New Zealand First will not vote for the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill and wants a public referendum to decide the issue.

NZ First leader Winston Peters says the party's caucus believes that issues such as this should be decided by trusting the people of New Zealand to decide rather than leaving it to temporarily empowered MPs.

'It should be a binding referendum after opportunity is given for a reasoned debate,” says Winston.

'The wise use of public referenda on such issues has always been New Zealand First's position.”

Tauranga Lawyer Chris Forbes, of Bush and Forbes, says although marriage is a religious philosophy, it is also a legal contract.

'It's about being in an equal partnership. It is about being treated as an equal under the law. It's about perception and not being treated differently. It is not just a religious issue as you don't have to get married in a church.

'You can go to a registry office or see a marriage celebrant for a civil service. It is a basic law. Is it okay for one couple to marry and not another? When people get married they are making a long term commitment to love, respect and support each other. It is the same contract regardless of whether you're gay or straight.

'I think a number of same sex couples will do the marriage thing if they haven't had a civil union.

Chris says gay marriage is not currently the societal norm, but if society recognises it people will change their perceptions.

'Anyone can get a licence to drive a car and anyone should be able to get a marriage licence,” says Chris.

Bethlehem Baptist Minister Craig Vernall is the National Leader of the Baptist movement in New Zealand.

He says he won't be performing same sex marriage ceremonies and doubts any New Zealand Baptist minister will either. But it is a choice each parish can make individually.

'There needs to be more public consultation around this. We see that the Civil Union Act gave a real positive set of boundaries that gave gay couples protection in law and have a relationship recognised within society. To change the definition of marriage from being between a man and a woman changes thousands of years of every cultural belief around the world. It is a monumental step.”

Rev Paul Williamson, Co-Vicar Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Tauranga says the Anglican Church's understanding of marriage is agreed by our General Synod, rather than at a local level.

That understanding is described in two places: the Marriage Service and the Marriage Canon.

'The marriage service states that marriage is a "solemn, public and life-long covenant between a man and a woman, made and celebrated in the presence of God before a priest and congregation”,” says Paul.

Paul says the Marriage Canon puts it this way, ‘Christian marriage is a physical and spiritual union of a man and a woman, entered into in the community of faith, by mutual consent of heart, mind and will, and with the intent that it be lifelong'.

'The position of Holy Trinity locally is the same as that of the Anglican Church nationally,” says Paul.

Representatives of the Catholic Church in Tauranga refused to comment on the issue directing enquiries to the National Office in Wellington.

A SunLive poll asked readers whether or not gay couples have the right to marry.

A SunLive poll found 58 per cent of people found gay couples have the right to marry. A total of 58 per cent of readers selected ‘No' while 39 per cent selected ‘Yes'. A total of 3 per cent were undecided.