National MP Georgina Te Heu Heu has found herself in hot water after apparently turning up at an AIDS Foundation function in Wellington this week wearing a Civil Union Bill supporters badge – she voted against the Bill at its first reading. Some gay attendees were reportedly irritated at Te Heu Heu's presence. One contacted GayNZ.com saying that it was disturbing that an MP opposed to the Civil Union Bill would turn up at a function attended by so many of the people whose rights she was seeking to deny with her negative vote. A representative of Wellington's Up newspaper says that when Te Heu Heu was confronted about the badge (which she reportedly wore throughout most of the function) she said she had still not decided what her final vote on the Bill was going to be. When asked why she was wearing the badge, the Up reporter says she took it off, saying she didn't want to be known as a hypocrite and refused to answer further questions. Questions from GayNZ.com clarifying the incident and Te Heu Heu's position on the Civil Union Bill have so far been ignored by her office.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 2nd December 2004 - 12:00pm