A same-sex Auckland couple who hope to get married in a secular ceremony the day gay marriage becomes legal say they feel sorry for those refused matrimony by the Anglican church.

The Bishop of Auckland has rejected claims that instructions from 'on high' have caused a late halt to a proposed gay wedding taking place at St Matthew-in-the-City parish.

A Kiwi couple is being offered the opportunity to win New Zealand's first aerial same sex marriage - more than 9000 metres above the ground.

Auckland will put on VIP treatment for one of the first gay marriages in NZ - officials are even donating use of The Cloud for the reception.

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

Designer gears up for gay marriage.

A hui to discuss how to better serve the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex community is being held in Auckland today.

Peers from all parties have warned the House of Lords it would exceed its powers if it derailed plans to legalise gay marriage.

Of all European countries, you might have thought, France would have taken gay marriage in its stride.

Vincent Autin and Bruno Boileau were pronounced "spouses" at their wedding.

Family First NZ says it will be deregistered as a charity because of its views on gay marriage.

President Barack Obama says he supports recognising gay unions in a broad immigration bill pending in Congress but won't say whether he would sign legislation that fails to do so.

These days traditionalists like the Australian Opposition leader are feeling increasingly isolated. Fewer voters oppose homosexuals getting hitched than approve of his leadership, which, when you look at those underwhelming ratings, says a lot.

DB Breweries is facing allegations of homophobia over a new Tui billboard reading 'Dad's new husband seems nice - Yeah right.'

Nobody could be more surprised than Maurice Williamson - other than his wife, his three kids and ... oh let's just say the entire country and quite possibly the universe - that one morning he woke up and found he had become a great big gay icon.

Before NZ's Parliament had even finished the last line of Pokarekare Ana after passing the Marriage Equality Bill, my inbox started to blink with missives from friends back in Australia.

Conservatives leader Colin Craig says his threat of legal action against a satirical website for a post on the gay marriage bill does not mean he lacks a sense of humour.

Gay marriage has been legalised by Parliament - but it is still banned by most of New Zealand's 10 main religions, a new Herald survey shows.