Tizard Judith: Civil Union Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
Tizard Judith: Civil Union Bill — Instruction to Committee In Committee 
[Volume:622;Page:17463] 
Hon JUDITH TIZARD (Minister of Consumer Affairs) 
: 
 I rise as the member of Parliament for Auckland Central to support the Civil Union Bill in its Committee stage. Most members will be aware that Auckland Central is a place where gay lesbian and transgender New Zealanders know mostly because of the Hero Parade and festival which has been held for many years that they are welcome. It is a very tolerant and inclusive electorate and a lot of people come to Auckland Central because they are creative energetic people who perhaps are of a different colour are from a different race speak different languages or are of a different sexuality from that that calls itself the mainstream. I am very proud to represent Auckland Central and all the people in it—very proud indeed. 
The year 1986 saw the passing of the homosexual law reform legislation. That was 18 years ago. I worked in an electorate office in those days and I remember calls very like the ones we are hearing in the Chamber today—that it would be the end of society as we knew it that homosexuals would be out recruiting and that children would not be safe. I believe that New Zealand is a much safer place than it was in 1986 as a result of that legislation and particularly as a result of many people coming to realise that many of us have homosexual people in our families. They are our neighbours our workmates our children and in some cases our parents. I do not believe that any New Zealander wants any member of this country’s population to be discriminated against on the basis of something that is innate and part of him or her. With all of us our sexuality is absolutely at the heart of who we are. 
I listened in 1993 to the astonishing submissions that were made on the human rights amendment bill about both people with disabilities and people who were gay lesbian or transgender. I must say that it makes me very very sad to think that people are so fearful and so ignorant about ordinary decent New Zealanders who are living the lives of citizens in our country. As a result of that human rights legislation the Government began a project called Consistency 2000 and this legislation although part of Labour’s manifesto at several elections before now is part of that Consistency 2000 process. 
New Zealanders like to think that we as a nation are progressive and fair. It is of some regret to me that because of the hysteria from a very small group of New Zealanders many countries including Canada Denmark Finland France Germany Greenland Hungary Iceland Norway Sweden and now the United Kingdom have beaten us in recognising the right to legal recognition of the partnership that is the basis of any family. Yes if one is heterosexual one can marry but of most of the people I know in my street I would say that about half the couples are married and about half are not. A significant group of New Zealanders no longer to choose to marry for a variety of reasons good and bad. But the fact is that I know from talking with my neighbours that a significant group of them would be very happy to enter into a civil union and some of them are heterosexual and some of them are homosexual. 
We have had a lot of arguments in this House about the need for a referendum but it is my passionate view that human rights are absolute and that we as members of Parliament must uphold the human rights of all New Zealanders to protect their families and to protect their relationships and to protect society as a result of that. I remember New Zealand First’s last big referendum. I think it was on superannuation. It turned into a referendum on the National - New Zealand First coalition Government and my memory is that 94 percent of people voted against it. They voted against it because they did not like the way that Government was behaving and they did not like the way that Government was approaching the people of New Zealand. I am very happy every 3 years to stand before my constituents as a Labour member of Parliament and somebody who has routinely voted for the human rights of every New Zealander.