New Zealand First has no plans to call for a referendum on abortion and its MPs have been keeping quiet on which way they will vote on the reforms.
The party has a history of calling for the public to decide on conscience matters but senior MP Tracey Martin says nobody in the caucus has asked for a referendum and there are no plans to table any amendments to Justice Minister Andrew Little's bill.
The legislation, which would remove abortion from the Crimes Act and instead treat it as a health issue, will have its first reading on Thursday and even Mr Little says he has no idea whether it has the numbers to pass.
RNZ political reporter Jo Moir has this story.
