Veteran actor and gay rights advocate Sir Ian McKellen has told a Marriage Equality conference in Wellington that he'd like to have a same sex marriage in New Zealand.
The Marriage Amendment Bill, which would allow such marriages, has passed its first reading in Parliament and is being considered by a select committee.
Sir Ian, who plays Gandalf in the Hobbit, told the conference by video link that the world has looked to New Zealand for social advance ever since it became the first country to give women the vote.
"It will be a popular move, I know, and I'm glad your major political parties have embraced it.
"My support is with you and I hope that by the time that I get back to Middle Earth, I might even be able to get married".
