It would be a tragedy for this country if, influenced by overseas excesses, we were to legislate for hate speech. Such legislation could have a chilling effect on debate here on all manner of issues, says former Attorney General Chris Finlayson. Yet that’s exactly what’s likely to happen. Justice Minister Kiri Allan says she will Read more
Family First New Zealand has won a battle over its charity status. In a decision released on Thursday morning, the Court of Appeal set aside a Charities Registration Board decision in 2017 to deregister Family First as a charity. “This decision is a win for the freedom of speech and belief in New Zealand,” says Read more
Family First NZ has received notification that Charities Services, previously called the Charities Commission, intends to continue its attempts to deregister the charity. Family First is appealing the decision and it will be heard in the High Court at Wellington early next year. The group was advised in 2013 the Charities Commission intended to deregister the Read more
Family First is welcoming the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the deregistration of Greenpeace as a charity because of its political activity. The Charities Registration Board had sought to deregister Family First as a charity, in the wake of the recent same-sex marriage debate. Family First appealed to the High Court, but a hearing has been on Read more
Prime Minister John Key has signalled possible loosening of euthanasia laws. But he said he would not vote for a bill proposed by Labour MP Maryan Street. Street’s bill allows any adult suffering from a condition likely to cause their death within 12 months to request medical assistance to die. “If it’s the same bill, I’ll Read more
Bob McCoskrie says he’s not alone in resigning as a marriage celebrant over concerns about gay marriage, but other celebrants say they’re not aware of resignations over the issue. Mr McCoskrie, the Family First national director, has not renewed his licence as a celebrant because he rejects the state definition of marriage, he announced on Read more
Maryan Street, a member of Parliament in New Zealand disputes the figures in a report prepared by the Institute of Marriage and Family in Canada which claims deaths by assisted suicide have increased wherever the practices have been legalised. The report states that international evidence shows that once assisted suicide or euthanasia are legalised, the criteria morph to include more Read more
Pharmacies are being targeted to provide the emergency contraceptive pill, commonly known as the morning after pill, to Taranaki youth aged between 12 and 24, as part of the development of Taranaki’s Taiohi (youth) health strategy. District health board portfolio manager Jenny James said the teenage birth, termination of pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates Read more
Louisa Wall says much of the opposition to the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill was down to inaccurate “scaremongering” such as claims churches would be forced to marry gay couples. But according to Family First’s Bob McCoskrie experience shows that those assurances are shallow promises. To support his contention McCoskrie sites the following facts: Canada: A court has ruled that Read more
Family First NZ is calling for the government to withdraw funding of Family Planning and Rainbow Youth’s sex education programmes, resources and websites which fail to tell the full facts and which compromise the concerns and wishes of parents, and the safety of young people. “Despite groups like Family Planning and Rainbow Youth being challenged Read more