Book review: THE LAND NEAR OZ: TWO GAY YANKEES MOVE TO NEW ZEALAND In this book, memoirist and humorist Aaron Allbright examines the mystical fringes of life with a side of love and a little hash. Filled with great affection, indescribable moments of serendipity, and a few cattle calls, this debut is a raucous spot
New Zealand is notable for its geographic isolation, situated about 2000 km (1250 miles) southeast of Australia. The indigenous MÄori named New Zealand Aotearoa. Political power is held by the democratically elected Parliament of New Zealand under the leadership of the Prime Minister. The open economy is known for being one of the world’s most free market capitalist economies. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered citizens have most of the same rights as other people in New Zealand. This near-equality is a relatively recent development; sex between men was only decriminalized in 1986. New Zealand does not have specific transgender anti-discrimination laws, although New Zealand’s anti-discrimination laws are now thought to cover members of the trans communities. The Property (Relationships) Act 2000 gives de facto couples, whether opposite or same sex, the same property rights as existed since 1976 for married couples. There are lively gay communities on both the North and South Islands, especially in the major cities.
Name: New Zealand
Population: 4280000
Capital: Wellington - Pop. 382000
Area: 268680 sq. km/ sq. miles
Language: English, Maori
Religion: Christianity, None
Status of Homosexuality: Legal
Telephone Country Code: 64
Reduction in HIV diagnoses in New Zealand, 2018/Jun/20
New Zealand to quash historical gay sex convictions, 2017/Feb/09
Grindr documentary to feature at Cannes, 2016/Feb/18
Chinese Expat Pens A Personal Story, 2015/Aug/18
Gay NZ skater Skjellerup blasts Olympics hosts, 2014/Jan/28
World’s first transgender MP seriously ill, 2013/May/06
Gay Red Shirt Day, 2012/Nov/08
New Zealand: Presbyterian Church to defy its governing body and perform same-sex marriages, 2012/Oct/08
Public debate about marriage equality to be held among Pacific communities in New Zealand, 2012/Aug/16
Mr Gay World 2012 won by German man, 2012/Apr/09
NZ HIV infection numbers drop, 2012/Mar/08
Regional action needed on homophobia, 2012/Jan/05
Gay New Zealand News & Reports 2001-02, 2009/Jan/01
Gay New Zealand News & Reports 2003-06, 2008/Dec/28
Gay New Zealand News & Reports 2007-08, 2008/Dec/26
Gay New Zealand News & Reports 2009-11, 2008/Dec/25