After a drawn-out high level row last week, the Minister who was in charge of New Zealand's Civil Union legislation as it passed through Parliament has now resigned from cabinet. The Civil Union Act saw David Benson-Pope in the centre of debate that divided the Beehive in 2004. Michael Wallmannsberger, co-ordinator of the former Campaign for Civil Unions, reflects on Benson-Pope's difficult role at the time: “The opposition to Civil Unions was fierce and often targeted at those who promoted and supported the bills. “Being in charge of the legislation required steady courage and an even hand as tempers in the community frayed.” Benson-Pope spoke publicly in shock against the Destiny Church's protests against the Civil Union bill: "It reminds us of some of the darker days of history. This intolerance is pretty scary. More so because it is being taught by a church." NZ Herald columnist Garth George then branded the minister a "fundamentalist leftie", whose public concern was "dirty politics". Benson-Pope's office was vandalised, and jar a faeces left outside his door by people he described as “extremists” during the bill's progress. “I am not asserting for a moment that people must agree with this legislation,” he said in response. “From the outset I welcomed an open and informed debate. However, I am concerned about how some people are expressing their views and the fear, hatred and intolerance that lie at their heart.” Ref: GayNZ.com (m)