Marriage Bill fires gay pride

University of Otago students (from left) Marika Tait (25), Matthew Ashley (21), Neill Ballantyne ...
University of Otago students (from left) Marika Tait (25), Matthew Ashley (21), Neill Ballantyne (23) and Andy Loosli (27) celebrate during a live screening of Parliament's third reading of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill which was passed last night. Photo by Linda Robertson.
When the moment came, Parliament erupted.

Amid deafening cheers of joy and relief, the 150,000-strong gay community last night finally achieved full equality with other New Zealanders with the passage of a law allowing same-sex partners to marry.

The milestone completed a social revolution which began with the decriminalisation of homosexuality 27 years ago, and confirmed this country as the 13th to make the leap to legalising gay marriage.

The Bill passed by the same margin as its second reading, 77 votes to 44.

The leader of the law change, Labour MP Louisa Wall, appeared elated and exhausted.

Wearing a glittering, rainbow-coloured coat, the Taupo-born Maori who came out as gay aged 21 thanked her ''darling'' partner Prue Kapua, who watched from the full public gallery.

''Nothing can counteract the very real negative consequences of not passing this Bill. But nothing could make me more proud to be a New Zealander than passing this Bill,'' Ms Wall said.

''I thank my colleagues for simply doing what is just, fair and right.''

In the end, her Bill passed into law without rancour. Rain kept protesters away from Parliament, and many opponents had conceded defeat weeks ago and said they would not fight any more.

Few of the opponents of the Bill chose to speak during the debate.

National MP Jonathan Young, whose father Venn Young attempted to decriminalise homosexuality 37 years ago, argued it was impossible to legislate for love.

He said he supported civil unions, but that was because they did not affect the tradition of marriage.

''A tradition is the institutional memory of a society. It is not to be ... cast away quickly or easily.''

The Bill's impact would reverberate beyond marriage, the House was told. Ms Wall spoke of a gay mother whose partner had to have her name struck off her daughter's birth certificate when she died, because only one person in a gay relationship could be recognised as a parent or guardian.

The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill would allow both people to be legally recognised as a parent of an adopted child.

But the historic night was mostly one of celebration. Green MP Kevin Hague, a campaigner for gay rights for 30 years, opened his call at Parliament by declaring: ''It's time.''

He spoke of his relationship of 28 years, but also with rare contempt for some of the groups who he felt had infected the debate with extremism, threats and blackmail.

''There is no longer any room for any nuance or middle ground. Instead, what history will record is whether you voted for inclusiveness, equality under the law and pluralism, or against them.''

Of the six openly gay MPs, all but National Cabinet minister Chris Finlayson voted for the Bill. The Bill was voted on conscience, not along party lines. In August, gay and transgender couples will begin saying: ''I do.''

Tau Henare said Australians would now come to New Zealand for wedding ceremonies.

''Hopefully, it will push the Aussies into doing something.''

The Rev Margaret Mayman, formerly of Dunedin, said she was delighted the Bill had passed.

''I am so convinced that it's not going to adversely affect people of faith. People of faith are going to be able to hold their religious views.''

Otago University Students' Association queer support co-ordinator Neill Ballantyne said it was a ''momentous'' day but it was not the end of the road.

''We can't rest on our laurels. There's still a lot of discrimination out there,'' Mr Ballantyne said.

''But this is a great step in the right direction.''


Marriage Amendment Bill
• Takes effect mid-August.
• Allows same-sex and transgender couples to marry.
• Allows both people in a gay relationship to be recognised as a parent of an adopted child.
• Allows religious ministers to choose who they marry and criticise gay marriage from the pulpit without breaching human rights.
• People getting married will be able to choose whether they are called a bride, bridegroom, or partner.


How they voted

For: 77
National: Amy Adams, Chris Auchinvole, Maggie Barry, David Bennett, Paula Bennett, Jackie Blue, Cam Calder, David Carter, Judith Collins, Jacqui Dean, Craig Foss, Aaron Gilmore (new MP), Paul Goldsmith, Jo Goodhew, Tim Groser, Tau Henare, Paul Hutchison, Nikki Kaye, Steven Joyce, John Key, Hekia Parata, Jami-Lee Ross, Scott Simpson, Chris Tremain, Nicky Wagner, Kate Wilkinson, Maurice Williamson.

Labour: Jacinda Ardern, Carol Beaumont (new MP), David Clark, Clayton Cosgrove, David Cunliffe, Clare Curran, Lianne Dalziel, Ruth Dyson, Kris Faafoi, Darien Fenton, Phil Goff, Chris Hipkins, Parekura Horomia, Raymond Huo (did not vote first reading), Shane Jones, Annette King, Iain Lees-Galloway, Andrew Little, Moana Mackey, Nanaia Mahuta, Trevor Mallard, Sue Moroney, David Parker, Rajen Prasad, Grant Robertson, David Shearer, Maryan Street, Phil Twyford, Louisa Wall, Megan Woods.

Greens: Steffan Browning, David Clendon, Catherine Delahunty, Julie-Anne Genter, Kennedy Graham, Kevin Hague, Gareth Hughes, Jan Logie, Mojo Mathers, Russel Norman, Denise Roche, Metiria Turei, Eugenie Sage, Holly Walker.

Maori Party: Pita Sharples, Te Ururoa Flavell, Tariana Turia

United Future: Peter Dunne

ACT: John Banks

Mana: Hone Harawira

Against: 44
National: Shane Ardern, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Chester Borrows, Simon Bridges, Gerry Brownlee (changed vote), Jonathan Coleman (changed vote), Bill English, Chris Finlayson, Nathan Guy, John Hayes, Phil Heatley, Colin King, Melissa Lee, Sam Lotu-Iiga, Tim Macindoe, Todd McClay, Murray McCully (changed vote), Ian McKelvie (changed vote), Mark Mitchell, Alfred Ngaro, Simon O'Connor, Eric Roy, Tony Ryall, Mike Sabin, Katrina Shanks, Nick Smith, Lindsay Tisch, Anne Tolley, Louise Upston, Michael Woodhouse, Jian Yang, Jonathan Young.

Labour: Damien O'Connor, Ross Robertson, Su'a William Sio, Rino Tirikatene.

NZ First: Asenati Lole-Taylor, Tracey Martin, Winston Peters, Richard Prosser, Barbara Stewart, Andrew Williams, Denis O'Rourke.

Independent: Brendan Horan.


- The New Zealand Herald (additional reporting, APNZ, ODT)

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