Historical Events - Political
| 1861 | Death penalty for buggery is abolished in the United Kingdom Info However, male homosexual acts still remained illegal and were punishable by imprisonment |
| 1 Nov 1867 | New Zealand's buggery law is revised, reducing the maximum sentence to 10 years imprisonment Info (Offences Against the Person Act 1867 / Unnatural Offences) |
| 1885 | The buggery law in the United Kingdom is extended to include any kind of sexual activity between males Info (Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885) |
| 19 Sep 1893 | New Zealand becomes the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote in parliamentary elections Info Alt Info |
| 6 Oct 1893 | New Zealand's law is broadened to outlaw any sexual activity between men Info Penalties include life imprisonment, hard labour and flogging (Criminal Code Act 1893) |
| 1941 | Flogging is removed as a punishment for homosexual acts Info (Offences Against the Person Act 1867 / Unnatural Offences) |
| 1954 | Hard labour is removed as a punishment for homosexual acts Info (Offences Against the Person Act 1867 / Unnatural Offences) |
| 4 Sep 1957 | The Wolfenden report is published, United Kingdom Info One of the recommendations: homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence |
| 1959 | The Attorney-General H.G.R. Mason tries unsuccessfully to have the penalties for homosexual acts reduced Info |
| 28 Jul 1967 | The Sexual Offences Act 1967 decriminalises homosexual acts in England and Wales Info It sets the age of consent at 21 |
| Jul 1974 | National MP Venn Young introduces the Crimes Amendment Bill Info Alt Info It is the first parliamentary attempt at homosexual law reform (with an age of consent of 21) |
| Jul 1974 | Prime Minister Norman Kirk (Labour) opposes the Venn Young Bill Info Kirk is quoted as saying homosexuality is 'unnatural' |
| Jul 1975 | Labour MP Gerald Wall moves an amendment to the Venn Young Bill The amendment proposes that any communication to under 20s that homosexuality is normal is punishable by two years imprisonment |
| Jul 1975 | Parliamentary Select Committee reports back on the Venn Young Bill It reduces the age of consent from 21 to 20 |
| 4 Jul 1975 | The Venn Young Bill is defeated 34 to 29 (with 23 abstentions) |
| Nov 1975 | Robin Duff stands in the General Election as an openly gay candidate for the Values party |
| 7 Nov 1976 | Prime Minister Robert Muldoon accuses Colin Moyle of having been picked up for homosexual practices Info Alt Info |
| 1977 | Minister of Agriculture Colin Moyle resigns from Parliament Info Alt Info Moyle resigned after it was made public that he had been questioned by the police on suspicion of homosexual activities |
| Jul 1977 | Parliament refuses to include sexual orientation in the new Human Rights Commission Act There is no protection against discrimination in work and living situations |
| Nov 1978 | Robin Duff and Sandy Gauntlett stand in the General Election They are both openly gay candidates for the Values Party |
| 1979 | Labour MP Warren Freer introduces a Crimes Amendment Bill to decriminalize homosexual acts Info Alt Info The Bill has a proposed age of consent of 20 |
| 1980 | Labour MP Warren Freer again proposes homosexual law reform Info Alt Info |
| 20 Mar 1980 | Lesbian Mothers Defence Fund presents a submission to the select committee considering the Guardianship Amendment Bill Info |
| Jun 1980 | The Freer Bill is abandoned due to lack of support |
| Jul 1980 | Wellington Mayor Michael Fowler vetoes lesbian notices in buses Info Fowler objected to 'Lesbians, contact your local community' |
| Sep 1980 | Chief Human Rights Commissioner Pat Downey supports rejection of National Gay Rights Coalition submissions, saying in some circumstances discrimination is justified |
| 8 Mar 1985 | Labour MP Fran Wilde introduces the Homosexual Law Reform Bill Info Alt Info |
| 9 Jul 1986 | Part 1 of the Homosexual Law Reform Bill is narrowly passed in Parliament (49 to 44) Info Alt Info Part 2 of the Bill dealing with anti-discrimination measures is lost |
| 11 Jul 1986 | Homosexual Law Reform Act is signed into law by the Governor General |
| 8 Aug 1986 | The Homosexual Law Reform Act comes into effect |
| 1987 | Trevor Barnard stands as an openly gay candidate for the NZ Democratic party in Eastern Hutt |
| 12 Oct 1988 | New Zealand Navy announces its gay-friendly policy |
| 1989 | Crimes Act incorporates Homosexual Law Reform Act amendments |
| 29 Jul 1993 | The Human Rights Commission Amendment Act, outlawing discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation is passed Info Alt Info The government is exempt until 31 December 1999 |
| 23 Dec 1993 | Chris Carter (Labour) becomes the first openly gay member of parliament |
| 1 Feb 1994 | The Human Rights Act 1993 becomes law Info Alt Info The Act outlaws discrimination on a wide variety of grounds including sexual orientation |
| Dec 1994 | High Court rules that post-operative transsexuals can marry in their adopted sex |
| 21 Oct 1995 | Georgina Beyer is elected Mayor of Carterton Beyer became the world's first transexual mayor |
| Jan 1996 | Judith Tizard MP (Labour) proposes legalising same-sex marriage |
| 5 Mar 1996 | Cenus forms have the option of specifing same-sex partners |
| 24 Apr 1996 | The High Court hears an application by three lesbian couples to rule on the legality of their applications to marry |
| 30 May 1996 | The High Court rules that marriage in common law means mixed couples |
| 12 Oct 1996 | Tim Barnett (Labour), who is openly gay, is elected in the first MMP General Election |
| Mar 1997 | Gay and Lesbian Labour Party branches are formed in Auckland and Christchurch |
| Sep 1997 | Auckland City Council refuses to fund the Hero Parade |
| 17 Dec 1997 | Court of Appeal turns down three lesbian couples' appeal against High Court ruling against same-sex marriage |
| May 1998 | Government announces a Human Rights Amendment that will prolong the Government's exemption from the Human Rights Commission Act indefinitely |
| Jul 1998 | Defacto Property Bill is introduced, regularising disposal of property on death or separation of unmarried couples, but not same-sex ones |
| Jul 1998 | Labour Relations Bill introduced, granting same-sex partners leave for partners' sickness |
| 5 Aug 1998 | Hamilton District Court rules a lesbian liable for maintenance of a child born to her ex-partner during their relationship There are no corresponding custody rights |
| 19 Aug 1998 | National (minority) Government introduces Human Rights Amendment saying it will bring Government into line with HRC Act (with some exceptions) |
| 27 Nov 1998 | Auckland City Council under new Mayor Christine Fletcher grants $15,000 for Hero Parade cleanup |
| 2000 | The Property (Relationships) Act 2000 becomes law The Act gives de facto couples, whether opposite or same sex, the same property rights on the break-up of a relationship |
| 9 Dec 2004 | Civil Union Act is passed Info Alt Info The Act gives same-sex couples an equivalent to marriage |
| 26 Nov 2009 | Provocation defence is abolished by Parliament Section 169 of the Crimes Act 1961 |
| 15 Feb 2012 | Green MP Jan Logie makes her maiden speech in Parliament Info Logie describes herself as a leftie, feminist lesbian |
Queen of the Whole Universe portraits