Civil Union Act 2004
The Civil Union Act 2004 is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand. 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 | |
| Enacted 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 | Civil Union Bill |
| Bill published on | 21 June 2004 |
| Introduced by | David Benson-Pope |
| 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 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.
It is administered by the Ministry of Justice and is under the jurisdiction of the Family Court.
The Civil Union Act 2004 is still in force, despite New Zealand providing same-sex marriages since 19 August 2013, under the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013.
References
- Civil Union Bill Passed, The New Zealand Herald, 9 December 2004
- MPs vote 65-55 in favour of Civil Union Bill, The New Zealand Herald, 2 December 2004