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New Zealand First Party on Family and Morals

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The issues

New Zealand First Party strongly supports raising the legal drinking age to 20

New Zealand First will raise the drinking age.

New Zealand First Party is neutral on gay marriage

New Zealand First has no specific policy on gay marriage but 12 of its 13 MPs voted against the Civil Unions Act. During the final debate leader Winston Peters said the Act “condemned those very people [gays] to second class citizenry”, but MP Dail Jones said “marriage can be the relationship of only a man and a woman, with a view to having children”.

New Zealand First Party supports lifting restrictions on Easter trading

Winston Peters has long advocated that “with safeguards” to family life, local governments should be able to allow Easter trading in their districts if they so desire. New Zealand First MPs voted for the failed Easter Trading Amendment Bill in 2007.

New Zealand First Party is neutral on the amendment to section 59 of the Crimes Act, also known as the Child Discipline Act

New Zealand First doesn’t mention the Act in its policy, but MPs were split on the vote. Four of the party’s MPs voted aye, and three (including leader Winston Peters) voted no.

New Zealand First Party strongly supports the retention of the Families Commission

New Zealand First will “consider the expansion of the role of the Families Commission into issues more pertinent to families, rather than just policy development”.