Public opinion and legal abortion in New Zealand

In 1972 and 1974 opinions on legal abortion were surveyed over national random probability samples each of 2400 respondents aged 15 years and above. Both surveys found majorities favouring certain specific grounds for legal abortion. Some of these reasons approved by the majority are not legal under present law. There is a general consensus in the rank ordering of acceptability of grounds for legal abortion. Polarised minorities of respondents favour absolute legality or illegality of abortion. There has been a swing away from extreme pro- or anti-abortion sentiment to selective support for legal abortion on specific grounds.