Nikki Kaye and Kevin Hague Green MP Kevin Hague and National MP Nikki Kaye have reportedly joined forces to develop a bill that would legalise adoption by gay couples. The New Zealand Herald reports the Young Nats' northern regional conference in Auckland at the weekend passed a remit in closed session supporting adoption by couples in a civil union. It says the party's national conference in July is expected to debate a gay adoption remit, although such a matter would be a conscience vote in Parliament. “It is possible that the Government could pick up the work Ms Kaye and Mr Hague are doing on adoption and surrogacy laws as a Government measure, while making some of the controversial issues a conscience vote,” Political Editor Audrey Young writes. Kaye and Hague are drafting legislation to amend the Care of Children Bill 2004 based on a previous Law Commission report that looked at guardianship and adoption. The measure should be ready in a few months and would be a private member’s bill in Kaye or Hague’s name. Labour list MP Jacinda Ardern has a bill in the private members' bill ballot that would require the Law Commission to rewrite the law to allow gay couples to adopt. You can discuss this gay New Zealand community news story in the GayNZ.com forum here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 28th May 2012 - 9:01am