Bath House to host historic gay marriages

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Rotorua's iconic Bath House is where two of the first gay marriages in New Zealand will take place.

MediaWorks' The Edge FM radio station is currently running a competition in celebration of the passing of the Same Sex-Marriage Bill which will take effect on Monday August 19.

The private member's bill put forward by MP Louisa Wall passed into law in Parliament last month.

Mediaworks national promotions co-ordinator Rob Dickey said they had been inundated with entries for the competition.

They are seeking two gay couples - both male and female - who will be married at Rotorua's Bath House on air at 7.45am on the first day gay couples will legally be able to wed in New Zealand.

"We've had quite a few enter - hundreds of couples have responded. It's quite a niche thing to do. You have to be prepared to have this intimate moment broadcast on air," he said.

The radio station is looking for 10 finalists with the public then voting two weeks before the special day on who they wanted to see marry, Mr Dickey said.

The Edge FM had previously run wedding competitions and were looking forward to the wedding, he said.

"We're really excited ... we love weddings at The Edge."

Staff at Rotorua's Bath House are excited about the special event also.

Rotorua Museum sales and marketing manager Jo Doherty said it was fitting the Bath House would host one of the first gay weddings in the country with the place now being opened up for such events.

"We are so excited. It's an historic moment in New Zealand history."

The museum will be recording the event.

"It's a serious but awesome occasion," she said.