1 October 2025

2026 celebrant renewal closes in 12 days

Thank you if you have already responded to the renewal email.

The renewal for independent marriage and civil union celebrants closes at midnight on Monday 13 October 2025.

Late applications will not be accepted. If you do not apply for renewal between 15 September and 13 October 2025, you will be removed as a celebrant and will not be able to marry couples after the new list of celebrants is published in the NZ Gazette on 27 November 2025. If you later decide to be a celebrant, you must make a fresh application, pay the full application fee and provide new documents.

Renewal invitation 

You were sent an email to renew on 15 September 2025. If you did not receive your renewal email, check your spam folder and/or promotions tab, and if it's not there email Celebrants@dia.govt.nz.

If the link doesn't open on your device, for example on an iPhone/iPad, then try using a different device. If it still doesn't open, email Celebrants@dia.govt.nz.

New celebrants approved after 1 April 2025, do not need to apply for renewal this time.

If you have performed zero or one marriage or civil union during the last 12 months, you will be asked to give reasons why you should be renewed for a further year. Activity levels from April 2022 will also be assessed. Historically low demand from the public or a particular community may indicate that a celebrant's services are no longer required. Low activity levels also present a risk to a celebrant's ability to maintain relevant skills, competence and performance. 

You’ll be notified of your approval or removal before 27 November 2025.

If you decide not to apply for renewal, let us know you are opting-out by emailing celebrants@dia.govt.nz.

Further information is in the newsletter issued on 15 September 2025. Additional questions relating to the 2026 renewal should be sent to Celebrants@dia.govt.nz.

If you have decided to relinquish your registration as a marriage celebrant, or semi/fully retire from your wider celebrant role, the Registrar-General, Department of Internal Affairs, is delighted to draw your attention to this event. It has been designed to enable you to mark this important transition with your peers, and bathe in the AfterGlow of your unique journeys as celebrants.

For more information contact Kathrine at The Celebrant School - Te Wānanga Korowai Aroha  or enrol here.

The Celebrant School - Te Wānanga Korowai Aroha is a small Kiwi business with a 30-year track record of inspiring the celebrants of Aotearoa-New Zealand with training and professional development opportunities, networking, and support services. For more information on what’s available visit www.celebrant.school.nz or phone 021 681 958.

The Celebrants Training College offers a variety of training and professional development, for new or experienced celebrants throughout New Zealand. More information is available by ringing our office on 021 027 896 96 or at www.celebranttraining.co.nz .