Marriage comments cynical and confused

David Benson-Pope's suggestion that politicians enter marriage to 'remove barriers' is a typical approach from this cynical government, says National's Families spokeswoman, Judith Collins

"I am appalled by these comments and insulted by the insinuation that many of my colleagues and I might have married for anything less than a desire to commit in the name of love.

"I think it's sad that Mr Benson-Pope takes this view, a view that seems to be shared by Helen Clark. "I wonder what Mrs Benson-Pope thinks about this?

Mr Benson-Pope claims that civil union will be more attractive than marriage to many couples because it is not 'loaded with religious associations', in the way that traditional marriage is.

"But marriage in New Zealand is actually a civil ceremony, many people chose to get married without the involvement of the church," says Ms Collins.

"At a time when Labour is looking to make marriage an option for even younger people, without the need for parental consent, they aren't painting a very pretty picture of it at all".

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Gordon Campbell: On the Sony cyber attack

Given the layers of meta-irony involved, the saga of the Sony cyber attack seemed at the outset more like a snarky European art film than a popcorn entry at the multiplex.

Yet now with (a) President Barack Obama weighing in on the side of artistic freedom and calling for the US to make a ‘proportionate response’quickly followed by (b) North Korea’s entire Internet service going down, and with both these events being followed by (c) Sony deciding to backtrack and release The Interview film that had made it a target for the dastardly North Koreans in the first place, then ay caramba…the whole world will now be watching how this affair pans out. More>>