Members of Parliament tonight voted overwhelmingly in favour of the Abortion Legislation Bill, with MPs from both sides of the political aisle making emotional speeches.
The bill passed its first reading with 94 MPs in favour and 23 against.
As the bill is a conscience issue, MPs were not required to vote along party lines.
There are 120 MPs in Parliament and all but three voted this evening – including National MP Alfred Ngaro, who had strongly opposed abortion reforms.
He was overseas and said he had sent his proxy vote in to be cast, but that did not appear to have happened.