The most vocal opponent to marriage equality during the recent debate in New Zealand, Family First NZ, says it is going to be deregistered as a charity.

National director Boc McCoskrie said the Charities Commission has contacted him to say it intends to deregister his organization. He believes the decision is ‘highly politicized’.

‘[This is] grim evidence that groups that think differently to the prevailing politically correct view will be targeted in an attempt to shut them up,’ McCoskrie said.

The Charities Commission, which is run by the Department of Internal Affairs to monitor the nearly 25,000 charities in New Zealand, demands that organizations that register with them must have ‘public benefit’.

‘Benefit to the public should be capable of being identified and defined,’ reads a statement explaining ‘public benefit’ on the Charity Commission’s website.

‘It is also important to note that perceptions of public benefit can change over time, influenced by increasing knowledge and understanding, changes in social and economic conditions, and changes in social values.’

Family First NZ, which was first registered as a charity in March 2007, is of public benefit for its education and research on families, McCoskrie said.

But the aims listed on Family First NZ’s website do not include commissioning independent research or education. They mostly relate to being ‘a voice for the family in the media’ and promoting research ‘supporting marriage and family’.

‘You know a country is in trouble when a family group speaking up, publishing research, and holding conferences on traditional family values is deemed to be of no public benefit, and is in the public interest to be punished. It seems to be almost illegal to hold a viewpoint,’ said McCoskrie.