New Zealand's largest petition, against the decriminalisation of homosexuality, was presented to Parliament in 1985. In a media stunt, it was piled pyramid-like on Parliament’s steps, flanked by New Zealand flags. In this image MPs Norman Jones (with the umbrella), Graeme Lee and Geoff Braybrooke receive the petition. Organisers claimed it had been signed by over 800,000 people, but official scrutineers reduced that number by more than a quarter. The petition failed to deter Parliament from decriminalising homosexual acts between consenting males.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PAColl-7327)
Reference:
EP/1985/4285
Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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