A spokesperson for Wellington's Gay Association of Professionals says the first-time surrogacy application by a gay couple is an important test case for New Zealand's GLBT community. "If approved it will send a signal to the gay and lesbian communities that same sex relationships are equal in the eyes of the Government and Medical Ethics bureaucracy," says Karl Baker. "An approval is to be applauded as full non-discrimination and equal human rights for all gay and lesbian people in New Zealand has long been a central aim of the gay and lesbian community." Meanwhile, the Catholic church has voiced opposition to the application and the government ethics committee has deferred a decision until next month.