CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — An anti-marriage equality website scheduled to be launched in New Zealand on Tuesday by same-sex marriage opponents Family First, crashed in a matter of hours as a result of a “large-scale denial of service attack.”
In a statement released Monday, 24/7 Hosting, the Christchurch, NZ-based host provider, said that “Due to large scale Denial of Service attacks against this domain, it has been decided to ensure the stability and security of our servers and network, this account has been removed.”
Launched to oppose MP Louisa Wall’s same-sex marriage bill drawn recently from the ballot, Family First director Bob McCroskrie said his “Protect Marriage” website was apparently the target of “the largest unprecedented attack on a website in New Zealand history.”
McCroskrie said he had expected “a good amount of debate” on the issue, but the attack was “obviously a desperate attempt” at shutting down one side of the argument.
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He said Family First were now working with an international web hosting company with advanced security and the website would be live again by Wednesday.
In another setback for the Family First campaign, U.S. band Train has also reportedly requested the website cease using their song “Marry Me.”
Train caught wind their song was being used by Family First after a Twitter user alerted the band their song was being used on an “anti-gay marriage website.”
McCroskrie said they had not yet heard from Train, but if they were asked to take the song down they would.
“We’re not going to go by some post on Twitter, but if the band contact us then we will certainly take it down.”
