Jeff Montgomery,
General Manager and Registrar-General;
Services and Access
Message from the
Registrar-General
We are well on our way to establishing a new service for celebrants to perform ceremonies similar to those in registry offices. Make sure you check the information below to see if you are eligible and how to apply.
Next month we centralize the processing of all marriage licences with changes to how paper forms are handled. By the time 30 June rolls around, 43 offices in the registry network will have changed their services, and the impact on celebrants and couples will be minimal.
It's easier for couples to apply online for their marriage licence. There’s less paperwork, and it can be done on any device. Encourage your couples to head to https://marriages.services.govt.nz.
I look forward to seeing you in May at the CANZ Conference in New Plymouth.
Send your application to perform registry style ceremonies NOW
Apply now to perform registry style ceremonies from 1 July. Couples can start booking their ceremony 3 months in advance from 1 April.
For more information refer to Ngātahi | Call for applicants to do registry ceremonies
Paper applications from 1 April
From 1 April 2019, all paper applications for licences will be issued by the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).
DIA's four offices in Christchurch, Wellington, Manukau and Auckland will continue to provide a full range of marriage services including the receipting of paper applications and the issue of licenses.
The other 43 registry offices in courthouses and local authorities will take the statutory declaration and hand the form back to the customer. The customer will post the completed form with payment to DIA. Three working days after receipt by DIA, the licence will be issued by email or courier.
Note that customers using a paper application form must still appear in person before a Registrar of Marriages and Civil Unions to make a statutory declaration.
New notice of intended marriage forms will be available for download from www.govt.nz/bdm on 1 April.
From 1 April, and not before, the address to post paper application's is:
BDM Licence Application
Department of Internal Affairs
PO Box 10526
Wellington 6124
While couples are encouraged to apply online for a marriage licence, paper applications need to be used if entering into a civil union, changing the form of the relationship or when aged 16 or 17.
Transitional arrangements
If the customer has completed an 'old' form, all they need to do is attach one page from the new 1 April version and post to DIA. That page includes the other information we need to process their application about how they want their licence sent, how many certificates they need, and payment details (usually this is page 5).
New marriage flyers available from 1 April
Available from 1 April, the new marriage licence flyer explains the new process for applying with a paper form, and promotes applying online as the easier and faster way for couples. The flyer is available in both English and Maori versions. The "BDM504 apply for a marriage licence flyer" is available for order from 1 April. Simply email bdm.nz@dia.govt.nz or Call free 0800 22 52 52.
You must have the marriage licence
With improvements to make the process of applying for a marriage licence easier, some things stay the same.
You must have received or been given a marriage licence authorising the marriage of the two named parties before you perform the ceremony. Otherwise the marriage may not be legal.
Tell us when you move
Independent celebrants
You can change your contact details and you can include a website, photo and preferred name, if you have one. Log in to update your details. If you’re using this service for the first time, get set up by emailing celebrants@dia.govt.nz
Organisations
An organisation's central contact will use RealMe to update the information for celebrants on their organisation’s list. Log in to update the details for an organisation’s celebrants. You can ask your central contact to update your information, or email celebrants@dia.govt.nz
2/3 of celebrants identify as female
With International Women's Day on Friday 8 March, we were asked to provide the percentage of celebrants that are women. For your information, here are the statistics for independent celebrants as at 6 March 2019:
- Female 66%
- Male 33%
- Gender diverse/Not specified 1%
Celebrants’ Association NZ Conference 2019
The Celebrants’ Association New Zealand Conference is open to all!
Theme: Raising the Bar
Date: 24th – 26th May 2019
Venue: TSB Showplace, New Plymouth
A varied and innovative programme promises to provide all the learning and networking opportunities that you would expect from such an event.
The plenary speakers and workshops have all been selected and designed to stimulate and inform your thinking and will all be aligned to VCANZ’s Body of Knowledge (BOK) competencies: Professional Practice, Professional Knowledge and Professional Education, but importantly it will also allow you to recharge and refill. And of course, there is the “out of workshop time” and the invaluable chatting and networking that goes on then.
Early-bird registrations close 22 March – SO REGISTER TODAY – DON’T MISS OUT!
View the full conference programme and register here: www.celebrantsassociation.co.nz/conference-2019/
