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More than a thousand people are expected to flood Parliament
and Wellington's bars tonight to witness the expected passing
of the Marriage Equality Bill into law.
It's been a long and hard-fought battle
for the bill's sponsor, Manurewa MP Louisa Wall,
and even today opponents of same-sex marriage
have been threatening to end her political career.
Peata Melbourne joins us live now from Wellington.
Peata, no doubt Parliament's MPs will be lobbied till the final hour?
Well, there's been opposition since the beginning,
and it's still going.
MPs are getting sent emails, phone calls and getting abused,
but it's nothing that's going to stop the third reading tonight.
In fact, the support far outweighs the controversial opposition.
1200 seats are booked in the house tonight,
with another room set up with a screen
to cater for the extra supporters.
It's going to be a huge night for Louisa Wall.
What has been the personal toll on her?
Well, actually, it has taken a toll on some of the MPs,
and when I spoke with Louisa Wall today,
she's felt it probably more than anyone.
In fact, just as we turned up to her office,
she'd just received an abusive email,
and I suspect that's escalated in recent weeks,
but here's what she had to say to me just before...
So it hasn't been an easy feat, but there's not much now
that can stop the bill going through.
We know that Wellington will be busy tonight,
but when does it all kick off?
It's expected to happen after dinner, at around 7.30pm,
and go on for a couple of hours, and it will pass.
But the question is by how much?
Those who have supported in previous readings,
will they waver at all?
Regardless, there'll be major celebrations in gay bars
across the city around the country,
and there will be a cross-party press conference tonight
with Tau Henare from National,
Kevin Hague from the Greens and Louisa Wall of Labour.
That's great.
Thank you, Peata Melbourne, live from Wellington.
And Auckland's gay community will be watching the third reading of
Louisa Wall's Marriage Equality bill
in bars on the infamous Karangahape Road.
Raiha Johns has been speaking to Maori gay rights advocates
about what tonight's historic occasion will mean for them.
This is just a normal day to most of us,
but for the gay community,
this is a significant day where they hear
whether the Marriage Equality Bill is passed or not.
I thought about my parents - Mum and Dad.
They've been married for 25 years.
If the bill is passed,
it opens the marriage doors to all NZers.
Hema has been with his male partner for a while.
He says love is still love,
whether it's between a man and a man or two women.
So they can proudly tell their families that they are married.
Penehira says the bill puts gay people on equal par
with everyday New Zealanders,
so that children also see
the connection the deepness of love.
Will you get married if the law allowed it?
That is still to be discussed by my partner and I,
but it is a real possibility.
Yeah, there's no doubt.
It's good to be able to show your family and tribe
that you love your partner.
It looks as though it's not only those two
who will celebrate the bill's passing.
The third reading of the bill will be screened at this famous bar
on K Road for the Auckland gay community.
Whatever the outcome, people will be celebrating.
Raiha Johns, Te Karere.