TRENT Kandler says he loves his partner's sense of humour and caring nature.

Paul McCarthy gets a sense of completion from their shared world view.

The Speers Point pair - the first homosexual Australian couple to be married in New Zealand - have spoken about their relationship ahead of their August nuptials.

The school teacher and the veterinarian won a New Zealand Tourism competition to be the first married under the country's Marriage Amendment Act and will be wed at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington on August 19, the first day the new law comes into force.

The couple have been together 11 years.

They originally met through mutual friends but did not get together until spotting each other again on an online dating site.

"We had Thai takeaway and watched Rocky Horror Picture Show and we've been together ever since," Mr McCarthy said.

New Zealand made world headlines in April this year when it approved changes to its marriage laws to allow gay marriage, the 15th country in the world to do so.

On Wednesday, Queen Elizabeth approved laws in Britain and Wales allowing such marriages to take place from June next year.

In Australia, campaigners continue to be thwarted - a bill was voted down in Parliament in 2012 despite polls showing the majority of Australians support the change.

Labor officially supports change and would allow its members a conscience vote but the Liberal party does not.

However, speculation is rife the issue could be back on the agenda following the resurrection of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his change of heart on the matter - he was once opposed to the idea, now he's a supporter.

As winners of the New Zealand competition, eight of Mr McCarthy's and Mr Kandler's family and friends will be flown to New Zealand with them and their wedding will be fully arranged by a wedding planner.

Mr McCarthy said he first proposed to his partner before a trip to Canada four years ago. But they decided against it then because they would have to go alone.

He repeated his proposal after hearing of New Zealand's law.

"It wasn't about the ceremony or a bit of paper saying we're married. It's about your family and friends being there," he said.

"It's about standing up in front of all the people who are nearest and dearest to you and saying 'I commit'.

"This is a large thing for us, we wanted people to realise we're not freaks - we're just the same as anyone."

Mr Kandler, who had been trepidatious about marriage, said yes straight away.

"I've been through divorces in my childhood, so it does make you pessimistic about the whole thing," he said. "We've been talking about it a long time. I didn't think it would happen."

The couple are disappointed on Australia's position on gay marriage and said alternatives were not the same.

"It's that recognition by the government that we are the same," Mr McCarthy said. "We are Australian citizens. We have the same rights as every other citizen.

"I love my country. I sing its praises everywhere I go. Yet my country treats me second rate."