NEW ZEALAND – New Zealand’s Prime Minister says his past opposition to civil unions and gay marriage was not the reason he didn’t speak at the Big Gay Out in Auckland at the weekend.

Bill English – who in 2012 voted against legalising gay marriage – arrived at Coyle Park in Point Chevalier on Sunday afternoon for the annual event which celebrates the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender communities.

English’s predecessor John Key made a speech at the event each year. English was dressed in a light blue casual shirt – in contrast to John Key’s bright pink number last February

And he stayed clear of the stage, unlike Key who appeared to cut short his speech at last year’s event as he was drowned out by a group of about 30 protesters.

English said he did not think it was a big issue that he had not mad e a speech and didn’t see a reason to do so.

He said there was no reason to be political at some events where people were out enjoying themselves.

“If I go to community events, I don’t speak if I don’t need to. It’s a Sunday, people are enjoying themselves, there’s plenty of opportunity for political discussion and also the technical discussion around the health issues related to the community.

“I was at an event before this and I didn’t speak there. People want a day off politics.”

When told his predecessor had spoken at the event previously, he said: “I’m a new prime minister and I do it a bit differently.”

English had in the past opposed bills supporting gay marriage and civil unions, but has since said he’s changed his mind on the issue and he saw no reason to change the law now that gay marriage was legal.

“As I explained yesterday, time’s passed, the legislation’s gone through, people are getting on with their lives,” he told Radio New Zealand’s Morning Report.

“It seems to be working fine, it doesn’t affect other people’s marriages and so there’s no reason to change it.”

He said he took his time to change his mind on the issue because he was socially conservative.

“I’ve always been, I think, openly conservative about all these issues. Change can be threatening, I think you should always be sceptical about social issues and I was.”

He said that didn’t mean he had thought gay marriage was a threat, and he did not consider it to be a moral issue.

“It’s not necessarily an issue around morals, not the way I saw it anyway.”

Labour leader Andrew Little was also at the event and said he backed the New Zealand AIDS Foundation’s campaign to end HIV in New Zealand.

He congratulated the government on the expunging of convictions related to homosexuality.

“When the Crown historically gets it wrong, it shouldn’t be above us to say we got it wrong and say sorry.

“Labour has always been there for the gay community,” he said.

- RNZI