MEDIA RELEASE

11 August 2008

Labour Agenda of Recognising Polygamy ‘Disturbing’

Family First NZ is labeling suggestions that Labour will recognise polygamy and polyamory, if it is re-elected, as ‘disturbing’.

Family First were made aware of the speech delivered in May to Victoria University social policy students by the Minister of Social Development Ruth Dyson.

“The speech refers to the social development of not just traditional family groups but also relationships including triples, obviously alluding to polyamorous relationships,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“We were always concerned that the Civil Unions legislation would signal a move away from recognising and promoting marriage as the preferable and best environment for children to be raised. However, this speech would suggest that we are on a slippery slope to recognising any form of relationship including polygamy and polyamory.”

“Labour is redefining parenthood in a way nobody ever considered, and based on a ‘rights’ and anti-discrimination culture, we may soon be legalising incestuous relationships.”

“Marriage between a woman and a man should be given special status and encouraged by the state - not weakened and compromised as is now happening. Marriage is an important social good with a smorgasbord of positive outcomes for children and adults alike.”

“It is the covert nature of this speech and the attempt to hide it that is most concerning, especially considering the Government is accusing others of having secret agendas,”says Mr McCoskrie.

ENDS

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Gordon Campbell: On Failures Of Care For Those With Mental Disabilities

Hard to imagine a more disturbing insight into the treatment of the vulnerable than the Health Ministry report on Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau. The Ministry has found that the country’s only kaupapa Maori intellectual disability residential care provider has been “seriously dysfunctional.”

The ministry says the business has failed to recruit and retain quality staff – and says the kaimahi (caregivers) that have been employed are seriously unsuitable for the job, lacking basic knowledge. But Te Roopu Taurima o Manukau doesn’t get all the blame. The report says there’s a significant gap under disability laws to ensure there’s oversight by qualified clinical professionals. More>>