It represents an attack on the family, on the status and dignity of women and on the right to life of New Zealanders in the first nine months of life.

Our right to life is universal and inalienable.

The denial of the right to life of the unborn is an attack on the right to life of every member of our human family.

If today Parliament can deny the right to life of the unborn it will inevitably deny our right to life when we cease to be of value to the State.

By taking women and the unborn out of the protection of the Crimes Act, this Act for the first time in the history of New Zealand has given permission for the violent killing of the unborn up to birth.

This appalling Act has created a very dangerous precedent.

It was prophesied by the Royal Commission on Contraception Sterilisation and Abortion in 1977, when it warned Parliament, that if Parliament did not effectively protect the right to life of the unborn, a future Parliament would refuse to protect the right to life of those with Dementia and Alzheimer's.

The Act achieves the following outcomes:-

• It withdraws the protection of the State to protect women and their unborn child.
• It denies the humanity of the unborn child.
• It denies the child's inalienable God-given right to life.
• It grants property rights to the mother over her child.
• It declares that it is no longer a crime to kill an unborn child.
• It grants the "right" of the mother to terminate the life of her child,
• It pretends that the killing of a defenceless unborn child is health care.
• It violates the conscience rights of doctors not to be involved in the killing of their unborn patients.
• It violates the right of free speech and assembly of those who seek to offer help to women seeking an abortion or to pray within 150 metres of a killing centre.

The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, the architect of this Act must accept responsibility for the violence that this Act will inflict on women.

Right to Life willingly concedes that she and her colleagues are motivated by the noblest of aspirations in doing what is best for women.

Sadly she and her colleagues are sadly mistaken.

We do not help women by empowering them to kill their children before they are born.

The mark of a civilised society is the loving protection that they surround their women and children with to shield them from violence. This Act will expose women to increased coercion and violence to terminate the life of their child.

Right to Life commends the MPs who voted to defeat this Act at its third reading.

The pro-life movement will not rest until this draconian anti-life Act is repealed.

• Ken Orr is Spokesperson for Right to Life
• Image: Supplied

It was the first time Parliament had opened with a Muslim prayer, to the best knowledge of the Speaker's Office.

The interfaith group included representatives of the Islamic, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Ratana, Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian faiths and churches.

The Catholic archbishop of Wellington Cardinal John Dew represented the Catholic church.

In New Zealand's Parliament, non-MPs on the floor of the debating chamber are known as strangers.

As the name implies they are not allowed there and are not welcome.

That, however, was not the case on Tuesday.

"I've asked a group of religious leaders to come into Parliament with me as a sign of unity and togetherness ..." Mallard said.

Sung first in Arabic by Imam Nizam ul haq Thanvi, and then translated into English, the prayer asked God for help with "patience and prayers", noting "God is with people who are patient".

The prayer also acknowledged Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and those who responded to the terror attack including medical staff, the police, religious groups and all New Zealanders who had offered help and support.

The Imam's prayer was followed by prayers from both Maori and Pakeha MPs.

Source

• radionz.co.nz
• newsroom.co.nz
• Image: RNZ / Rebekah Parsons-King

From 1984 to 2002 Copeland served as the financial administrator of the Catholic Archdiocese of Wellington.

He served as a Member of Parliament from 2002 to 2008 entering the House of Representatives as a list MP for the United Future New Zealand Party.

As a member of parliament, Copeland promoted the importance of the family in building a strong nation.

He was a strong advocate for marriage preparation, marriage enrichment programmes and parenting programmes.

He also wanted to develop policy giving greater encouragement to charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Following his 2005 re-election, Copeland gained the support of other social conservatives for his political views.

But he resigned from the United Future Party in May 2007.

With another former United Future list MP, Larry Baldock, he formed the Future New Zealand Party in May 2007. It later changed its name to the Kiwi Party.

He stood for parliament again in 2008 and 2011 but failed to be elected.

Copeland worked for fourteen years in the oil industry, becoming the chief financial officer of BP in New Zealand.

Later, he worked as a self-employed business consultant with corporate and government clients.

Copeland chaired the Inter-Church Working Party on Taxation (1987-2002) and became a member of the Working Party on Registration, Reporting and Monitoring of Charities that led to setting up the New Zealand Charities Commission.

Peter Dunne, retired former leader of the United Future party, said on Tuesday night he was sad to hear of Copeland's passing.

"I think he made a really strong contribution to the party."

Copeland had a strong financial background and stood by his strong moral and ethical views, Dunne said.

His requiem mass will be celebrated at St Gerard's Church and Monastery, Hawker St, Mt Victoria in Wellington on Friday.

Source

• stuff.co.nz
• en.wikipedia.org
• Image: stuff.co.nz

So too do Peter Dunne and Damien O'Connor. Even David Carter can put a similar claim to fame on his curriculum vitae.

All five sitting Members of Parliament attended St Bede's College in Christchurch's north-east - a record thought to be unequalled anywhere in New Zealand political history. Mark Blumsky, a recent former MP and Wellington Mayor, also walked its corridors as a young man. Continue reading

Brownlee recalled Mr Horomia used to send notes to MP's he noticed didn't have their eyes closed during the Parliamentary prayer.

He said Mr Horomia would sit with one eye shut and the other roving around the chamber. "And if you saw that eye, he would send you a note saying 'I notice you didn't have your eyes shut through the prayer. That's very disrespectful.'"

Mr Horomia, a much loved MP by all members of Parliament, died ten days ago, and Tuesday was the first opportunity for the House to acknowledge him and his contribution to Parliament and the Country.

The New Zealand Prime Minister said Mr Horomia was a passionate advocate for Maori and that the House would remember him as a man who could fight and struggle for the issues he believed in, but do it in a way where he didn't make enemies.

Marist priest working in the Whaia Te Whaea ministry based in Te Puna, Fr David Gledhill, also paid tribute to Mr Horomia.

"Whether you were the Prime Minister, Tribal Chief or a local he was having a beer with, Mr Horomia treated everybody the same.

"To the locals he was just an ordinary fella they voted for and who advocated hard for them. They were surprised at his Tangi to learn of his national achievements and the respect, the aroha, top people in the country had for him," he said.

Sources

• NZ Herald
• Image: Maori TV

Not all that long ago, it was illegal to be a gay man in New Zealand. It took a long and often courageous battle against discrimination before it was decriminalised in 1986. Now, in 2012, many people wonder what all the fuss was about. I cannot help but feel that in 20 years' time, the same will be said for the issue of marriage equality.

Labour MP Louisa Wall's private member's bill would allow same-sex couples to marry on the same footing as heterosexual couples. It has garnered significant support, but whether it passes into law remains to be seen. Like the issue of New Zealand becoming a republic, marriage equality has a sense of inevitability about it. One day the New Zealand Parliament will pass such a measure. I do not see why that day cannot be in 2012. Read more

Sources

• Kieran McAnulty in Stuff Nation
• Image: TV3 News

Kieran McAnulty is a proud Wairarapa Bush supporter and treasurer of The Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand.

"We don't care who's on top." No hint of the turbulent Becket there, Your Majesty, no call to sustain the separation of church and state, no suggestion that some things only should be rendered unto Caesar. No, this is surrender, sir, meek and complete.

Moreover, it should come as no surprise. When you've got Bishops who can't even be bothered to preserve their cathedrals, it's little wonder their subordinates aren't too fussed about what goes on inside them. Read more

Sources

• Jim Hopkins in The New Zealand Herald
• Image: Marriage.com

Jim Hopkins is a Herald columnist.