"It is time that government policies and rhetoric acknowledged that there is a difference in terms of outcomes between marriage and other forms of relationship," said Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ. Read more...

"Family breakdown and decreasing marriage rates are seldom considered in debate on social policy issues, such as poverty among families with children. A recent 70-page report issued by the Children's Commissioner and Barnardos contained no reference to marriage or divorce, despite the rate of poverty being five times higher for sole parent families.

"Whenever marriage is promoted, it has often been labeled as an attack on solo or divorced parents, and that has kept us from recognising the qualitative benefits of marriage which have been discovered from decades of research.

"Marriage has changed a great deal, with the marriage rate at approximately 14 marriages per 1000 married adults, less than a third of the peak level of 45.5 per 1000 recorded in 1971. It has been impacted over the past decades by an increased level and acceptance of divorce, cohabiting, and unwed childbearing."

New Zealand has a high teenage birth rate, and sole parents with dependent children make up 30 per cent of families with children. Latest statistics show that the number of babies born out of wedlock last year was almost equal to the number born within marriage.

"Yet in virtually every category that social science has measured, children and adults do better when parents get married and stay married - provided there is no presence of high conflict or violence," said Mr McCoskrie.

"The Statement of Intent just published by the Families Commission fails to mention marriage even once. Yet domestic violence and child abuse - two pet topics of the Commission - is far more prevalent in families where the biological parents are not both present and married."

The report "21 Reasons Why Marriage Matters" was commissioned by Family First NZ and Family Life NZ in conjunction with a number of family organisations in Australia, including the Australian Family Association, Family Voice Australia and Dads4Kids. It is an update of a report originally released in the US in 2002.

Family First's Bob McCoskrie and Family Life's Andy Bray have contributed to the report, which includes New Zealand-based research and presents strong evidence that marriage is not just a private relationship, but also a social good.

Andy Bray, National Director of Family Life NZ says, "Despite the decline in the marriage rate, and an increase in couples choosing not to marry, statistics prove again and again that married life, while not perfect, still provides the very best environment for personal health and wealth, for raising secure responsible children, and for a more
enjoyable sex life."

This report follows on from Family First's report in 2008 entitled "The Value of Family - Fiscal Benefits of Marriage and Reducing Family Breakdown in New Zealand", prepared by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER). This estimated that the fiscal cost to the taxpayer of family breakdown and decreasing marriage rates is at least $1 billion a year and has cost approximately $8 billion over the past decade.

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