Adoption of children by same-sex couples is not currently permitted in New Zealand.
Under the Adoption Act, which dates back to 1955, individuals in gay or lesbian relationships can adopt, but their partners cannot share the same legal status.
A recent Herald-DigiPoll survey found that 54 per cent of people think gay couples should be allowed to adopt children while 36 per cent disagreed. Two years ago a Herald website poll had 41 per cent in favour and 59 per cent against, according to Derek Cheng's article Majority back gay adoption.
Our collective attitudes towards the rights of gay people are clearly becoming more liberal. Most of us see this as a simple human rights issue. The fact that adopting a child isn't an option for same-sex couples is discriminatory and doesn't sit well with our aims of achieving an egalitarian society.
Those who oppose same-sex adoption cite the same arguments that were used to oppose homosexual law reform back in the eighties. They say that homosexuality is "unnatural" or "sinful" and so should not be pandered to by the state or society.