2nd September 2005
Christian Heritage NZ Seeks Values in Sex Education
Christian Heritage NZ will introduce a Values in Sex Education Act that will require all school sex education programmes
to promote the benefits of marriage, and of abstinence prior to marriage. CHNZ leader Ewen McQueen said that it was
impossible to have value-free sex education as all programmes communicated messages as to how young people were expected
to behave – even if only implicitly. In light of this it was better that Parliament made explicit what values it wanted
included in sex education programmes, rather than leaving their ethos to be determined by programme providers. Mr
McQueen stated,
“If we are going to have sex education, then at least let’s all be clear about the values we want to see communicated to
our young people. Abstinence prior to marriage should be the standard being upheld, and young people should be given
full information about the benefits of this. Age appropriate contraceptive advice can also be included but it should not
be the main focus of programmes. Instead we should be affirming our young people in what they really are - romantic
idealists looking for something noble to aspire to.”
The CHNZ leader said the Values in Sex Education Act would also require sex education programmes to provide students
with information about the clear benefits that committed married relationships provided compared with the alternatives.
Mr McQueen acknowledged there would be stiff opposition to his party’s proposal from some current providers of sex
education but said,
“Why should organisations like the Family Planning Association be given free reign to determine what values get
communicated to our young people in this important area? Surely that is something for all New Zealanders to decide
through their elected representatives – Parliament.”
He said that once the Values in Sex Education Act was implemented all sex education programmes would have to meet its
requirements.
ENDS