Smith Nick: Relationships (Statutory References) Bill; AND BILLS THEREFROM — Third Readings 
Smith Nick: Relationships (Statutory References) Bill; AND BILLS THEREFROM — Third Readings 
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Hon Dr NICK SMITH (National—Nelson) 
: 
 This legislation is the latest chapter in the attack by this Government on the family. It is yet another example of a complete lack of respect by Labour for the family unit which has underpinned society for hundreds of years. First this Government brought in a bill that said in respect of matrimonial property that de facto relationships and marriage are the same. Then Government members came into this Parliament and said that prostitution would be legalised. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: National introduced that bill. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I tell Lianne Dalziel not to fib. That was a Government bill. It is another— 
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: The member knows that he cannot use that term to accuse a member of not telling the truth. The member will withdraw that remark and apologise. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I withdraw and apologise. But for the record I point out that Labour decriminalised prostitution. Labour passed laws in respect of matrimonial property that said there is no difference between de facto relationships and marriage and this same Government is now passing legislation that says there is no difference at all between people who are in a gay relationship in a married relationship or in a de facto relationship. They are wrong for two very—[ 
Interruption 
] Is it not interesting with the Labour Party? I listened respectfully to Marian Hobbs’ speech but the moment I try to make a contribution those Labour members shout us down because they know that what they are doing to this country of ours is wrong. What they are doing to families in New Zealand is wrong and they do not like it when people on this side of the House—[ 
Interruption 
]  
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: The member will not barrage with interjections like that. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: This legislation is based on two quite flawed premises. The first of those is that regardless of how long one is in a relationship whether it is a de facto relationship or a relationship that is committed for life Labour says it makes no difference at all. Yet all the social research shows that a long-term committed relationship is one of the most important things that we can do for children and for the future of our country. The second premise that is flawed about this legislation is the view that men and women are just the same; that it makes no difference whether a relationship is one of two men or two women. Well it does make a difference. I believe to the heart of my soul that men and women are equal but they are different. This Parliament can pass all the laws it likes but it cannot—[ 
Interruption 
] Oh Lianne Dalziel is not a mother; she would not understand. I know that. I say to members opposite—[ 
Interruption 
] If Lianne Dalziel takes a big deep breath and listens for a moment she may learn something. It is the future of our society the way in which children will be brought up and the historic reason why Parliament has given protection to marriage that is at stake in this law. Members opposite say that this bill does not erode away anything from marriage. 
Hon Parekura Horomia 
: That’s right. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Well I say it is a bit like saying: “Let’s just give everybody School Certificate. That will not erode anything from the people who pass it.” Of course it does. In terms of every single area of law—and today we are proposing to change 186 laws—we are saying that they are all just the same. It is a bit like the National Certificate of Educational Achievement—educationally this Government has thrown standards out the window and now the Government is doing the same with relationships. It is saying: “It doesn’t matter they are all the same.” I say that those members are wrong. Then the Prime Minister said to the nation: “This is not a gay marriage bill.” But is it not interesting? In every single law in this legislation—on superannuation education children’s rights and welfare—Labour says that a civil union and a marriage are absolutely identical in law. This is putting the substance into it—it is gay marriage. Government members do not have the courage to tell the people of New Zealand that this legislation is about gay marriage but it is. 
 I challenge Lianne Dalziel to tell me one law in which gay marriage gay civil unions will be different from marriage. There is not one area. What we will have in this bill— 
Lianne Dalziel 
: The Courts Martial Appeals Act the Wills Amendment Act— 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: Does the member want to make a speech? She can make a speech but she should at least give me—[ 
Interruption 
] I raise a point of order Madam Speaker. 
Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER 
: This is a robust debate. There have been interjections. I ask members to give the speaker a fair go and limit their interjections. 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: The Minister said that all those people in de facto relationships are dumb; that really they want to get married and she in some sort of a Reverend Moon exercise through the passing of this law will automatically marry 280000 people—and somehow that is fair and just and right. I say that those 280000 people who live in de facto relationships probably made a choice not to be married and that is their right. It is wrong of this Parliament to come along and in some sort of Reverend Moon exercise automatically clock those people into marriage and say that it is all the same. 
I worry about what this sort of anti-family legislation will do for our country. We get weasel words from the Government about its concern for children. We have debates on how kids can do better in life how we can avoid them getting entrapped with drugs how we can ensure that they do better educationally how we can ensure that they do not get involved in crime—all those things. All the social research shows that children who have committed mums and dads in long-term relationships do best but this Labour Party rejects all that research because it wants to be involved in another exercise in social engineering. That is wrong. It will take New Zealand backwards and this country deserves better. 
I also refer to claims by this Government that it will protect the terms “husband” and “wife”. Has it not done a great job of that! If we look through this legislation we see in every one of those 186 statutes that the terms “civil union partner” “wife” and “husband” are Labour says all just the same. I say to Lianne Dalziel and her social-engineering colleagues that they are wrong. De facto relationships civil unions and marriage are different and they should be recognised as different in the law of our land. 
I also predict that this law just like the prostitution law will have unintended consequences for New Zealand. The police last week spoke of all the problems that the prostitution law is starting to cause. It is feeding the gangs; feeding the seediest parts of New Zealand—that is Labour’s agenda for New Zealand. This relationships law will also cause all sorts of unintended consequences. I fear for the doctor who in one of our hospitals tries to make a decision in an awfully stressful situation such as whether the life-support machine will be turned off and what that will mean in terms of trying to determine whether there is some gay de facto or some pseudo de facto relationship when the legislation provides absolutely no definition of a de facto relationship. It is circular. [ 
Interruption 
] Well it has taken it out. During the select committee stage the Government took out any concrete definition. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: What does it say? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: I have read the bill and I challenge Lianne Dalziel to get to her feet to explain for us exactly what a de facto relationship is. Any common-sense New Zealander who reads the definition that is provided will be absolutely none the wiser despite the legislation. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: What does it say? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: It says “in the nature of marriage”. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: Or? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: And goes on and that is about it. 
Lianne Dalziel 
: Or? 
Hon Dr NICK SMITH 
: That is about it. I simply ask that member opposite how that provides any certainty for the doctor who is trying to make a decision in that sort of emotional situation. This is flawed law. Relationships are different. [ 
Interruption 
] I say to Mr Parekura Horomia that de facto relationships gay relations and marriage are different. The Maori people of New Zealand are different. One of the reasons there will be a change of Government in September of this year is that New Zealanders have had enough of anti-family politically correct legislation.