After more than a decade, Gisborne women will be able to get an abortion without travelling out of the district from next year.
Following an in-committee discussion, Tairawhiti District Health Board has decided to re-introduce a termination of pregnancy service at Gisborne Hospital.
The decision, which came after the Ministry of Health recommended there was national coverage for such services, is expected to be controversial.
TDH is one of only two health boards nationwide that do not provide a local pregnancy termination service.
At the moment Gisborne and East Coast women requiring abortions travel out of the district to Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa or Auckland.
In 2007, 171 women travelled out of the district for a termination.
Chief executive Jim Green said TDH had recently received a letter from the Abortion Supervisory Committee wanting to know why a local service was not provided.
An investigation into the possibility of reintroducing the service was undertaken and a proposal that it go ahead was put forward and accepted by the board on Tuesday.
A local service would not mean an increase in the number of terminations, said Mr Green.
The service would be carried out by a visiting obstetrician and gynaecologist, not those employed by TDH.
"In essence, TDH will only be providing a local venue for a service already being funded for Tairawhiti women out of the district," he said.
Travelling out of town added greater stress to women during an already stressful situation.
Women would continue to be given the opportunity to have terminations outside the district.
Mr Green said terminations were only provided after extensive counselling and women must fit within the requirements of the Contraception, Sterilisation and Abortion Act criteria before a termination can be approved.
The Abortion Supervisory Committee monitors the application of the act.
The service will be provided up to twice a month and is likely to start in the new year, he said.
