Fathers Day March & Shared Parenting Petition Launch This Sunday
Friday 1st Sep 2000 Dr Muriel Newman Media Release -- Social Welfare
A Fathers Day march in Auckland on Sunday will provide the venue for the national launch of a Citizens Initiated
Referendum petition on Shared Parenting, being promoted by ACT MP Muriel Newman.
“Shared Parenting is an idea whose time has come,” said Dr Newman.
“Experience in the USA and Europe has shown that given active support, the move to Shared Parenting is unstoppable.
“Since the government’s recent rejection of the Shared Parenting Bill on its first reading in the House, there has been
a huge groundswell of support. Grass roots organisations around the country recognise that Shared Parenting provides
children, who are the victims of family breakdown, with the on-going support of both their mother, their father, their
grand-parents and other extended family as well.
“They are right behind the CIR petition and have pledged their help in collecting the 250,000 signatures we need to
force the government to hold a nation-wide referendum. The CIR petition asks ‘should the Shared Parenting Bill
introduced by Dr Muriel Newman (which creates a presumption that parents who are separated or divorced will have equal
rights to the custody of their children) be passed by Parliament?’
“When the petition succeeds, the government will have to admit that it is ideologically driven on family law issues and
has failed to listen to the voice of the people,” said Dr Newman.
Why: To launch the CIR petition in support of the Shared Parenting Bill. Shared Parenting was rubbished by the
government when announcing the Guardianship Act review.
When: Sunday 3rd September (Fathers Day)
Where: Marchers meet at Beresford Square (Top of Pitt St) @12.30pm. Parade commences @ 1pm with march to Aotea Square.
Who: Mothers, Fathers, Children, Grandparents, everyone to support fathers on their special day. Speakers include; Daryl
Carlin: Winner of a landmark case in the BOP family court. Bruce Cheritin: Mana Mens Rights Warren Heap: Founder New
Zealand’s first male refuge. Muriel Newman: ACT MP and promoter of Shared Parenting Bill.
For more information visit ACT online at http://www.act.org.nz or contact the ACT Parliamentary Office at
act@parliament.govt.nz.