NZ Centre for Political Research

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe marriage is still important to society?

*Most definitely! Too many "instant" relationships and hopping in and out of one anothers beds! Kids dont know who their fathers really are and are really messed up....Ask the adult generation if they know their Dads? And if they like their Dads.......Bet they say NO! I cant stand him....he was never here for me! H. F

*Unfortunately, as stated in the article, marriage has been undermined by successive Governments to the point that there isn't much point in getting married.

I don't mind whether couples are married or not, but I do believe that marriage should be seen as providing legal protection for both parties. If you do not get married then you should not have that legal protection (when separating).

And as for women having the upper-hand in custody disputes - that is just outdated and stupid. Each parent is needed when raising children. One of them should not be deemed the 'carer' and the other the 'wallet'. Gary

*I am involved with running parenting courses and I have found that parents with the biggest problems are those who are trying to parent alone or in defacto relationships where the partner is not the father of all the children. Susan

*Preserving and esteeming Marriage is absolutely fundamental to maintaining a strong, successful and vibrant society. John

*At the beginning of the 20th Century Western intellectuals became infatuated with the communist ideals of free love, no ranks in the army, communal living everyone a comrade but despite the complete failure of the USSR and China to make communism work few of us can see how far the "ideals" have penetrated our thoughts and behaviour. Eneke

*Absolutely essesntial for children. Melody

*Two people are responsible for projucing a child so those two people are responsible for seeing it to adulthood so why do Governments encourage otherwise? Mary

*More important than ever. Ian

*Marriage demonstrates firm and sincere commitment, not only to the relationship but to the family unit. George

*If for nothing else it is a public promise of future intention. John

*For couples who love and care about each other and intend to raise a family, marriage should be a foregone conclusion. Why people are wary of making a commitment would result in a variety of seemingly reasonable responses BUT I believe there is something special about the exchange of vows and the promises that are made which give special significance to marriage. Bill

*Normalizing seperation is wrong and is destroying values and the social deterioration in NZ is frightening. Andrew

*Commitment to one another, through thick and thin, is what separates us from the animals. It is what we call 'love' and is the most precious thing we have. 'I take you ... to have and to hold ... to love and to cherish ... for better, for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health ... till death do us part'. What could be better than that???! Katharine

*Children of marriage breakups, and further partners of the parents. Lose out on family heritage, knowing who they are and wider family. Jane

*Marriage is the strongest constitution...the strength of a good marriage is formidable..the support of the family and especially the children is extremely important to the wellbeing and wellfare of not only the parents but particularly the children...the stability and being in a safe environment is paramount..yes some marriages are bad and of course those marriages for the sake of the children should be dissolved..but I still believe the solid marriage is the best for the family and the community. Audrey

*1. Marriage (between a man and a woman) is vital to the survival of our culture. A culture that is being attacked by minority groups bent on the destruction of values in society.
2. Marriage introduces commitment into a relationship. Commitment to a man, to a community, to a nation. Without these values we will self destruct.
3. As NZ continues down the road to default the DPB and child support will become less affordable.
4. Taxation and finacial disrimination should be applied by governments - in favour of marriage to promote the institution rather than policy to break down the institution - such as occurs today.
5. Fault clauses must be introduced to turnaround the horrendous statistics that exist. Following a decision to marry - longevity must be promoted by government policy.
6. Homosexuality must be isolated at all costs. This minority group is nothing but a cult that is advancing its edecated behavior to grow its culture. The law descriminating in its favour must be removed. Why should such a cult be given special law over the rest of the community?
7. When all people with aids die there will be more deaths than our greatest killing war. The base cause of aids is the filthy practise undertaken by this cult. Young people should have the choice "not to accept" this cult as part of their right to freedom of speech.
8. The next step (after) marriage that this cult will be politically aiming to achieve will be to have pedrophilia accepted and be permitted to be practised within their "family?"
9. A final comment is that the huge social costs now being encountered as we break down socially to decadence must be paid for by the taxpayer. This burden is being paid for using debt in a society that it becoming less internationally competitive year by year!!! Nick

*Respect and Commitment seem to be lacking in these loose relationships. Partners come and go leaving behind children who dont know where they belong. Carol

*Probably as far as raising children but do have concerns about it originally being patriarchal religiously-based. Monica

*In fact, marriage is more important than ever. It seems to me that the real problem with the law v marriage was when Helen Clark was PM. I have a recollection that she was quite anti-marriage and wanted to stop it. Do I remember correctly?Keep up the good work. GW

*It takes courage to make a lifetime commitment in marriage - never thought I would ever hear myself say 'in my day'.....well, I am saying it! In my day - we didn't dare think of anything other than commitment and marriage, we went into this knowing we were each strong [very!] characters! Knowing we would, and could argue! that there would be times when we not only 'fell out of love with each other' but that there would be times we damned did not even like each other! It's called 'life'...and you change and grow - after 41 years? to the same man? Wouldn't change a bit of it! We have learned to argue constructively, not destructively! we 'do our own thing'...we are still lovers and still fight, and dammit it is SO worth it! Today, the young ones would rather have no commitment and have no courage.....Naine

*Commitment and determination to keep the relationship strong are far more important. Margaret

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe marriage is still important to society?

*Much more teaching about what is needed should happen long before children reach teens. Benefits should not be given unless parents attend parenting classes and persist in good parenting. Elsie

*Yes it is very important. Problem is that in these times people don't get married be cause of the lack of trust, commitment, honesty, self-sacrifice and self-seeking. Even a third of the marriages today break up due to puting their own desires first.
Cheers. Rex

*All the evidence proves that marriage works and provides the most stable environment for the raising of children. Ronmac

*Thanks for an excellent article. Lorraine

*People should be free..live without any hassles. Frank

*Without a shadow of doubt. Ian

*This I feel strongly about. It goes deeper than just marriage. It is the belief in God and the moral code of conduct that is taught. A married Christian family is less likely to go off the rails. Desmond

*It may be just a formality, but it still is a stronger bond than the de-facto relationship. It may be just a psychological thing, but it does work to keep families together. Cristina

*Marriage is the cornerstone of society and should be ackowledged as such. Eric

*A Nation is only as strong as its families. When we rebel against God's laws we end up under a curse. The earth suffers for the sins of it's people, for they have twisted Gods instructions, violated his laws and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth. Its people must pay the price of its sin. They are destoyed by fire, and only a few are left alive. We are paying a high price now, and unless there is an intervention, and turn around, the future will be horrific. Max

*Younger folk dont have values or morals, must have everything yesterday, parents must learn the word NO and mean it ... Barbara

*A Nation is only as strong as its families. Graeme

*Without a doubt, marriage would be one of the most important factors in restoring a decent society. Neil

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe marriage is still important to society?

*As a young person I was told "The greatest gift a father can give to his child, is to love their mother." I guess all these studies prove this following generations of bruised and broken children - physically and emotionally. Where will it end? Avril

*Most definitely, nothing can beat a family unit for solidarity and commitment. Carole

*I am totally for marriage and against any other type of relationship. Thank you so much for this article. Monaleen

*One love and one partner and for the kids. Steve

*I am constantly amazed that so many people are prepared to bring children into the world but say they aren't quite ready to commit to the other parent. Fiona

*Definitely. From my own experience of a marriage of 49 years & all the evidence that can't be ignored! Rosemary

*It is the whole backbone to a healthy community. Paula

*It is the basis for society. Janice

*But entrenched socialist ideology will prevail, because hardworking income bearing people dont get involved in social politics. To the detriment of the population. Colin

*Absolutely - marriage is essential to the full wellbeing of the women in our country and the men as well. Talk out your problems, don't just quit!! It's not worth it - for everyone's sake!! Rosemary

*I applaud your article. But I think that the situation is not solved by shared parenting laws. Rather for a country to do well and thrive it has to challenge its ideological basis- that all forms of family are 'equivalent' when patently they are not. Thanks for the chance to comment. Matthew

*For centuries marriage between male and female has proved to be a satisfactory way of raising children and establishing and maintaining families. Relationships outside marriage either heterosexual or homosexual is going back to the dark ages where humans behaved like wild animals. Peter

*It is a biblical principle which we have ignored at our peril and society is paying a heavy price for its departure from God and His word. Ed

*I am at an age where I believe it is time for me to cease ranting and raving about all the changes to society and start enjoying the years I have left. I dispair for the future of younger generations as societies traditional values are slowly eroded away. People of my political persuasion have for years lamented the many changes wrought on our society by good meaning citizens who beleive everyone in the community is basically of good character when this is patently untrue and that once we relax the strong christian values that have been maintained in the past societies moral standards will start to decay which is very evident at present.

I well remember Enoch Powell in England sounding a warning to politicians about the mass immigration that was happening in England at the time. In hindsite how prophetic were his concerns.

The social experiment undertaken by the socialists is almost complete and will result in the total destruction of the way of life we are used to.

I admire the work done by Muriel and all those commentators on the right of the political spectrum but the masses are not yet listening and in fact have been climatised to expect that the state will provide everything they need in life. I think I may have run out of fight. Albyn

*My husband & I will celebrate 40 years of marriage this year. Ironically, our daughter is a solo parent raising our grandson on the DPB! Alice

*With all its problems, it is still better than the alternatives. The important issue is the commitment factor. It's a bit like the quip about democracy which has many problems but is still better than any of the alternatives. Peter

*Contrary to what the Anti-Clark and her socio-communist, leftie, bleeding-heart queer worshippers believe, marriage with the right commitment and reasons is the foundation of our Christian society. Mark

*It gives a stability to a couple. Too easy to walk away without the commitment of marriage. Lynn

*The many and varied reasons for a "YES" to your question are so blindingly obvious that comment is superfluous!!! Dianna

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe marriage is still important to society?

*Children need a father and a mother and they need to grow up in a emotional healthy and family to feel secure, because that is important when growing up. Astrid

*We can say yes, but government's infantile policy on this subject is another thing. Roy

*As a first step girls under 18 should not be paid the DPB it should be paid to their parents to administer. They would be more concerned what their girls were doing, and with whom. Murray

*Absolutely. The well written report in this week's NZCPR Weekly says it all. John

*The universality of marriage arises from its divine origin, its diminution flows from widespread apostasy. Mal

*I assume you mean marriage as defined as being between one man and one woman. K

*Marriage or similar commitment absolutely essential. Clive

*I have been married twice. For me the second marriage has been a joy. I don't want to do life on my own. I want someone that can share in the achievements, be the shoulder to cry on, a person to share my passion with, a person that I can love and be loved, fail and be accepted and not judged. I am blessed to know that when I wake the first face I see is my husbands and when I go to sleep the last face I see is my husband. Shona

*Marriage ultimately changes people to have similar priorities which influences where they spend money. De facto keep money for themselves. Henry

*Could also add a family who prays together stays together. Bring back Sunday School for children. A simple faith makes a huge difference in ones life. Beryl

*When they bought the dpb in in about 1971 it was widely debated and almost universally predicted that all the ill effects listed in the article would be the outcome. Even teenagers at the time thought it stupid for 'society' to be responsible for other peoples sex lives. But then we already new that because that was the outcome from previous trials of the same system in some of the states in the US. Peter

*Marriage gives huge benefits to children families and society. Allan

*Marriage is the cornerstone of a well functioning society. Mothers and fathers are essential for every child's wellbeing. The only time we need to keep one parent away is when there is sexual, severe psychological or physical abuse. Let's have more commitment between couples. Get married and provide a home for your children. Colleen

*It is absolutely ridiculous that de-facto and partners have the same legal standing as married couples. No wonder NZ has bred generations of no-hopers, losers, criminals, and welfare dependants. The polititions are directly to blame for this situation as they have legislated plainly stupid laws that have created the problem. Muriel Newman seems to have common sense. She should be leading the country! Jean

*The efforts to denigrate & do away with marriage between a man & woman is something that our queer Helen tried to do in her 9 years of left wing reign. It is also being pushed strongly in the US by Barry Soetoro (alias Barak Obama) the non-US citizen who is sitting in the whitehouse. Dumb down society, destroy the personal values of the population & then tell everyone what's best for them & then legislate accordingly!!!! NZ'ers are already a fair way down the road to having this happen here!!!! Let's stop it before it can't be stopped. Note: selecting MMP as an electoral system was a clever move by the left wing brigade as it helped them bring political blackmail into Parliament. BE WARNED PEOPLE. THE "FORCES - OF - EVIL" ARE OUT THERE WAITING FOR US TO TAKE OUR EYE OFF THE BALL. Dave

*Absolutely. The statistics bear out what we know in our hearts is the ultimate truth of the matter. It IS our safeguard for our children. Takes two to tango and two to accept life long responsibility for the outcome. Cliff

*I believe marriage is important, I think it makes us feel more secure in a relationship and I believe that is how it was planned for us from the beginning of time. Gail

*The current situation reflects the ideological agenda of the Helen Clark led group. Their moral liberalisation has a price to pay - and NZ is paying it! John

*But only if the marriage vows are taken seriously and couples are prepared to face differences that will inevitably happen and work through them. It is all too easy to give up and split - our welfare system is too lax. Peter

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe marriage is still important to society?

*Society has certainly fallen apart. Silly girls leap into bed with guys on the first date and lower their own moral standards. Then we have had so many socialist Govts ready with taxpayer dollars to hand out to pregnant mothers many of whom don't have a clue about child rearing but get paid to have babies rather than get educated and have a career opportunity and the kids end up deprived of a decent future.. I fear for the future of families and children. This Govt doesn't want to upset voters so doesn't have the backbone to change the welfare system and stop the DPB rorting that is happening. They appear too stupid to realise that they would probably gain supporters. Carolyn

*But with the property relationship act 1st Feb 02 couples are automatically effectively married after 2 years without the actual commitment, this I believe causes alot of problems in itself. I know of situations this act has effectively caused a %100 transfer of wealth from one partner to the other, as informed from 3 lawyers of different companies. Grant

*Commitment to it matters. Bruce

*It is the basis of society and couples should be encouraged to marry. Fay

*I was a divorced mother. I ensured my children were involved with male family members - result - totally balanced members of society. Cheryl

*Both parents should accept responsability for raising their children. Bob

*Slowly becoming less important. Robert

*It is a fundamental building block of our society. Grahame

*Absolutely! No shadow of doubt. Merrie

*Very much so and each parent should have an equal responsibility for raising their children if the marriage has broken down. Marjorie

*My parents - in their 80's - would be better off financially getting divorced and living together. When marriage again becomes less taxed and more promoted by the government then maybe this institution on which society itself is based will again become desireable. Peter

*No matter how you view it, marriage has the ingredients to create the most stable union, both socially and economically, and the children are the winners. Keith

*Marriage is one of the cornerstones of civilisation and civilisation is the progress towards privacy. Donald

*If a couple decides to have children, it's better if they're married. It increases the likelihood they'll stay together. Josie

*We have allowed the ungodly to take over the country. It can almost be called a complete culture change. Malcolm

*It gives our society stability thru family closeness etc. James

*Absolutely! The universe has rules. You break them and live with the consequences. The statistics concerning marriage, families, children and society, now prove the point. Ron

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe marriage is still important to society?

*No incentive to get married today, surprised Gluckman didn't blame the fall in marriage rates on global warming. John

*Commitment not marriage is important. Graham

*For women as you are treated like some ones bit on the side very noticable in the hospital as a patiant with a lady partner, my sister went through this then married the guy and when he went to hosp again what a difrence, ladys do it to ladys. Letitia

*The question understates matters drastically. Marriage is not just important - it is VITAL to the ongoing health of our society. A society is only as strong as the marriages that underpin it. If NZ continues on its current course, our society will implode and NZ as we know (or have known) it will disappear. A government which encourages and rewards stable marriages by removing the DPB, celebrating stay at home mums, income splitting for tax purposes and the like will reap hug benefits in almost every area of society - respect for authority, reduced crime, more productive, loyal and stable citizens, just to name a few. No other single policy area will yield as many long term gains as this one! Michael

*It's not "important to society" It IS society !
man/woman
wife/husband
parents/children
aunts/uncles
inlaws/cousins
they are society !
Aberrations range from oddities to dangers if they are not watched. They are warnings that all is not well and to ignore or accept them as "normal" could be ruinous! Derek

*Marriage is still the best home environment for raising children - and always will be. John

*I also believe that shared parenting is extremely important should the marriage/relationship break down. There should be no DPB for girls unsable to name the father of their child, and only DPB paid out for the first child, no increase in the amount for second or subseqent children born out of "relationship" i.e. not in a nuclear family environment. Sandra

*Because I have been there for 45 years, we have raised 2 children, who are now successfully raising their families inside marriages. Don

*Yes but "Marriage" at the mercy of our corrupt legal system is not the high and deeply respected traditional institution, which is of absolute, vital importance in human society. Lawyers are the rewarded, greedy and corrupt creators of the Family Law industry. James

*Just go and read through the Helen Clark NZ Property Relationship Act, and how it is applied and you will soon get to the reason. Pierre

*More than ever. The statistics of everything that goes wrong with children nowadays speak for themselves. In the majority of cases there is a broken home in the background. EJ

This week's poll asks:

Do you believe marriage is still important to society?

*Absolutely. It forms the very basis of a stable society. Brett

*It is a real outrage that over the years politicians have lacked the guts to change policies that are damaging families and children. I thought National might have a go but it doesn't look like they will. Michael

*Family law in NZ is a disaster. It needs the bulldozer treatment! Ken

*When you look at the statistics, social policy affecting children in this country is a disaster. It's time that political parties stopped turning a blind eye and started doing something to fix it. Barbara

*No-one will do anything about destructive laws like the DPB and Child Support because the feminists would get up in arms and the politicians would be afraid to cross them - especially in election year. Marshall

*Yes I do think marriage is really important and I hope that the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton might give it a boost! After all, young people are impressionable and whereas years ago parents were very forceful about insisting their children marry, these days they are probably afraid to "push". Sarah

*A civil union offers the same benefits to children as marriage. Marriage is pretty much a religious construct. John