Abortion and teenage birth rise

The number of abortions has risen again. From 2003 it had dropped but the total for 2006 - 17,934 - represents a 2.2% increase on 2005.

The number of births which are ex-nuptial continues to rise. In 2006 it was 47% - up from 45 percent the year before, 42 percent in 1996 and 27 percent in 1986.

Births to teenage mothers numbered 4,373 - up from 4,136 in 2005 - a 6 percent rise. 56 percent were European, 53 percent were Maori, 14 percent Pacific, and 0.2 percent Asian. As a percentage of all births, teenage birth rose slightly from 7.2 to 7.4 percent.

There were 35 births to 13-14 year-olds - two thirds were to Maori.

5 babies were born to women aged 49+