Life Issues

RIGHT TO LIFE NEW ZEALAND

District Health Board – Elections, 2007 Candidate Responses to Questionnaire

Statistics New Zealand announced on 14 June that there were 17930 abortions reported in New Zealand in 2006. The great majority of these abortions were performed in Hospitals under the control of five District Health Boards, Auckland, Waikato, Capital Coast, Canterbury and Otago. A total of 121 candidates sought election to these DHB's. A two page letter was sent to each of the candidates explaining fully the plight of unborn children in New Zealand, the violation of their human rights and an explanation of the law that was passed with the intention of protecting them. A questionnaire was also included. Following is a summary of the responses that were received from candidates. It was disappointing that many candidates declined to respond to the questionnaire. We would encourage readers to approach those candidates for their local DHB and seek a response to the questions.

Right to Life believes that we all have a duty to promote a culture of life and oppose a culture of death. We therefore have a serious moral duty to vote only for candidates who support a culture of life and are opposed to the DHB holding a license to kill innocent and defenceless unborn children.

Candidates who have responded as at 29th September 2007 are as follows:

Canterbury District Health Board

Richard Beddie	Responded yes to all questions
Alister James	Responded yes to all questions, except that he believed that the Board did not have the authority to oversee the clinical decision of clinicians.
Peter Stocks	Declined to complete the questionnaire in full. Responded yes to Q 1 and Q 2 and stated that all abortions should be lawful and that operating surgeons should be accountable to the Board
Peter Wakeman	Refused to complete the questionnaire. Stated that the questions require more than a yes or no response
Rod Cameron	Responded yes to all questions
Michael Hansen	Responded no to all questions
David Morrell	Declined to complete questionnaire. Believes that Board has no choice.
Alison Wilkie	Declined to complete questionnaire, believes that Board has a duty to fulfil intentions of government
Steve Wright	Declined to complete questionnaire, not yet aware of Boards legal and ethical position

Capital Coast District Health Board

Donald Urqhart-Hay	Responded yes to questions 1 and 3 and no to 2 and 4
Trisha Larkin	Declined to complete questionnaire and stated that it required education
Ruth Gotlieb	Declined to answer questions
Petra van den Munckhof	Declined to answer questionnaire, supports Board holding a licence

Auckland District Health Board

Susan Buckland	Declined to answer questionnaire. Wishes to listen and learn from other Board members.
Brian Fergus	Responded yes to questions 1,2,and 3. Does not understand the implications of question 4
Kevin Hicks	Declined to complete questionnaire. Believes that the issue of abortion needs to be dealt with by government.
Julian Fairlie	Responded yes to all questions
Peter Larkin	Declined to complete the questionnaire. Stated that he was standing on the issue of patient safety. If he was elected he would raise some of our concerns with the Board
Steven Martin	Responded yes to Q 1, 3 and 4. Does not support increased legal protection for unborn children
Meg Morgan	Responded yes to all questions
Ian Scott	Responded no to all questions. Stated that "I have always supported a woman's right to choose".

Waikato District Health Board

Ted Armstrong	Responded yes to Q 1. Responded no to the other questions. Stated accepts current situation.
Jackie Gielen	Responded yes to all questions
Julie Griffin	Responded yes to all questions
Wayne Morine	Declined to complete the questionnaire. Stated "As a caring Christian I have long believed that children are our most precious resource. I elected I would work to reduce child abuse."
Martin Dickson	Responded no to Q1 and yes to Q 2,3,and 4
Suresh Vatsyayann	Responded yes to all questions

Otago District Health Board

Malcom McPherson

Responded yes to questions 1 and 2 and no to 3 and 4

The Questionnaire

Questions

1 Would you, if elected to the DHB, uphold the Judao/Christian Sanctity of life ethic which recognises the inalienable right to life of every human being from conception to natural death?

Yes /No Delete as applicable

2. Do you support increased legal protection for the unborn child?

Yes/No

3. To promote protection for unborn children and their mothers, would you support operating surgeons employed by the Board being made accountable to the Board for the pattern of their authorisations for abortions to ensure:

· that a regime of unlawful abortions with abortion on demand does not operate in the Board’s facilities.

· that all abortions are authorised in accordance with the Crimes Act, section 187A and that certifying consultants authorising abortions have “honest belief” in the grounds used?

· That abortions comply with the Declaration of Oslo as stated in the ethics of the New Zealand Medical Association?

Yes/No

4. Would you support a decision of whether or not to apply to the Abortion Supervisory Committee for the renewal of the annual license to perform abortions should be resolved by resolution at a Board meeting?

Yes/No

Candidates are invited to make further explanatory comments.

I agree to my response being published.

Signature

Date.

Please return the completed questionnaire in the envelope provided by the 20 September 2007.

Right to Life New Zealand encourages all New Zealanders to Vote to protect unborn children and their mothers