Charter Promotes Family Life (Press, 26 March 1981)

On 26 March 1981, the Family Rights Association announced its plan to present a charter to the New Zealand Parliament that advocates for principles aimed at promoting a "sound family life." The charter, developed by the 500-member organisation, seeks to counteract what they perceive as the detrimental effects of the Working Women’s Charter by advocating traditional family values and marriage standards. The charter consists of 15 clauses and defines a family as a legally married husband and wife with children. It explicitly states that no official recognition should be afforded to de facto or homosexual relationships, although it acknowledges the need for support for dependent wives and children from such unions. One of its more controversial assertions is that any deviation from traditional sexual norms is considered a deviation from divine design. In line with this belief, the charter stipulates that proponents of homosexuality and similar non-traditional identities should be barred from teaching in schools. The association's president, Mr G. J. Hart, firmly stated that parents should maintain the right to exclude homosexual educators from schools, emphasising a parental prerogative to reject such influences on their children. Additionally, the charter calls for a ban on abortion and advocates for addressing the root causes that may lead to it, namely fear, poverty, and ignorance. The members argue against the use of public funds to support free contraceptive, sterilisation, and abortion services. They strongly criticise legislation that permits services for children under the age of 16 without parental consent, labelling it a "subversion of parental authority." The charter also touches on economic policies, proposing that health services should be made more affordable, along with calls for lower taxation and tax deductions for various family-related expenses such as medical, dental, educational, and home mortgage costs. It suggests the introduction of a maternity allowance and an inflation-indexed family benefit to support families economically. Mr D. M. J. Jones, the member of Parliament for Helensville, supported the association's efforts, stating the importance of family life in an era where social responsibilities could be easily neglected in favour of "soft options." He affirmed that the family charter serves as a vital framework for outlining principles that would uphold and promote a respectable family life in New Zealand. Overall, the Family Rights Association's charter is a significant assertion of traditional family values, advocating against contemporary social norms and legislation that they believe undermine the traditional family structure.

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