新西兰同性婚姻合法化New Zealand's parliament has legalised same-sex marriage, the fir st country in the Asia-Pacific region to do so.新西兰议会通过了同性婚姻合法化，这是亚太地区首个出此规定的国家。 Lawmakers approved the bill, amending the 1955 marriage act, despite opposition from Christian lobby groups. Th e bill was passed with a wide majority, with 77 votes in favour and 44 against. Hundreds of jubilant（欢呼的） gay-rights advocates celebrated outside parliament after the bill was passed, calling it a milestone for equality. People watching from the public gallery and some lawmakers immediately broke into song, singing the New Zealand love song "Pokarekare Ana", AP news agency reported. Some opinion polls have suggested that about two-thirds of New Zealanders support the reform, although others polls suggest the public are more divided. Parliamentarians were allowed a conscience vote, and, crucially, the reform had the backing of both the Prime Minister John Key and leader of the opposition David Shearer, the BBC's Phil Mercer in Sydney reports. Celebrations have been held in pubs and clubs in the capital Wellington, our correspondent adds. Same-sex civil unions have been legal in New Zealand since 2005.
