“We can take pride... in being nuclear free and in having the strength and independence not to send out young people of in unjust wars”
-Helen Clark
NZ is one state that has demonstrated the making of some very unique legislation through out the years, and one could argue that the emergence of such can first go back to that of Kate Sheppard and the notion of women suffrage in NZ in 1893. NZ was the first country to allow women to vote and it was from this movement that rest of the world followed in its wake. Because do you really think that you would see this image appear in the media if it wasn’t for the immense struggle of NZ women just over 100 years ago?
New Zealand's Unique Legislation
“Is it right that your mother, your sister... should be classed with criminals and lunatics... ? Is it right that while the loafer, the gambler, the drunkard, and even the wife-beater has a vote, earnest, educated and refined women are denied it?... Is it right... that a mother... should be thought unworthy of a vote that is freely given to the blasphemer, the liar, the seducer, and the profligate?”
-Kate Sheppard
Another unique yet, rather ironic component of NZ legislation is in the form of NZ’s anti-nuclear policy. NZ has taken a very strong stance on this issue from the onset, in the process compromising key relations with both the US and Australia and the US surrounding the infamous ANZUS crisis. It was in 1984 that the NZ Prime Minister at the time banned any nuclear powered or armed ships entering NZ waters. Soon to follow was the emergence of the New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Disarmament and Arms Control Act. NZ believed, that the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is by no means a path on the way to peace.
"no entry into the internal waters of New Zealand 12 miles (22.2 km) radius by any ship whose propulsion is wholly or partly dependent on nuclear power"
- New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone Disarmament and Arms Control Act
A bill that divided the NZ nation was passed in May 2007 proposed Sue Bradford of the Green Party. This particular change to legislation was entitled section 59 of The Crimes Amendment Act and removed a particular part of the Crimes Act which states that a parent is entitled to use “reasonable force” to correct a child’s actions. Therefore there is no longer any legal defense for such actions. For many NZ parent’s, the fear of persecution for disciplinary action was very extreme, however this bill is still in force in today’s society.
