Taranaki mum fights to to ban schoolgirls getting abortions without their parent's knowledge

Hillary Kieft launched the petition after her teenage daughter was secretly taken to another town for an abortion. Photo / TVNZ

A petition to ban schoolgirls getting abortions without their parent's knowledge has been launched.

Taranaki mother Hillary Kieft said she launched the petition after her teenage daughter was secretly taken to another town for an abortion.

Ms Kieft said the petition was based on something "no other parent" should have to experience.

"One day in September 2009, our 15 year-old daughter did not come home from school on the bus. The health nurse had taken her to another town for an abortion," she wrote.

"Our daughter changed after that event and our life as a family was turned upside down."

"Society, the law and government agencies expect parents to take responsibilities for the behaviours of their children. We do this across government agencies such as health, education, welfare, and justice, yet when it comes to abortion, parents can be locked out of the process and still be left to clean up the mess left behind."

The petition at hillaryslaw.org.nz urged Parliament to pass legislation ensuring parents of girls under 16 were told of any pregnancy before their daughters were referred for abortions.

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It also said any consent sought for the medical procedure should be accompanied by information about the "procedure, possible repercussions and after-effects" of abortion.