Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If that wasn't enough upheaval for one decade, 1986 saw another bitter battle split the
community - this time over the decriminalisation of homosexuality. The debate was par-
ticularly rancorous, but the law that previously incarcerated consenting gay adults was re-
pealed, paving the way for the generally accepting society that NZ is today. In 1999 Geor-
gina Beyer, an openly transsexual former prostitute, would win a once-safe rural seat off a
conservative incumbent, and in 2013 NZ legalised same-sex marriage.
Yet while the 1980s saw the country jump to the left on social issues, simultaneously
economic reforms were carried out that were an extreme step to the right (to paraphrase
one-time Hamiltonian Richard O'Brien's song 'The Time Warp'). The bloated public sec-
tor was slashed, any state assets that weren't bolted to the floor were sold off, regulation
was removed from many sectors, trade barriers dismantled and the power of the unions
greatly diminished.
If there is broad agreement that the economy had to be restructured, the reforms carried
a heavy price. The old social guarantees are not as sure. New Zealanders work long hours
for lower wages than their Australian cousins would ever tolerate. Compared with other
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nations, NZ family
incomes are low, child poverty rates are high and the gap between rich and poor is widen-
ing.
IT'S A WOMAN'S WORLD
New Zealand is justifiably proud of being the first country in the world to give women the vote (in 1893). Kate
Sheppard, the hero of the women's suffrage movement, even features on the country's $10 bill. Despite that early
achievement, the real role for women in public life was modest for many years. That can hardly be said now.
Since 1997 the country has had two female prime ministers and for a time in the 2000s every key constitutional
position was held by a woman, including the prime minister, attorney general, chief justice, governor general and
head of state - although New Zealanders can't take credit for choosing Betty Windsor for that last role. At the
same time a Maori queen headed the Kingitanga (King Movement) and a woman led NZ's biggest listed corpora-
tion. Things have slipped a little since and only two of those roles are held by women - and, yes, one of those is
filled by Queen Elizabeth II.
