Public Side-lined as Activists Force Cultural Change

“While proponents of the redefinition of marriage continue to move the bill forward, the public of New Zealand has been side lined” says Colin Craig, leader of the Conservative Party.

“We have a Select Committee that refused to hear many submitters, cases of MPs refusing to meet with constituents, and last night a proposal to put the matter to a referendum was voted down in parliament. “

“The irony is, that most of the MPs who opposed the referendum proposal last night, expect the National government to hold and be guided by a referendum on state asset sales. This double standard is hard to justify when you consider that the sale of state assets was a declared policy prior to last election, unlike redefining marriage which the public have not had the chance to consider or vote on.

Mr Craig says “Supporters of this bill have from the outset maintained that this bill does no harm and will not affect the existing institution of marriage. This is simply not true, as the redefinition of marriage is a cultural change being forced upon New Zealanders. To make this change without a mandate from the people is utterly inappropriate.”

“The debate last night was disappointing. Very few MPs commented on what this change will mean to New Zealand society and what future impacts can be expected. “

“There was little mention of the change to adoption practice, and that as a nation we are now proposing that same-sex parents provide an equally good parenting arrangement as a Mum and Dad. This is a highly contestable viewpoint, and one that deserves extensive discussion with reference to the relevant research. Independent polling shows that New Zealanders clearly think that a loving Mum and Dad is the preferred parenting arrangement for adoptive children. Fifteen years from now will those who supported the bill last night be willing to face such children as teenagers and explain why they thought they could do without a Mum or Dad?

"There seemed to be little understanding that the bill promotes Gender Neutralisation. This is most obviously seen in the impending removal of terms such as “bride” and “bridegroom” from marriage forms and “husband” and “wife" from certain legislation including the Adoption Act. Gender difference does matter and the combination of both male and female in a marriage and in parenting is unique and distinct from a same sex relationship. I believe a majority of New Zealanders support the current differentiation that exists in New Zealand law.” Says Mr Craig.
ENDS

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"Unlawful, Unjustified And Unreasonable": Report Into Urewera Raids Finds Police Acted Unlawfully

Independent Police Conduct Authority Chair Judge Sir David Carruthers said today that the decision by the then Commissioner of Police to undertake the operation in Ruatoki Valley and elsewhere on 15 October 2007 was reasonable and justified.

“However, the road blocks established by Police at Ruatoki and Taneatua were unlawful, unjustified and unreasonable... Police had no legal basis for stopping and searching vehicles or photographing drivers or passengers,” he said...

The report also showed that the detention of the occupants at five properties examined by the Authority was unlawful and unreasonable. More>>