An important milestone has been reached with the registration of New Zealand's 1,000th civil union by Births, Deaths and Marriages, says Tim Barnett, Labour MP and instigator of the Civil Union legislation.
South Auckland couple Alburta Gibson and Tina Pitman's civil union took place last weekend. Their relationship started six years ago.
1,000 New Zealand couples have become civil union partners since April 2005. One in five of those civil unions have been between a man and a woman, and more lesbian than gay couples have had a civil union. Around 45,000 marriages have been registered in the same period.
The Civil Union Act came into effect on 26 April 2005. “From that date couples could apply for a civil union licence and access civil union services,” says Tim Barnett. He says the civil union legislation has ensured couples such as Alburta and Tina can formalise their relationship in a legal manner.
“This is a great option for two people who cannot or choose not to marry. It provides the same legal rights as a marriage, and is the most secure and straightforward way to guard the rights of each person involved. And of course it is a great reason for a celebration!”.
During the civil union bill debate in 2005, Barnett took criticism from MPs such as John Key and Bill English who opposed the introduction of civil union. “This law recognised the reality of New Zealand relationships," he says.
"It was opposed in raw and prejudiced ways. It has turned out to be a comprehensive success”.