LISTEN Bob McCoskrie on Newstalk ZB with Larry Williams
NZ Herald 28 Aug 2012
Opponents of Labour MP Louisa Wall’s Marriage Amendment Bill say it could open the way for polygamy, incestuous relationships and breaches of the Human Rights Act. Anti-gay marriage lobbyists and religious groups are making a last minute appeal to Government to not change the definition of marriage. The first reading of Labour MP Louisa Wall’s Marriage Amendment Act bill that would allow same-sex people to marry will be heard in Parliament tomorrow. Lobby group Family First has presented a petition signed by 50,000 people to MPs from Labour, National and NZ First, calling on them to reject the bill. The petition said: “I support the definition of marriage in New Zealand being maintained as one man one woman. I oppose any attempt to redefine it.” The protesters, led by conservative lobby group Family First, wanted marriage to remain between a man and a woman. The group was met on Parliament steps by National MP Alfred Ngaro, Labour MPs Su’a William Sio and Ross Robertson, who opposed the bill, and New Zealand First MP Asenati Lole-Taylor, who wanted a referendum on the issue. Family First’s national director, Bob McCoskrie said it was an incredible response considering the campaign was only launched a month ago. “It shows the level of public opposition to the bill, and the signatures continue to pour in,” he said.
He said same-sex couples already had legal recognition through civil unions, so there was no need to redefine marriage. “It’s not discriminatory to support the existing definition of marriage. Many homosexuals do not support the call for same-sex marriage – yet they are certainly not ‘homophobic’ or ‘bigoted’ which are lazy labels given to anyone supporting the current definition of marriage.” If marriage was redefined once, there was nothing to stop it being redefined again to allow polygamy, polyamory and adult incest relationships, he said. “Throughout history and in virtually all human societies, marriage has always been the union of a man and a woman. Marriage reflects the complementary natures of men and women.”
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10830022
Petition against gay marriage presented to MPs
Radio NZ
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/114449/petition-against-gay-marriage-presented-to-mps
Votes tallied as gay marriage debate nears
3 News 28 Aug 2012
http://www.3news.co.nz/Votes-tallied-as-gay-marriage-debate-nears/tabid/1607/articleID/267113/Default.aspx
Petition delivered
ONE News 28 Aug 2012
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/banks-vote-gay-marriage-bill-5049930
