6 MAY 2008

Marriage Steady, Divorces Decrease, Civil Unions Ignored

Family First NZ is welcoming the latest statistics on marriage, civil unions and divorce showing a declining rate of divorce down 500 to 9,600 in 2007. Less than half of all marriages dissolved in 2007 involved people with children.

While the marriage rate has been reasonably consistent over the past decade, the demand for civil unions continues to plummet from almost 400 in 2006 to just over 300 in 2007.

"The civil unions legislation has proved to be a white elephant," says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ, "despite the claims by the government that it would strengthen human rights and support the choices of apparently 300,000 people who were not married but lived in stable relationships."

"NZ'ers didn't feel discriminated against, and unlike the views of the Prime Minister, they didn't have a problem with the religious connotations of marriage, which are not compulsory anyway."

"The huge amount of energy spent on trying to concoct a need for civil unions would have been better spent on developing policies which promote, encourage and strengthen marriage, and to minimise the likelihood of divorce, and thereby provide the best and safest environment for children to be raised."

"According to the latest Census, more than 2/3'rds of NZ'ers in a partnership have chosen marriage."

"Marriage is an important social good with a smorgasbord of positive outcomes for children and adults alike. Governments should encourage and support what works."

ENDS

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