Wellingotn, New Zealand (LifeNews.com) -- A new report from the Abortion Supervisory Committee in New Zealand finds that the number of abortions in the island nation has increased. The report also shows the government spending more than $5 million in taxpayer funds on abortions and consultations from abortion practitioners.

The government agency's report indicates there were 18,382 abortions in 2007, which is an increase of 448 from the 2006 figures.

The report showed the country having 19.6 abortions a year per 1000 women aged 15-44.

Because New Zealand law requires two physicians to sign off on any abortion and allows for taxpayer funding of the abortion and the practitioners, the committee found the government paid 196 abortion practitioners and consultants a total of $5,048,096.

Because of the increase in the number of abortions and physician fees, that is a an increase of $1.5 million or more than 30 percent higher than the figure from four years ago.

More than 98 percent of abortions were approved on mental health grounds even though worldwide research -- and studies in New Zealand -- show abortions themselves cause women a plethora of mental health problems.

The Zealand Right to Life group has complained about the high rate of approved abortions for mental health reasons and a High Court judicial review found reason to doubt the lawfulness of the abortions.

The Abortion Supervisory Committee appealed the decision and Right to Life appealed a second ruling. The case will likely be up for another hearing next year.

Related web sites:
Right to Life of New Zealand - http://www.right-to-life.org

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