It was passed into law on Thursday 9 December 2004 by a final vote of 65–55 in the New Zealand Parliament.

[1] The act makes it legal for those in same-sex as well as heterosexual relationships to enter into a civil union.

The act was opposed by religious groups, including the Catholic Church.

Then New Zealand National Party leader Don Brash opposed the bill, but only as he believed it should be put to a referendum.

The Act was widely supported by the then-governing New Zealand Labour Party.