About this site
Over the past nine years there have been a number of law changes voted on by our politicians impacting the welfare of kiwi families, and the role of parents and marriage.
Some of these laws - like the anti-smacking law, the Care of Children Act and the 'parental notification' law (relating to teenage abortions) - have undermined the important role parents play in their children's lives. Others - like the Civil Unions Act, Relationships Act, and the lack of support for the Marriage Amendment Bill - have weakened and attempted to redefine the traditional family structure, ignoring the mass body of research which shows that family structure and marriage is hugely beneficial, not only for children, but for adults and families as well.
In some cases, some politicians have failed to take into account what is best for the welfare and safety of families. For example, the decriminalisation of prostitution and residential brothels, attempts to liberalise euthanasia and Easter trading laws, the rejection of stronger regulations on loan sharks, and Parliament's refusal to raise the drinking age.
This webite (and the brouchure available for download below) allows you to see how your local MP and each political party has voted on these important social issues. Many of them are conscience votes allowing an MP to vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines. However, in many cases, there seems to be a 'party conscience'.
Most concerning of all has been the inability of MPs to hear the wishes and concerns of NZ families - for example, surveys show that up to 75% want the drinking age raised to 20, up to 87% oppose the anti-smacking law, 2/3'rds of NZ'ers want brothels banned from residential areas, and almost 80% believe that parents should be informed if a pregnant girl under 16 seeks an abortion.
An additional feature provided by Family First this election is the questionnaire on family and moral issues which has been sent to all candidates in the upcoming general election. This brochure features the responses of the party leaders. The website has the responses of other MPs and candidates.
Attempts were made through letter, email and by phone to encourage participation. This questionnaire does not address a candidate's character - only where they stand on certain issues. It should not take the place of your effort to evaluate a candidate personally, and is not intended to endorse or oppose any candidate.
Families deserve laws that strengthen and protect them - not ones that redefine and undermine them.
We are pleased to offer this guide as a helpful resource to aid you in making an informed choice at the polls this November.
Bob McCoskrie
National Director - Family First NZ
P.S. If you are in agreement with our efforts to promote stronger families and safer communities, please consider becoming a member of Family First NZ. We are not a political party so you can't vote for us. But you can stand with us as we stand for strong families and a strong nation. See the back page for more info about how you can support our work and be kept in contact with issues affecting families.