Newsletter for celebrants: Important message from Registrar-General
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Jeff Montgomery,
General Manager and Registrar-General;
Services and Access
Message from the
Registrar-General
Tēnā koe – hello.
I want to provide information directly to celebrants following this morning’s article in the Herald – Covid 19 coronavirus: Lockdown no barrier to Kiwi couple's front lawn wedding.
Marriage and Civil Union licences are being issued during lockdown and have a validity of 3 months. Weddings have occurred recently, for example when one of the couple is about to pass way or because of religious requirements.
It is up to the couple and the celebrant to consider how essential the wedding is and to work within the Level 4 rules. It is not the role of the Registrar-General to make decisions about whether or not a ceremony occurs. "Permission” or “exemptions" are not something that I have authority to issue and I do not make judgements on what services may or may not be essential. My role is to issue licences where the couple meet the requirements, to register celebrants who are expected to abide by the law, and to register relationships that have been legally solemnised. All these things can be done online.
For a marriage to occur a celebrant must be present, in-person, as well as two witnesses. It is up to the couple and the celebrant to use their judgement as to whether the marriage is essential, and for the Police to act if they feel that judgement is wrong. My advice to couples that choose to go ahead with a marriage is that they use a celebrant in their bubble or who lives close, and follow the distancing and sanitising guidelines. My advice to celebrants is that they carefully consider any request to conduct a marriage and whether it is the right thing to do at this time. No celebrant is obliged to conduct a ceremony.
I understand the impact that current restrictions are having on couples and on celebrants. We are currently refunding any marriage or civil licence fees where the couple has chosen not to proceed – a simple email to us is needed, no further questions are asked. I am also referring celebrants to the income subsidy if their business has been impacted - https://covid19.govt.nz/businesses-and-employees/employers/#employer-wage-subsidy-scheme. The scheme is open to self-employed and sole traders.
If you have any questions please email celebrants@dia.govt.nz or contact me directly if the matter is urgent.
Kia pai tō
rā (Have a good day)
Jeff
