Divisions in Labour over marriage equality

12/09/2012 4:22:47 p.m.

Craig Young wrote:

It is possible to exaggerate this. Only three Labour MPs ended up voting against the first reading of the bill, while twenty nine National MPs did so. This seems to indicate that National is more divided than Labour on this issue, as one would expect.

28/08/2012 4:37:25 p.m.

Ichthyic wrote:

"Mr Sio says the bill could cost Auckland up to 30,000 votes in the South Auckland heartland where the conservative religious Pacific Island community are opposed to the idea of gay marriage." all this tells me is that we need to work harder to educate people about the fact that their rights stop right where someone else's begin. It does not harm anyone ELSES rights for gay people to be allowed to marry legally. nobody. I'm sorry, but not being offended, while often treated as a right, actually isn't, and never should be.

16/08/2012 11:27:27 a.m.

Gary wrote:

LARRY I did not mean to offend, in the early days and for many hundreds of years Europeans would have replied How high Sir too - for fear of being killed, but now we have looked deeper and used science to question Christianity? What does it really represent and stand for?? What is the true history behind it? Mr Sio does have the right to stand by his thoughts just as I have the right to stand by mine and gays have the right to stand by theirs! If Labour lose votes it is not because of this bill it is because voters have lost confidence with the party!

15/08/2012 9:36:14 p.m.

Larry wrote:

Gary...What are you trying to prove??? What??? Polynesian and brown people are dumb and stupid??? keep your theories to your self! Louise Walls!!! like we only hear of her now Cause she's using tax peoples money for her own goods just cause she's gay dont mean to be rude or anything but it's a issue to be left on the side...Mr Sio has the rights to stand by his thoughts if he thinks this bill is going to put the labour party at risk. It's already bad enough as it is for labour now John Key and his Party are going to allow it knowing it's going to affect a large majority of Labour voters...This is what the government wants it's what they hoped for, Intercept our thoughts to keep us thinking apart from the major issues there already is...Animal cruelty is far important then the gay marriage rights why don't we talk about that???

12/08/2012 5:44:37 p.m.

Gary wrote:

Mr Sio knows just how engrained religion is within the Pacific Island families. They were colonised by the British and made to follow Christianity and are relativly new deciples where Europeans have more knowledge about it, over 1600 years. Simply put if a Pastor asked a European man to jump he would say why? for what purpose? Whereas if a Pastor asked a Pacific Island man to jump he would say - How high sir!

12/08/2012 8:54:47 a.m.

frank wrote:

Well done Mr Sio it is nice to see a man with a backbone. It is a pity Mr Shearer has not got one too

10/08/2012 6:03:46 p.m.

CHRISTIAN wrote:

there is divisions in national over the bill . that's democracy and its healthy .

9/08/2012 7:37:02 p.m.

Peter wrote:

There is a difference between making decissions that future generations will benefit from and what choice is made for political gain. The reality our law makers should not be concerned about whether or not a piece of law will or will not get them elected, but whether that law is good law, and the benefits future generations will benefit from that. Its in making that decission that distringuishes a real leader from a politician. The reality is gay couples should be allowed to marry. Its a no brainer, and its time we set aside this issue and move on. I am sure that is what New Zealanders want. In its current form the Marriage Act is bad law. Its dated and needs a revamp.

9/08/2012 5:08:36 p.m.

David wrote:

LOL christopher even though you dont know how to spell your own name. You have a very very limited idea of what socialism and capitalism are dont you. Socialism is caring for people... capitalism is about caring for nothing but wealth... and scew everyone else. Socialism is about having empathy and compassion.. Capitalism is devoid of both things. Socialism is about having ethics and morality.... against two concepts that capitalists know nothing about. If you are going to insult people you should at least research the differences between both things... and capitalism.... just isnt as great as you pretend. Particularly as you dont actually know what capitalism is.... or the fact that it is devoid of empthy, compassion, morality and ethics lol you are so laughable.... if you want to know where most of the bad things in the world come from including the recent recession... its the moral corruption ingrained in the capitalist mind.

9/08/2012 1:26:50 p.m.

Chrtopher wrote:

There is always division with in Labour. Labour are divided by the corrupt socialist doctrines. National are driven by their neo liberal progressive doctrines. Labour will continue to self implode. The polling is going south. Shearer is weak, the rank and file hate him, the old dinosaur and senior MP'S are divided over the Cunliffe vs. Shearer camp - Mallard and others like Chris Trotter are driving this rift, many MPs still fear Cunliffe and Shearer is gutless to stand up to him. The rainbow side in Labour does not like the current regime. The unions dislike Shearer. Labour is splitting apart with the gay bill and bleeding votes. And some morons continue to them.support