Gay crimes erased in new policy
Pre-1986 convictions for homosexual acts wiped on a case-by-case basis
Gay men who have carried historic convictions for homosexual acts for more than 30 years will soon get the opportunity to be pardoned by the Government.
They could also get an official apology from Parliament if all parties agreed, Justice Minister Amy Adams said.
In a significant victory for campaigners, the move will allow nearly 200 people convicted before homosexual law reform in 1986 to have their crimes erased.
It will not be an automatic or blanket pardon. Instead, the Government will consider pardons on a case-by-case basis. Affected people will not be able to claim compensation.
Announcing the policy at Parliament yesterday, Adams said those with convictions “continued to be tainted with the stigma of criminality”.
Laws criminalising homosexual acts had not represented modern New Zealand for some time, she said.
“There is no doubt that homosexual New Zealanders who were convicted and branded as criminals for consensual activity suffered tremendous hurt and stigma, and we are sorry for what those men and their families have gone through and the continued effect the convictions have had on them.”
Adams apologised on behalf of the Crown and said Parliament might consider a further apology when it passes the legislation.
The law change will create a scheme under which people convicted of indecency between males, sodomy or keeping places of resort for homosexual acts can apply for a pardon.
If an application is approved, the conviction will not appear in criminal history checks.
The Ministry of Justice estimates 879 people were convicted of homosexual acts before the legalisation in 1986.