report on abortion provision in New Zealand under the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (CSA) Act 1977. The Director-General of Health has an obligation to review and report on the cost of accessing these services, and whether there is timely and equitable access.
The Abortion Reporting – Contraception Sterilisation, and Abortion (Information Collection) Regulations 2021 (the Regulations) are part of the CSA Act. They set out the new abortion notification and annual reporting requirements for abortion providers, to better monitor timely and equitable access to services.
Abortion notification reporting
Abortion service providers are required to submit an electronic notification report, via an online form, for every abortion performed. It is a legislative requirement that reports are submitted within one month of the abortion.
The online abortion notification reporting form has some updated wording, plus additional information collection fields. The new information collected includes costs to patient, patient access requirements and patient consent.
The Ministry only accepts electronic abortion notification reporting. If a PDF version of the form is needed for internal service processes, please request one by emailing [email protected].
Annual abortion reporting
There is a new requirement for abortion service providers to submit an annual abortion report on service provision, the workforce and abortion counselling workforce (where the service provides abortion counselling), service access, costs, sex selection abortion enquiries and service refusal information.
Providers must submit this report to the Ministry by 31 March each year.
Further help with abortion reporting
Guidance has been developed to help abortion service providers understand the new data and reporting requirements, including a walk-through of the annual report template and the updated abortion notification form. You can find this information on Learn Online.
If you require access to the annual abortion report template or online notification form, or if you have questions about the reporting requirements, please get in touch at [email protected].
Additionally, if as a provider you have key staff changes, please communicate this to Manatū Hauora via [email protected].
Sterilisation reporting
The Ministry is also required to collect and report on sterilisation provision under the Contraception, Sterilisation, and Abortion (CSA) Act 1977.
More information is on the Sterilisation legislation page