Gay marriage law author Louisa Wall won't be able to marry her same-sex partner in her own Ratana Church.
The minister of the Manurewa Ratana church which she attends, Apotoro Rehita (Apostle) Kimiora Pene, said same-sex marriage was "not part of our structure of beliefs".
"Louisa Wall is one of our parishioners, and her manager is also one of our parishioners and he's in a gay relationship too, so it's a bit awkward for me," Mr Pene said.
"We invite everyone into the church for prayers, but in terms of marriage they have to go to a civil union until our church decides to change our stance on that, which I don't think is going to change."
The Ratana faith is part of Ms Wall's family. Her father's cousin, Rev Tiger Wall, 84, a Taupo-based Ratana apostle, said he hadn't followed the debate but was "dead against it".