A national newspaper’s straw poll of MPs shows Louisa Wall’s marriage equality bill is set to narrowly pass its first reading, which is likely to be this Wednesday. The New Zealand Herald says a slender majority of 61 MPs want the proposed law to progress at least to the select committee stage. It says several more MPs had not committed themselves to a decision yesterday, but said they were likely to back the bill at the first reading on Wednesday. In all 15 National MPs have professed their support in the early stages, the most recent being Judith Collins, Craig Foss and Chris Tremain. Gay Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson is yet to make up his mind how he will vote, as is Deputy Prime Minister Bill English. LegaliseLove is holding a march and rally to celebrate the first reading of the Bill this Wednesday: 12PM - Event scheduled to begin at Civic Square in Wellington. There will be a few brief speeches from people involved in the campaign. 12.30PM - Group will leave Civic Square and march to Parliament grounds via Mercer Street, Willis Street, and Lambton Quay. 1PM - Group expected to arrive at Parliament. Arranged speakers for the rally include Louisa Wall, Tau Henare, and Margaret Mayman. 2PM - Rally expected to wrap up. The reading of Louisa Wall’s Bill could happen anywhere from 4.30Pm till 10.30PM on Wednesday. LIVE COVERAGE GayNZ.com Daily News will report live from Wednesday's Marriage Equality street march through downtown Wellington and throughout the bill's presentation to Parliament, with team coverage from our journalists and photographers along the march route, within the Parliamentary Press Gallery and amongst the bill's supporters in the public gallery.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 27th August 2012 - 11:35am