Homosexuality and New Zealand

Sex between men was decriminalised in 1986. New Zealand enacted legislation that permitted civil unions in 2005, which allow couples many of the same rights as married couples. On April 17, 2013, New Zealand allowed homosexual "marriage". This is the last in the long slide in morality and social values in the land of the long white cloud.

The Human Rights Act 1993 outlaws discrimination on the grounds of sexuality. Initially this law exempted government activities until the year 1999. There are no specific barriers to homosexual individuals adopting children, except that men cannot adopt female children. Homosexual couples cannot adopt.