NZ legalised homosexuality 40 years ago – but even today, justice issues remain

Sat, 11 Jul 2026 22:51:25 +1000

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://theconversation.com/nz-legalised-homosexuality-40-years-ago-but-even-today-justice-issues-remain-286844>

"Significant developments in social history sometimes happen through law
reform. Arguably, New Zealand’s most significant example is that it was the
first country to pass legislation to grant all women the right to vote, in
1893.

Often, however, New Zealand was not first but a slow follower.

Homosexual law reform is an example of the latter. Forty years ago, on July 9
1986, the House of Representatives passed – narrowly – the Homosexual Law
Reform Act 1986
.

It broadly legalised consensual sexual practices between men, as well as
consensual anal sex regardless of the partners’ gender. It essentially removed
the criminal law from a private space where people expressed their sexuality
and love.

But it would take decades for the government to recognise that the previous law
required an apology to those convicted, and even today issues remain."

Cheers,
    *** Xanni ***

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