Green Party supports marriage equality

The drawing of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill brings New Zealand one step closer to achieving marriage equality, the Green Party said today.

Lousia Wall's Marriage (Definition of a Marriage) Amendment Bill was drawn from the members bills ballot today.

"Public opinion polls show that more than twice as many New Zealanders support marriage equality as oppose it so we can now make it law," said Green Party rainbow spokesperson Kevin Hague.

"I am looking forward to working with Lousia Wall on getting this Bill made into law and am optimistic that we will get support from across the House to do so.

"Louisa and I made vows of our own to each other: that we would both campaign for whichever of the two bills was drawn out of the ballot first. I'm going to honour that vow."

"With John Key's recent statement that he would be "more than happy'' to support a bill allowing same sex couples to marry I am really confident that we will be able to achieve this," Mr Hague said.