The Prime Minister wants abortion law reform to be a bi-partisan issue.

There have been calls for New Zealand to follow Ireland's lead - after its overwhelming vote to overturn legislation making abortion illegal.

Jacinda Ardern told Mike Hosking she believes there's enough support to treat abortion as a health issue, and remove it from the Crimes Act.

"One of the reasons we're putting it through the Law Commission is we want to make sure that people have a say before it's drafted, and that we do it in a way that takes the politics out of it."

Earlier, she told ZB that in her personal view "in 2018 it should no longer be part of our Crimes Act, regardless of whether people can access it."

She may not find support for the change across the House.

National leader Simon Bridges said yesterday there was no need to change the laws.

"I have not seen a case for change in this area, overall I think the regime we have for abortions is working well," he told RNZ this morning.

"What we want to see is abortions being rare, safe and legal. I think we do see that in New Zealand."

"It would be a conscience vote in Parliament, people can make the case. Ultimately, this is at the Law Commission, let's see what they say and see the case that they make."

LISTEN TO JACINDA ARDERN TALK WITH MIKE HOSKING ABOVE