Same sex marriage is now legal in New Zealand after the Marriage Amendment Bill passed its final reading in Parliament last night.

The bill passed 77 votes to 44 in favour making NZ the 13^th country in the world to legalise gay marriage.

Labour MP and sponsor of the Marriage Equality Bill Louisa Wall is delighted with Parliament's vote.

'I am very proud to be a Member of a Parliament that has voted overwhelmingly to give New Zealanders, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation or gender, the right to marry,” Louisa Wall said.

The gay MP made an emotional speech to Parliament thanking her partner and acknowledging the support from other parties.

'And to my darling Prue - thank you for your work and sharing this journey with me.

'I would also like to acknowledge the leadership across the House - from the Prime Minister who expressed his support early on, as did the leader of the Labour Party, David Shearer. 'And we have seen leadership by John Banks, Peter Dunne, Hone Harawira, Pita Sharples and Tariana Turia. I also acknowledge the Greens who from the outset have taken a supportive position as a party. For them it was not a conscience vote but a manifesto commitment.

MPs made a conscience vote with no instruction from their parties. The 77-44 vote was the same result as the bill's second reading.

Most Bay of Plenty based MPs voted against the bill including Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, Independent MP Brendan Horan, Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall and Rotorua MP Todd McClay.

Maori Party MP Te Ururoa Flavell voted in favour of the bill.

Although it is now law gay couples will have to wait four months to marry while the Department of Internal Affairs updates their computer systems.

The law will come into force mid-August.

There will be no obligation for churches to conduct same sex marriages. Each church will be able to determine whether it will conduct same-sex marriages.