Civil Union Milestone

Civil unions in NZ have reached the 1000 mark, according to government officials. The Civil Union Act, which came into effect in April 2005, gives both heterosexual and homosexual couples the same legal rights as married couples. The majority of civil unions to date have been between same-sex partners. Lesbians Alburta Gibson and Tina Pitman of South Auckland recently became the 100th couple to make use of the law. “The civil union legislation has ensured couples such as Alburta and Tina can formalize their relationship in a legal manner,” said Labour MP Tim Barnett, who sponsored the Civil Union Act. “This law recognized the reality of New Zealand relationships. It was opposed in raw and prejudiced ways. It has turned out to be a comprehensive success.”