The case "Quilter v Attorney-General" had its origin in early 1996 when three female couples in long-term relationships were denied marriage licences by the Registrar-General because marriage under the common law was between one man and one woman. The case against the New Zealand Government was taken to the High Court in May 1996. The applicants argued that the "Marriage Act 1955" did not prohibit same-sex marriage and that under the "New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990" and the "Human Rights Act 1993" discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation was prohibited.