Brown Peter: Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
Brown Peter: Marriage (Gender Clarification) Amendment Bill — First Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:669] 
PETER BROWN (Deputy Leader—NZ First) 
: 
 If I had any doubts about supporting this bill the honourable member who has just resumed her seat certainly has squashed them all. I think it is absolute arrogance to stand in this House and say that clause 5 or clause 6 or whatever is a waste of Parliament’s time. We are here elected by the people of New Zealand to listen from time to time to the people of New Zealand and if they want this sort of legislation debated then it is our task to address it. I can tell members that from the feedback I have had personally there are many many New Zealanders who want this bill at least sent to a select committee and I would say that the vast majority of them want it passed. We need in my view to strengthen marriage in this country and to strengthen it by ensuring that it is confined to being a union between a man and a woman a husband and wife. If the family unit is the backbone of this country marriage is the backbone of the family unit. It has served this country well and it will serve this country well for a lot longer. 
I want to make it quite clear that New Zealand First has made this issue a conscience vote and we are not all of the same mind. Some of my colleagues would agree that the current legislation is strong enough and adequate enough but that is not to say that we all agree with that view. The majority of New Zealand First MPs want this bill referred to a select committee. 
I heard Katherine Rich describe a supporter of this bill as—and I thought it was quite funny—a redneck banjo-playing homophobic or something along those lines. I thought that was good. I do not play the banjo but I do not know whether I might qualify on the other score. When Katherine Rich sat down she said she wanted to hear a lawyer’s opinion and of course the No. 1 redneck banjo-playing homophobic in the National Party lawyer Mr Richard Worth stood up and actually said exactly the opposite of what Katherine Rich said. 
Dr Richard Worth 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have been misrepresented by the use of those epithets. Banjo playing has never been a strength of mine. 
Mr DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: Thank you Mr Worth. 
PETER BROWN 
: I actually thought that that would be the case because I know that the member is a sailor exactly the same as myself—well not exactly the same; in my day at sea I was a real sailor; he just played at the game. 
The majority of New Zealanders I suggest want to see this legislation at least get to the select committee stage. That is the view that the majority of New Zealand First MPs share. I can tell members that a number of Christian people church people believe absolutely that this bill is essential to the family unit in the long-term future. I know that the Brethren financed—somewhat unwittingly if we believe the National Party—many pamphlets to support National members and get them here. They want to a man and a woman this bill to go before a select committee. They financed pamphlets in support of the National Party getting here. Many of those members would not be here but for the actions of the Brethren. [ 
Interruption 
] 
They would not be here but for what the Brethren did and they should in fact listen to them. They wanted those members here. Those members were prepared to listen to them when they came out with pamphlets. If the National Party MPs vote against this bill going to the select committee they are letting down some of their core supporters. [ 
Interruption 
] It does not take much to rile these guys does it? Why can they not behave like that when Winston Peters is here and show a bit of strength? Why are they all like little mice when Winston Peters is here? 
 In my view and in the view of many New Zealanders it is possible to see the state of marriage between a man and a woman challenged. The Civil Union Act is an Act for civil unionists but it is possible that in the not too distant future— 
Hon Maurice Williamson 
: I thought you were a “simple sailor”. 
PETER BROWN 
: I am just a “simple sailor” and I see things in black and white. It is possible that two people of the same gender married in some foreign place may come here and challenge our system. I would not like them to succeed. I am totally supportive of this bill going to a select committee.