Kōrero: Public protest

Petition: opposing gay law reform (3 o 3)

Petition: opposing gay law reform

New Zealand's largest petition, against the decriminalisation of homosexuality, was presented to Parliament in 1985. In a media stunt, it was piled pyramid-like on Parliament’s steps, flanked by New Zealand flags. In this image MPs Norman Jones (with the umbrella), Graeme Lee and Geoff Braybrooke receive the petition. Organisers claimed it had been signed by over 800,000 people, but official scrutineers reduced that number by more than a quarter. The petition failed to deter Parliament from decriminalising homosexual acts between consenting males.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference: EP/1985/4285

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Ben Schrader, 'Public protest - Letter writing, petitions, meetings and rallies', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/35085/petition-opposing-gay-law-reform (accessed 29 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Ben Schrader, i tāngia i te 20 Jun 2012, reviewed & revised 26 Apr 2023