Peters Jim: Civil Union Bill — In Committee Procedure 
Peters Jim: Civil Union Bill — In Committee Procedure 
[Volume:622;Page:17500] 
JIM PETERS (NZ First) 
: 
 It is interesting is it not that in response to Mr Adams’ everyday common-sense comments the reply from the Government side of the debate was that his is an extreme viewpoint. That really illustrates to this Committee and to the wider world exactly where we are with regard to this debate. I rise with pleasure to speak in opposition to the bill that is before the Committee. I support the contention that New Zealand First continues to advance that these issues should not be decided by us. The last speaker amplified very clearly why we should not decide them. He demonstrated the complete range of belief of an extreme type that has developed—which is not surprising though—on the other side of the Chamber in a compliance social and moral issue - riddled Government. Government members have come to the Chamber and as the previous speaker did proposed that what I believe the majority of people believe to be an ordinary everyday assumption is extreme. That label has been placed upon Mr Adams and others who support what thousands of us have said is our belief with regard to the institution of marriage. 
I rise for another reason. This bill amply demonstrates to the wider country something of the nature of the present Government. At the first reading we had a comprehensive bill in the House that presented to the country a whole range of not just marriage and partnership implications but financial ones as well. Now we have before us a small part of that with the draconian unknown implications of what it means deliberately left for another day. I say to the Minister in the chair David Benson-Pope that that is just not good enough. We have a right to see the total implications for the constitutional and legal framework of this surprising change that is before the Committee. We do not have that because the Government has deliberately left it off the agenda. That illustrates to me something in terms of the continued tampering with the constitutional nature of this country. 
I raise another issue. Here we have a most extraordinary position. We have had much comment made about marriage and some comment made about de facto relationships and same-sex relationships. But now into the continuum of at least three different types of relationships or partnerships we have a fourth one: a Labour Government - instituted civil union. It is a fourth one and again I say we are without any knowledge at the present time of the full financial implications of what it means. I say to the Minister that that is not atypical of what one sees from this Government with regard to social and moral issues. There has been a huge tendency to interfere in everyday life. We will see that on Friday when those who would normally go about their private business will be constrained with regard to where they can smoke. I have no doubt that next we will see outdoor bars in the street being constrained by that social determination on the part of the Labour Government. 
This bill is another step on that continued path—that is what it is. It really is social engineering engendered by a minority opinion for all the reasons that the last speaker spoke of. We are coming to the point now whereby a normal everyday common-sense attitude is regarded as extreme. That is the level of debate that I have seen all through the years with regard to the social and moral issues that are before us. The result of all this will be in the classroom. There will be an absolute desire that these issues be perpetuated day by day in teaching in the future. As a teacher I deplore what is happening right here. We have before us a systematic and—if it is passed—successful attempt to reconfigure much of the thinking that will take place in the institutions of this country. On behalf of the New Zealand First supporters who have spoken to me I regard that with abhorrence. I regard the whole matter of civil union as one that at best those who support it may have some gratitude for but that for me is a very very major attempt to upset our fabric.