Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Various Aspects of the Problem of Abortion in New Zealand

In 1937 a New Zealand parliamentary committee gathered a mosaic of voices—doctors, clergy, women's organisations, police and statisticians—to map the stark reality of septic abortion across the nation. The report opens with a clear mandate: to measure how often abortions occurred among married and single women, track recent trends, and compare New Zealand’s experience with other countries. It also sets out to uncover the medical, economic and social forces that drive these unsafe procedures.

The proceedings, recorded over sixteen meetings in Wellington, Dunedin, Auckland and Christchurch, reveal a nation wrestling with a pressing public‑health crisis. Witnesses describe the grim toll of infections, the desperation of women in rural and urban settings, and the growing concern among health professionals and community groups. As the committee expands its focus, it offers early recommendations for preventative measures, giving modern listeners a vivid glimpse into the complex interplay of policy, medicine and society in pre‑war New Zealand.