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Story: Abortion

Arson attack

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Arson attack

At its most extreme, anti-abortion activism included arson. These firemen are shown in the Auckland Medical Aid Centre, an abortion clinic, after an arson attack in 1976 which caused $100,000 ($830,000 in 2019 terms) worth of damage. The Auckland office of the Sisters Overseas Service, which helped women travel to Australia for abortions, was also set alight.

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How to cite this page

Megan Cook, Abortion – Controversy: 1974 to 1980s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/29025/arson-attack (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Megan Cook, published 21 April 2011.