August 31, 2012
Harawira positive at reaction to Wall bill
Mana leader Hone Harawira says he was impressed with the response his fellow MPs gave to Louisa Wall’s Marriage Equality Bill.
Mr Harawira initially indicated personal discomfort with the idea of official sanctioning of same sex unions, but consulted with his party on how he should vote.
On a conscience vote the bill passed its first reading 80-40 and was sent to a select committee for public response.
Mr Harawira says he was the way one of the bill’s most public critics, Mangere MP William Sio, handled the issue by setting out the concerns his Pacific Island constituency hat to the bill, without being mean spirited.