A Labour MP has drafted a bill to allow gay marriage.
Louisa Wall says her member's bill will end discrimination in the Marriage Act so same-sex couples have the same rights as others to formalise their relationship.
"At the moment, the only option for same sex couples to formalise their relationship is to have a civil union, or travel overseas to one of the growing number of jurisdictions that recognise same-sex marriage," she said on Friday.
"Some would prefer to have a New Zealand marriage ceremony and they deserve that right."
The bill has gone into the ballot, where it will compete with about 30 others for a place on parliament's agenda.
One or two are usually drawn every second Wednesday parliament sits.
If it is drawn it will be debated on a first reading and there will be a conscience vote that decides whether it will go any further.
Conscience votes give every MP the right to make their own decision, and their parties don't dictate how they should vote.
Prime Minister John Key has said he would vote for a gay marriage bill if an MP puts one up but he won't put the issue on the government's agenda because it isn't a priority.
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