Jeff Montgomery,
General Manager and Registrar-General
Message from the
Registrar-General
Tēnā koe – hello.
As we head into the marriage season, I am encouraging all celebrants to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Celebrants are exposed to potential Covid outbreaks due to the nature of their role in dealing with families and during ceremonies when they are in close proximity to others, often as part of a large group in an enclosed setting. Celebrants also have an important leadership role in local communities as a government appointed official. You might consider putting your vaccination status on your promotional website or social media accounts – increasingly couples will be considering this when choosing a celebrant. For more information - https://covid19.govt.nz/covid-19-vaccines/
Please continue to always follow the advice from the government and Ministry of Health:
- Information about COVID-19 from the Ministry of Health
- Government advice about COVID-19 on Govt.nz
Keep safe.
Kia pai tō rā (Have a good day)
Jeff
Reminder: 2022 independent celebrant renewal
The renewal for independent celebrants is underway until midnight Tuesday 26 October.
You must apply for renewal with your RealMe verified identity.
Few weddings since April 2020?
If over the past one and a half years you haven't married any couples, or have only married one couple, you may be asked to give reasons why you should be approved for another year.
Make sure you renew online first and then email us your reasons. If you want to apply to be a celebrant for another year you must renew online.
Renewal statistics
As at today:
- 1,897 celebrants have applied to be renewed
- 7 celebrants have told us they no longer want to continue and asked to be removed.
- 2,060 celebrants have not responded and will be removed if they don't renew by 26 October.
Approved within the last 2 months
Those that were first approved as a marriage or civil union celebrant within the last 2 months do not need to renew this year, therefore will not receive an email.
List published in NZ Gazette
The list of independent celebrants for 2022 is scheduled to be published in the NZ Gazette on 20 December 2021.
If you do not renew
If you do not apply for renewal by 26 October, you will be removed as a celebrant and will not be able to marry couples in 2022. If you later decide to be a celebrant, you must make a fresh application, pay the full application fee and provide new documents.
Fees
The renewal fee of $60 can be paid online via credit, debit or Prezzy card. This fee is non-refundable should your renewal be declined.
If the renewal application is not completed before the official close date, you will be removed from the list of celebrants. To become a celebrant again you will need to complete a new celebrant application and pay the full fee of $220. This can take several months. If you want to retain your licence for another year complete the application before the close of the renewal.
Further Information
- The independent celebrant renewal opened on Monday 4 October and close at midnight Tuesday 26 October.
- All independent celebrants and organisational central contacts are required to complete the renewal online using a verified RealMe Identity.
- Independent celebrants will be required to pay $60 when submitting their renewal application online.
- A link to the renewal will be sent to you via email as soon as the renewal opens.
- You may continue taking bookings and performing weddings throughout the renewal process.
- We will send you an email advising that the renewal has closed.
- Before Thursday 23 December, we plan to notify the celebrants that have been approved or removed.
Any questions relating to the 2022 renewal should be sent to celebrants@dia.govt.nz as soon as possible to ensure an easy renewal process.
