'Marriage Equality Certificate'

This 'Marriage Equality Certificate' was signed by the youth branches of New Zealand's political parties in support of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill (sponsored by MP Louisa Wall). It was signed and presented to Ministers of Parliament Kevin Hague and Grant Robertson in a public event held at Parliament on 11 May 2013. The concept behind the event was as if it was a marriage certificate being signed.

The Campaign for Marriage Equality was a nation-wide coalition of supporters and groups to promote marriage equality in New Zealand (the Civil Union Act 2004 had achieved partial equality only).

The signatories on this certificate include representatives from: ACT on Campus, Young Greens, Young Labour, Young Nationals, Mana Rangatahi, New Zealand First Youth, United Future, the Māori Party, and the Campaign for Marriage Equality - indicating both cross-party support and the importance of the campaign to young people.

On 17 April 2013 the House of Representatives voted in the third and final reading in favour of the Bill by 77 to 44. On Monday 19 August 2013 everyone became equal under New Zealand's marriage law, with the first LGBTQI+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex) marriages taking place that day throughout New Zealand, including at Te Papa.