5 July 2018
Almost 275 delegates representing more than 75+ family-focused organisations and groups are gathering in Auckland
tomorrow (Friday) for the eleventh annual NZ Forum on the Family, hosted by Family First NZ.
Family First National Director Bob McCoskrie will be interviewing Leader of the Opposition HON SIMON BRIDGES about his views on family issues including euthanasia, abortion, marijuana, marriage, pornography, gender identity, law
and order, and others. (Acting Prime Minister Winston Peters was unable to attend, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is on parental leave. Both
were invited to attend.)
Other speakers include:
• WALT HEYER, former transgender with a passion to help others who regret gender change. Walt travels extensively to share his story
at conferences, churches and universities. Walt has appeared on numerous radio and television shows in the U.S. and
Canada. Walt’s articles have been published online and his many books are a welcome resource in understanding the issue.
• WENDY FRANCIS, director of the newly-established Centre for Human Dignity in Australia. CHD was launched in 2017 to fight pornography and the sexual exploitation of women and girls. She is a
recognised Australian spokesperson for the rights of children and women and an effective campaigner against sexual
exploitation in all its forms.
• DR AMANDA LANDERS, community-based Palliative Care Physician working in the Canterbury region. She is also a Senior Clinical Lecturer at
the University of Otago. As a past Chair of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine Aotearoa branch, she was involved in representing the palliative care perspective in the Lecretia Seales case, and presenting to
the Health Select Committee on the topic of assisted suicide.
• DR JANE SILLOWAY-SMITH, Director of Every Life Research Unit, and an experienced public policy researcher, with interest in the application of social justice to public policy. Jane
will update us on the progress of the End of Life Choice Bill and the Law Commission Abortion Law Review
• RYAN T ANDERSON (via video), author of the new book When Harry Became Sally - Responding To The Transgender Moment
• GLENN T STANTON, Director of Global Family Formation Studies at Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs. Glenn holds a graduate degree in Interdisciplinary Humanities from the University of West Florida
with an emphasis in philosophy and history, and has been working professionally as a respected researcher in the field
of sexuality and gender for nearly 25 years. He is the author of seven books on various aspects of marriage and family,
and is also the author of Family First’s 2015 report on gender identity Boys Girls Other – Making Sense of the Confusing New World of Gender Identity and their recent reportWhy Mothers Matter (released on Mothers’ Day 2018)
“There are many family focused organisations who, along with their thousands of members, are concerned about the effects
of family breakdown, the weakening of marriage, issues relating to beginning and end of life (abortion / euthanasia),
pornography and the sexualisation of children in the media and marketing, gender ideology, increasing levels of
violence, and a culture which is becoming increasingly hostile to the role of parents and the safety of children and
families,” says organiser Bob McCoskrie.
“This will be one of our largest Forums to date. It sends a strong message that the welfare and protection of families
is high on the agenda and these issues cannot be ignored,” says Mr McCoskrie.
More details www.forumonthefamily.nz
ENDS