Prime Minister Helen Clark has apologised on behalf of the Government for past transgressions against gays and lesbians.
The news comes after her apologies to Samoa for inept and unjust administration of the nation before it became independent 40 years ago and to the Chinese community for injustices committed against them
over the years.
The gay newspaper Express revealed that the gay community also received a less public apology some weeks ago.
Helen Clark told the Express the treatment of homosexuals has been "disgraceful".
"I would offer my personal apology now on behalf of the Government. It's been disgraceful, of course it has. People have put up with the most appalling discrimination, stereotyping, people have been criminalised. Of course it is dreadful," she said.
Helen Clark added that continual references to her being childless had rebounded on her political opponents.
"They've been at it for years and ... it's been totally counterproductive," she said.
"It's meant to be offensive, it's meant to be hurtful. But I actually have great faith in the common sense of Kiwis and I think these days most people are going to say 'For God's sake, people are entitled to choice about their life, Helen's made her choice, that's fine with us'.
"So what are they getting at? Am I supposed to not be a real woman because I haven't had children? It's all bizarre and I don't think most people relate to it. Sure, a little hard core relate to it because they are just bitchy and silly and I've put up with it for years."
The Prime Minister also criticised TVNZ for putting the gay show Queer Nation on too late at night and hoped its new charter would enhance the visibility of gay people.
"It's fair to say that Television New Zealand hasn't given the gay community great profile ... the same way Pacific Island people felt that their Tagata Pasifica being run at 9 o'clock on a Sunday morning when most people are at church ... so they can't see it."
Act's women's affairs spokeswoman, Penny Webster, said that with all the apologising Helen Clark was doing, the only group left that she really needed to say sorry to were white, middle-class, heterosexual males who worked.
"They get vilified and made to feel guilty for every wrong," Mrs Webster said.
- NZPA
