John Key, as promised, voted for the first reading of the Bill John Key has been taken by surprise by the two-to-one support for marriage equality in the first vote. The Prime Minister was not at Parliament last night as he is at the Pacific Forum in Rarotonga, however a yes vote was recorded on his behalf by his party. Key has told media at the Pacific Islands Forum it was an "overwhelming result" and a "strong endorsement for equality of rights." "It puts the bill in a strong place to potentially become law given you've got more than two thirds of Parliament voting for it,” he says. He has also warned the lobbying and debate is likely to get “quite ferocious and emotional” as the Bill goes through select committee, which gives the public a change to have its say.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 30th August 2012 - 10:00am