Civil Union Act 2004

The Civil Union Act 2004 is a New Zealand act of parliament legislating civil unions. It was passed into law on Thursday 9 December 2004 by a final vote of 65–55 in the New Zealand Parliament.^[1] The act makes it legal for those in same-sex as well as heterosexual relationships to enter into a civil union.

Civil Union Act 2004
New Zealand Parliament
Passed by	House of Representatives
Passed	9 December 2004
Royal assent	13 December 2004
Commenced	26 April 2005
Administered by	Ministry of Justice
Legislative history
Bill title	Civil Union Bill
Introduced by	David Benson-Pope
Introduced	21 June 2004
First reading	24 June 2004
Second reading	2 December 2004
Third reading	9 December 2004
Amended by
Civil Union Amendment Act 2007
Related legislation
Relationships (Statutory References) Act 2005 Property (Relationships) Amendment Act 2005 Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013
Status: Current legislation

The act is still in force, despite New Zealand providing same-sex marriages since 19 August 2013, under the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013.

Vote

Civil Union Bill – Second Reading^[2]

Party		Votes for	Votes against
	Labour (51)	45 Rick Barker Tim Barnett David Benson-Pope Georgina Beyer Mark Burton Chris Carter Steve Chadwick Ashraf Choudhary Helen Clark Michael Cullen David Cunliffe Lianne Dalziel Helen Duncan Ruth Dyson Russell Fairbrother Martin Gallagher Phil Goff Mark Gosche Ann Hartley George Hawkins Dave Hereora Marian Hobbs Pete Hodgson Parekura Horomia Darren Hughes Jonathan Hunt Annette King Luamanuvao Winnie Laban Moana Mackey Janet Mackey Steve Maharey Nanaia Mahuta Trevor Mallard Mahara Okeroa David Parker Mark Peck Jill Pettis Lynne Pillay Mita Ririnui Dover Samuels Jim Sutton Paul Swain Judith Tizard Margaret Wilson Dianne Yates	6 Clayton Cosgrove Harry Duynhoven Taito Phillip Field Damien O'Connor Ross Robertson John Tamihere
	National (27)	3 Katherine Rich Clem Simich Pansy Wong	24 Shane Ardern Don Brash Gerry Brownlee David Carter John Carter Judith Collins Brian Connell Bill English Sandra Goudie Phil Heatley Paul Hutchison John Key Wayne Mapp Murray McCully Simon Power Tony Ryall Lynda Scott Lockwood Smith Nick Smith Roger Sowry Georgina te Heuheu Lindsay Tisch Maurice Williamson Richard Worth
	NZ First (13)	1 Brian Donnelly	12 Peter Brown Brent Catchpole Bill Gudgeon Dail Jones Ron Mark Craig McNair Pita Paraone Edwin Perry Winston Peters Jim Peters Barbara Stewart Doug Woolerton
	ACT (9)	5 Deborah Coddington Rodney Hide Richard Prebble Heather Roy Ken Shirley	4 Gerry Eckhoff Stephen Franks Muriel Newman Kenneth Wang
	Green (9)	9 Sue Bradford Rod Donald Ian Ewen-Street Jeanette Fitzsimons Sue Kedgley Keith Locke Nándor Tánczos Metiria Turei Mike Ward	–
	United Future (8)	-	8 Paul Adams Marc Alexander Larry Baldock Gordon Copeland Peter Dunne Bernie Ogilvy Murray Smith Judy Turner
	Progressive (2)	2 Jim Anderton Matt Robson	-
	Māori Party (1)	-	1 Tariana Turia
Total		65	55

Attitudes of political parties

The act was opposed by religious groups, including the Catholic Church. Then New Zealand National Party leader Don Brash opposed the bill, but only as he believed it should be put to a referendum. The Act was widely supported by the then-governing New Zealand Labour Party.

See also

• Civil union in New Zealand
• Marriage in New Zealand

References

1. Civil Union Bill Passed, The New Zealand Herald, 9 December 2004
2. MPs vote 65-55 in favour of Civil Union Bill, The New Zealand Herald, 2 December 2004

External links

• Text of the Act