A National MP has taken a petition to parliament in an effort to change a law which allows teenagers to get abortions without their parents' permission.

Whanganui MP Chester Burrows says studies show teenagers under the age of 16 aren't emotionally mature enough to make that decision without some assistance.

He says parents have the right to know.

"If a school wants to give your kids Nurofen for a headache, they have to get your permission.

"But a school can take a child off for an abortion and not tell the parents."

Taranaki mother Hillary Kieft said her daughter had an abortion when she was 15, and she only found out a year later after her daughter tried to take her own life.

On the day of the procedure, her daughter had arrived home from school late with a nurse.

When she inquired as to where they had been, the nurse told her she had taken her daughter to New Plymouth for a counselling appointment.

“It was an absolute lie, because we found out a year later that it wasn’t a counselling appointment, it was an abortion."

Mrs Kieft understands why her daughter kept the secret from her.

“She was 15, she was scared, she was embarrassed, she felt shameful, just all the normal emotions of a teenager when you find out, and you think it’s pretty much the end of the world.

Mrs Kieft's view is that a change is needed.

“As hard as it is, and as raw as it is, it has to be exposed and people need to start looking at this issue.”

Taranaki MP Chester Burrows has taken the petition to Parliament today, and said he will push it as hard as he can to get it through parliament, because it’s a parents right to know.

However, Family Planning Chief Executive Jackie Edmond said they will fight any change to the law claiming it would be a step backwards for New Zealand, which has already got a very restrictive abortion law that’s outdated.  

“Young people have been thrown out of their homes, because they’re pregnant and their parents won’t support them. There are other sides to these stories.”

Papakura MP Judith Collins tried to change the same law in 2004, when Helen Clark’s government was in power, but it failed to get through Parliament.

Mrs Kieft has taken the petition to Whanganui MP, National’s Chester Burrows, hoping it will go before parliament, but this time be successful.

“Hopefully with the new government and the support of Chester, I hope that it goes through, and this law is changed.0”