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UK Wedding News

17/04/2013

New Zealand Legalises Same-Sex Marriage

New Zealand's parliament has legalised same-sex marriage, according to the BBC.

It is the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.

Lawmakers approved the bill by a wide majority on Wednesday, with 77 votes in favour and 44 against. The landmark vote will now amend the country's 1955 marriage act.

After the bill was passed, hundreds of gay-rights advocated celebrated outside parliament and called it a "milestone" for equality.

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Despite the bill being approved, however, it has received strong opposition from certain groups in New Zealand.

ABC News has said a 'Protect Marriage' campaign recently took out a full-page advertisement in national newspapers, saying if the bill was passed into law it would make marriage "meaningless" and would be an act of "cultural vandalism".

New Zealand's Presbyterian Church also officially opposes the redefinition of marriage. It said it would allow ministers to make their own decision on the issue, but added that if they did choose to marry people of the same sex, there is a possibility it will be open to challenge.

Opinion polls have suggested that about 70% of New Zealanders supported the reform.

(JP/CD)

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"New Zealand's parliament has legalised same-sex marriage, according to the BBC."