'A Step Nearer Equality' (Press, 27 February 1975)

On 26 February 1975, the University Students' Association expressed its views on the Crimes Amendment Bill before the Select Committee, highlighting significant inconsistencies within the legislation, particularly regarding homosexual behaviour. The association acknowledged that while the bill addressed some aspects of equality and social justice by making sanctions against male homosexual activities less severe, it still retained notable anomalies. One of the primary concerns raised was the disparity in ages of consent between male and female homosexual relations. The bill proposed that the age of consent for male homosexual activity be set at 21, contrasting with the existing law that allowed female homosexual relations at the age of 16. Moreover, it stipulated that a male committing an indecent act with a boy under the age of consent would face double the imprisonment term compared to a male who has sexual intercourse with a girl under the age of consent. Despite these concerns, the University Students' Association expressed qualified support for the bill, advocating for legal equality across all sexual orientations and calling for the elimination of legislation that discriminates based on sexual preference. The association emphasised the need for a unified approach to sexual behaviour that treats homosexual and heterosexual actions equally. Similarly, the Sisters for Homophile Equality from Christchurch opposed the discriminatory differences in penalties based on the gender of the child involved in sexual offences. They argued for consistency in legal repercussions regardless of the sex of the offender or victim. The Student Teachers' Association also underscored the necessity of repealing laws that discriminate against homosexual behaviour. In contrast, the Salvation Army provided a more conservative perspective. While it opposed homosexuality on moral grounds, it advocated for amendments to the law that would approach the issue with compassion rather than outright legalisation of homosexual acts. The organisation suggested a focus on rehabilitating offenders rather than punitive measures. Additionally, the Government announced plans to finance urban renewal in Wellington with a loan of $2,090,000 to the Wellington City Council. This initiative aims to provide housing for 211 individuals in 79 flats, including the construction of an eight-storey tower. The funding aligns with more than $1 million already approved for urban renewal projects within Wellington for the current financial year.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand