Five weeks since couples have been legally able to be joined in a civil union, figures show that the legislation has not taken off with as much of a roar as its passionate and loud controversy had imagined. Internal Affairs figures show that between its introduction on 26 April and the end of last month, only 23 female couples, 23 male couples and 10 heterosexual couples have been joined in civil unions. In comparison, about 1700 couples get married in New Zealand every month. Critics use these figures to continue their argument that the government were using the bill to legalise gay marriage in all but the name. The legislation allows all couples a secular alternative to marriage, giving them the same rights regardless of sexual orientation.