Civil Union Bill Robs Married New Zealanders
Christian Heritage NZ leader Ewen McQueen said today that the Civil Unions Bill would steal status from the New
Zealanders who were already married. He noted that it was often asserted by supporters of the Civil Union Bill that it
would have no effect on those who were married. However this overlooked the fact that the Bill undermined the unique
legal and social status of marriage as an institution. He said
“ Married couples will definitely be impacted if the Civil Union Bill is passed. It clearly reduces the social
significance of marriage as an institution, and all married couples will be the poorer for that.”
The CHNZ leader said that for decades New Zealanders had married with an understanding that they gained a special and
unique legal and social status when they entered into that commitment. The Civil Union Bill was now effectively robbing
them of that.
McQueen said the argument that married couples would not be impacted was flawed. It used the example of individual
couples and viewed them in isolation from institution they had entered in to. This was not only illogical but it
demonstrated a narrow individualistic outlook. He stated,
“ The whole point is that marriage is a social institution that is bigger than the individuals who enter into it. “
Ewen McQueen
Leader, Christian Heritage NZ