Jeff Montgomery,
General Manager and Registrar-General;
Services and Access
Message from the
Registrar-General
Tēnā koe – hello.
In this issue we provide independent celebrants with the opportunity to answer a short questionnaire, so they can provide their input into the review of the application and renewal process that is underway. Don't miss out on having your say.
Thank you for your valuable contribution during 2019 and I hope you have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year.
Kia pai tō rā (Have a good day)
Jeff
Questionnaire: Review of celebrant appointment process
In September's Ngātahi, we let you know about our review of the independent celebrant appointment and renewal process.
Please complete the questionnaire if you are an independent celebrant. You have until 20 January 2020.
The questionnaire shouldn't take longer than 10 to 15 minutes to complete. Your responses will help us improve the services that we offer to independent marriage celebrants and couples getting married.
Call for VCANZ celebrants across Wellington, Porirua and Hutt Valley
We now have 92 registry-style celebrants across NZ. The service is self-sustaining, so you are welcome to participate at any stage. To find out more information about being a registry-style celebrant refer to Ngātahi | Call for applicants to do registry ceremonies (the survey in that newsletter has since expired). When celebrants achieve validation (VCANZ), the congratulatory email that CANZ send has a link to the application form in it.
We are accumulating more celebrants to cover Wellington for registry-style ceremonies and welcome more celebrants to participate. For more information refer to September's Ngātahi newsletter.
Late next year we'll most likely be opening-up Auckland and Christchurch to registry celebrants so we'd recommend you start thinking about being validated now in preparation.
Consent
We've had a couple of questions recently from celebrants about consent so it seemed timely to include an article about it.
Absence of consent
A marriage or civil union may be void ab initio if by reason of duress, mistake, insanity, or for any other reason, there was at the time of the marriage or civil union an absence of consent by either party.
Celebrants are not obliged to marry a couple if for instance, in their professional judgement, a party to the marriage or civil union is showing signs that they do not voluntarily consent to the ceremony.
Court consent for 16 and 17 year olds to marry
In August 2018, legislation was passed requiring the consent of a Family Court Judge before a 16 or 17 year old can marry.
In the past, 16 and 17 year olds who wished to marry needed parental consent, and this happened around 30 times a year, mostly involving females. The new legislation aims to prevent possible forced marriages, where pressure or abuse is used to coerce someone into a marriage against their will.
For more information refer to https://www.justice.govt.nz/family/get-consent-to-marry-if-you-are-16-or-17/
