Abortion law reform has sailed through its first reading in Parliament with MPs overwhelmingly voting in favour of change.
For more than 2.5 hours on Thursday night MPs from all corners spoke respectfully, albeit passionately and at times emotionally, both for and against abortion reform.
It's common for conscience votes to pass with a higher than expected majority in the first stages and then narrow closer to the third reading, and for that reason the Justice Minister Andrew Little isn't counting his chickens just yet.
RNZ political reporter Jo Moir watched the debate unfold.
