Rotorua MP Todd McClay was one of 40 MPs who has voted against a bill that will legalise gay marriage.
The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill, sponsored by Labour MP Louisa Wall, passed its first reading in Parliament last night by 80 votes to 40. The conscience vote saw Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell vote in favour of the bill along with Prime Minister John Key while Taupo MP Louise Upston and East Coast MP Anne Tolley both voted against the bill.
Mr McClay was criticised for his decision last night on social networking sites, prompting singer Elizabeth Marvelly to tweet "saddened that my hometown MP Todd McClay voted against".
A constituent also posted on Mr McClay's Facebook page that he believed Mr McClay had let the people of Rotorua down.