The PM should make marriage equality a priority in light of a poll that shows that the public now firmly support same-sex marriage, the Green Party says.

A TVNZ/Colmar Brunton poll found that 63 percent of New Zealanders think same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. Just 31 percent were opposed, while six percent did not know or preferred not to say.

“John Key recently said that while he is personally not opposed, there isn’t any clamour for gay marriage in New Zealand. This poll shows he is wrong in that assertion,” Green Party Rainbow Issues spokesperson Kevin Hague says.

“Twice as many New Zealanders now support same sex marriage as oppose it.

“This is an issue which New Zealanders clearly feel strongly about. John Key can make marriage equality a priority and introduce this legislation.”

Hague will put his Marriage (Equality) Amendment Bill, which seeks to end marriage discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity, into the next members’ bill ballot.

Labour MP Louisa Wall has also drafted a bill that would allow same-sex marriages.