item details
NameFor a liberal Parliament on abortion poster artwork
ProductionWomen's National Abortion Action Campaign; creating agency; 1978; New Zealand
Classificationposters, layouts
Materialspaper, ink
DimensionsOverall: 455mm (width), 510mm (height)
Registration NumberGH026826
Credit lineGift of Dame Margaret Sparrow, 2025
Overview
This poster artwork was created by the Women's National Abortion Action Campaign during the 1978 general election campaign period. WONAAC (formed in 1973) was a women-only group which argued that abortion was a woman's right and her decision alone.
The 1978 New Zealand election was a tough battle for pro-choice activists as the dominant parties (Labour and National) were not supportive. Of the pro-choice names in this poster, only Margaret Shields was successful, becoming a Labour Minister of Parliament in 1978.
The raised clenched fist inside the symbol of Venus is the international symbol of women's liberation and radical feminism.