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History of FPA

The Family Planning Association (FPA) was started by a small group of women during the Depression years because they were concerned that so few women had access to information about birth control.  Its first name was The Sex Hygiene and Birth Regulation Society, but this name was changed in 1939.

During this era of unemployment, crowded housing, and malnutrition, another pregnancy could prove a disaster for a family.  Many women were resorting to illegal abortions because they feared they could not cope with another child, and the death rate from "septic abortion" was high.

"I have five children and am expecting another next month...the eldest is eight and the baby seventeen months old ... they are all very close and I feel as though I can't go on if I am to have child after child every year..." and "...as I have had four children in four and a half years I would very much appreciate the knowledge of being able to plan the rest of my family  ... hoping this is not too much to ask of you."

Although birth control was an unpopular cause, FPA pioneers ran a postal service supplying information and contraceptives and referring women to sympathetic doctors in response to their letters.  Today it may seem simple, but these women risked prosecution for distributing "obscene" material.

The 1950s saw the opening of the first family planning clinics and the passing of the 1954 Police Offences Amendment Bill, making it an offence to provide children under 16 with contraceptives or information about contraception.

By the 1970s there was widespread opposition to this law.  In 1977 doctors gained the power to prescribe contraception to under 16s. Another 12 years were to pass before the law preventing people from providing under 16s with information about contraception was repealed in 1990.  Information unavailable to young New Zealanders for 36 years was finally able to be provided honestly, openly and appropriately.

Towards the end of the eighties FPA began to address the issue of the Treaty of Waitangi and the limited access for Māori to sexual and reproductive health services.  During 1990, Irihapeti Ramsden was invited by FPA to convene a group to examine the options for improving this situation. As a result Te Puāwai Tapu (the sacred blossoming) was formed. (See section 5 for further information)

FPA is committed to honouring its obligations under the Treaty of Waitangi and pro-actively working to improve Mäori sexual and reproductive health, and continues to have a close operational relationship with Te Puäwai Tapu recognising ten years of important history between the organisations.

FPA survived through its own funding efforts until 1972.  It subsequently received some government support and was able to gradually open more clinics throughout New Zealand. Today FPA operates 12 education centres and has 30 outreach/school clinics and 30 clinical centres providing non-judgemental, specialised professional services to New Zealanders.

FPA is also known for its research, training of health professionals and development of award wining resources.  The Association provides policy advice to government and advocates for comprehensive, age appropriate sexuality education in schools and easier access to contraception for all New Zealanders

[Information from various sources including articles by Mary Dobbie and Dr Margaret Sparrow]

Tiakina tou Whakapapa
taking care of our present and future generations