Gay age of consent
Gay rights poster 1985, Designed by Neill Costelloe (1960–90), published by and reproduced courtesy of the New Zealand University Students' Association and the Wellington Gay Task Force
The 1985 Homosexual Law Reform Bill proposed that the age of consent for gay couples be 16 – the same as that for heterosexual couples.
There was debate within gay rights groups over the age of consent. It was known that some Members of Parliament would only support the bill if the proposed age was 18 or 21. However, gay rights campaigners decided to push for 16, even if it meant the bill might fail, because equal rights for heterosexuals was a core concern.