New Zealand is set to become the world's 13th nation to allow same-sex marriage after Parliament passed a bill legalizing it Wednesday.
Parliament voted 77-44 on the bill's third reading, which is the penultimate step to enact laws in New Zealand. The final step, in which the governor-general gives royal assent, is generally a given.
Local media report that the law is expected to take effect in four months.
Last week Uruguay became the third country in the Americas to legalize same-sex marriage after Canada and Argentina. The Uruguayan parliament passed same-sex marriage in a landslide vote with 71 out of 92 deputies voting yes.