Marriage is a socially and legally recognised union between two people that establishes rights, responsibilities, and commitments between partners, families, and society. Historically, marriage was when an eligible virgin woman would be exchanged for a cow or some other nice thing that her family wanted. In modern cultures, it’s more regularly used as a profound expression of love and commitment, or to obtain a visa.

In Aotearoa, same-sex marriage became legal through the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013. Before this, marriage was legally defined as being between a man and a woman, or a two teenagers if they had their parents permission.

By the early 2000s Queer Eye For the Straight Guy was a ratings hit and LGBTQ+ rights gained momentum with New Zealand becoming the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to legalise same-sex marriage.

New Zealand’s first gay wedding