# ...Gay Marriage now legal in New Zealand. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2013, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923 "2013-04-17T09:41:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/21 "2013-04-17T19:54:34Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > That was legalised quite some time ago. What this event has actually done is proved the theory that legalised sheep marriage would eventually lead to gay marriage. But can you marry a same sex sheep, or is that still a cause to pursue? ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/22 "2013-04-17T19:57:10Z")
I looked at this thread and thought “only 19 replies? perhaps I’ll be the first to make a sheep joke” But no. Not by a long chalk. Your collective swift, lazy stereotypes disappoint me. (especially when you use them before I do) Anyhoo, hurrah for NZ. Civilised country, lovely people. I’m far too lazy to look but it’d be interesting to see a bar chart of gay marriage ratification over the last couple of decades, it has to be a pretty solid trend. People did say that equality legislation would turn out to be the thin end of the wedge. Turns out that was true. It is a rather fabulous and rainbow coloured wedge as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/23 "2013-04-17T20:03:55Z")
Congratulations, NZ, and welcome to the club, eh? 🙂 > [@Sampiro](#): > > But can an elf marry a hobbit? Oh, like _that_ will ever happen. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/24 "2013-04-17T20:07:28Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Lawmakers [burst into song](http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/04/17/new_zealand_gay_marriage_law_passes_supporters_sing_maori_love_song_in_parliament.html) as the law passes _Parliament: The Musical_ If only they’d had a dance number to go with it, it would have been perfect. 😃 Also: [Popping the Question - Scandinavia and the World](http://satwcomic.com/popping-the-question) and [Land of the Free-est - Scandinavia and the World](http://satwcomic.com/land-of-the-free-est) are even better today. ---
**Author:** ![Kiyoshi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e19adc/32.png) [@Kiyoshi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiyoshi)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/25 "2013-04-17T21:14:35Z")
> [@ctnguy](#): > > Parliament TV [has uploaded it to Youtube](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW4DXOAXF8U) where anyone can watch it. Could I ask one of the New Zealanders for a little cultural translation please? : What was that song that everyone was singing? Is it normal for there to be singing in parliament? Also, I’m guessing that the song is in Maori. Everyone seemed to know the words – is Maori widely spoken in NZ? ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/26 "2013-04-17T21:33:52Z")
> [@Kiyoshi](#): > > Could I ask one of the New Zealanders for a little cultural translation please? : > > What was that song that everyone was singing? Is it normal for there to be singing in parliament? Also, I’m guessing that the song is in Maori. Everyone seemed to know the words – is Maori widely spoken in NZ? …[the song is](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokarekare_Ana) [Pokarekare Ana,](http://folksong.org.nz/pokarekare/)and is a very widely known, popular NZ song where nearly every Kiwi knows the first verse. Here is [Billy Connolly singing it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IsRonHdTOo) As announced by the Acting Speaker this was a [Waita](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waiata_(M%C4%81ori)), and while not an overly common thing in parliament the singing of Waiata is quite traditional in many NZ and Maori custom. Maori is an official language of New Zealand and an estimated 100,000 people can speak at the [least conversationally in Maori.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C4%81ori_language#Geographic_distribution) ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/27 "2013-04-17T21:57:56Z")
The song is [Pokarekare Ana](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokarekare_Ana) and it’s probably the most well-known Maori song in New Zealand. I’d wager most New Zealanders could bluff their way through the first verse and the chorus. As for singing in Parliament, it’s not an everyday occurrence but does happen from time to time. Here’s an example from the final reading of the [Ngati Porou claims settlement Bill](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHKJbNyLVWc). Waiata are an integral part of Maori oratory and most speakers will end with a waiata (along with anyone else who wants to sing along). ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/28 "2013-04-18T02:16:31Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …“UNLOCK THE DOORS!” > > [http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Waiata-and-celebration-as-bill-passes/tabid/370/articleID/294677/Default.aspx](http://www.3news.co.nz/VIDEO-Waiata-and-celebration-as-bill-passes/tabid/370/articleID/294677/Default.aspx) > > Not everyone will be able to watch the video as its NZ locked: but here was the announcement the bill had passed, and the Waiata that followed. Listened to most of the debate tonight: wonderful to hear the “conservative” MP’s speaking out on behalf of the bill, including people like John Banks who I never would have dreamed of supporting the bill. Maurice Williamson gave a wonderfully funny speech and Tau Henare destroyed Winston Peters in an old school off-the-cuff one minute rebuttal. And to my American friends: Banks, Williamson and Henare would be classified as “right wing” and they heartily supported the bill that was introduced by parliaments left wing. > > Very proud to be a Kiwi tonight: well done Louisa Wall for introducing the bill and working so hard to get it passed. Kia kaha. Yep - I’m not in NZ so missed the video, but have shared the news all over my facebook and a local forum… Went and watched PoKareKare Ana (with english subtitles) over herehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GXua6gD4Hc And then for good measure some old Haka coverage - proud to be a Kiwi today ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/29 "2013-04-18T09:21:37Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > People did say that equality legislation would turn out to be the thin end of the wedge. Turns out that was true. It is a rather fabulous and rainbow coloured wedge as well. Not so much a wedge as a stylish kitten heel. ---
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/30 "2013-04-18T10:19:28Z")
Kia kaha ---
**Author:** ![Gretel\_burps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ea666f/32.png) [@Gretel\_burps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gretel_burps)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/31 "2013-04-18T10:51:22Z")
I am a proud Kiwi today!😃 ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/32 "2013-04-18T13:24:58Z")
It’s a good day to be gay! Come on you straight breeders, you! What are you waiting for!? _runs away_ 😛 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/33 "2013-04-18T15:11:51Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > But can an elf marry a hobbit? God created Frodo and Pam, not Frodo and Sam. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/34 "2013-04-18T15:39:47Z")
Dude, Sam’s married to Rosie. You’re thinking polygamy, not SSM. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/35 "2013-04-18T15:56:47Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Dude, Sam’s married to Rosie. And Rock Hudson was married to Phyllis Gates. ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923/36 "2013-04-18T23:30:41Z")
Just this in 9gag… had to share it… [http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/aYN3ZVw\_460s.jpg](http://d24w6bsrhbeh9d.cloudfront.net/photo/aYN3ZVw_460s.jpg) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gay-marriage-now-legal-in-new-zealand/655923.md?page=1)