The calm and measured debate on the Bill to legalise gay marriage was a sign New Zealand had matured in its views, the MP who sponsored the Bill said last night.
Louisa Wall's Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill passed its first reading by 80 votes to 40, a margin she did not expect.
"I was hoping for 61 votes, so to get 78 is very special - this is the first hurdle in the transition from this being a Bill to an Act."
Ms Wall said she thought members of the public had moved on from the heated and at times negative debate seen during the civil unions debate and homosexual law reform.
"I think we've evolved - we've matured, as we're 26 years post-homosexual law reform.
So, homosexuality in our communities is part of everyday life.
"It was very respectful tonight. I appreciate that is was so respectful.
"I am really proud of the House. I am proud of belonging to a parliamentary term that is going to allow our communities to have a say about the relevance of marriage equality."
The most poignant debate in the house was from National MP for Hunua Paul Hutchison, she said.
He had rung Ms Wall.
"I was finishing my speech - he wanted to engage, he wanted to have a conversation and had some questions and I was able to provide some evidence about those questions."
That was enough for him to change his vote.
She said she hoped the support base for the Bill would grow as it progressed through a select committee.
The Campaign for Marriage Equality said it was delighted the Bill had comfortably passed its first reading.
"This vote is a great step forward for equality and fairness in New Zealand," spokesman Conrad Reyners said.
The Bill divided many in religious and secular circles.
A petition from 50,000 people opposed to marriage equality was delivered to Parliament this week and ministers from Catholic and Protestant churches joined forces to urge Parliament to vote against it.
But a 1000-strong march in support made its way through Wellington yesterday, ending at Parliament.
Last night in the House, Labour MP Su'a William Sio voiced his opposition on behalf of his constituents in Mangere.
"It is an electorate that is close to my heart. They put me here by giving me their confidence. I am privileged with the stewardship that I have been given by the community.
"This is a matter that is very sensitive for members of my constituency - within the Pacific and faith community, even within my own family," he said.
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters said his party wanted to put the questions of same-sex marriage to a public referendum.
The party had proposed an amendment that would require a binding referendum on the Bill's passage but that was rejected after a poll suggested 60% of the public favoured gay marriage.
How MPs voted
For: 80
Amy Adams (National); Jacinda Ardern (Labour); Chris Auchinvole (Nat); John Banks (Act); Maggie Barry (Nat); Paula Bennett (Nat); Jackie Blue (Nat); Steffan Browning (Green); Gerry Brownlee (Nat); Cam Calder (Nat); David Carter (Nat); Charles Chauvel (Lab); David Clark (Lab); David Clendon (Green); Jonathan Coleman (Nat); Judith Collins (Nat); Clayton Cosgrove (Lab); David Cunliffe (Lab); Clare Curran (Lab); Lianne Dalziel (Lab); Jacqui Dean (Nat); Catherine Delahunty (Green); Peter Dunne (United Future); Ruth Dyson (Lab); Kris Faafoi (Lab); Darien Fenton (Lab); Te Ururoa Flavell (Maori Party); Craig Foss (Nat); Julie Anne Genter (Green); Phil Goff (Lab); Paul Goldsmith (Nat); Jo Goodhew (Nat); Kennedy Graham (Green); Tim Groser (Nat); Kevin Hague (Green); Hone Harawira (Mana); Tau Henare (Nat); Chris Hipkins (Lab); Parekura Horomia (Lab); Gareth Hughes (Green); Paul Hutchison (Nat); Shane Jones (Lab); Steven Joyce (Nat); Nikki Kaye (Nat); John Key (Nat); Annette King (Lab); Iain Lees-Galloway (Lab); Andrew Little (Lab); Jan Logie (Green); Moana Mackey (Lab); Nanaia Mahuta (Lab); Trevor Mallard (Lab); Mojo Mathers (Green); Murray McCully (Nat); Ian McKelvie (Nat); Sue Moroney (Lab); Russel Norman (Green); Hekia Parata (Nat); David Parker (Lab); Rajen Prasad (Lab); Grant Robertson (Lab); Denise Roche (Green); Jami-Lee Ross (Nat); Eugenie Sage (Green); Pita Sharples (Maori Party); David Shearer (Lab); Scott Simpson (Nat); Lockwood Smith (Nat); Maryan Street (Lab); Rino Tirikatene (Lab); Chris Tremain (Nat); Metiria Turei (Green); Tariana Turia (Maori Party); Phil Twyford (Lab); Nicky Wagner (Nat); Holly Walker (Green); Louisa Wall (Lab); Kate Wilkinson (Nat); Maurice Williamson (Nat); Megan Woods (Lab).
Against: 40
Shane Ardern (Nat); Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi (Nat); David Bennett (Nat); Chester Borrows (Nat); Simon Bridges (Nat); Bill English (Nat); Christopher Finlayson (Nat); Nathan Guy (Nat); John Hayes (Nat); Phil Heatley (Nat)); Brendan Horan (NZ First); Colin King (Nat); Melissa Lee (Nat); Asenati Lole-Taylor (NZ First);Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga (Nat); Tim Macindoe (Nat); Tracey Martin (NZ First); Todd McClay (Nat); Mark Mitchell (Nat); Alfred Ngaro (Nat); Damien O'Connor (Lab); Simon O'Connor (Nat); Denis O'Rourke (NZ First); Winston Peters (NZ First); Richard Prosser (NZ First); Ross Robertson (Lab); Eric Roy (Nat);Tony Ryall (Nat); Mike Sabin (Nat); Katrina Shanks (Nat); Su'a William Sio (Lab); Nick Smith (Nat); Barbara Stewart (NZ First); Lindsay Tisch (Nat); Anne Tolley (Nat); Louise Upston (Nat); Andrew Williams (NZ First); Michael Woodhouse (Nat); Jian Yang (Nat); Jonathan Young (Nat).
Abstentions: 0
Raymond Huo (Lab) was not recorded as voting either for or against, which is why the total is 120 in a 121-seat Parliament.
