Ngātahi
2 December 2024
Russell Burnard,
General Manager and Registrar-General
Message from the
Registrar-General
Kia ora koutou,
Congratulations to those that were approved as celebrants for 2025 during the annual renewal, or who became a celebrant for the first time this year.
I wish you a peaceful and relaxing break with whānau and friends.
Meri Kirihimete ki a koutou katoa
Noho ora mai rā,
Russell
Introducing two of our celebrants team
Tui (left) and Josh (right) are members of the team that manages your celebrant enquiries, processes new applications and the annual renewal. They help make sure everything runs smoothly and support you in your role as a celebrant.
Tui and Josh, along with our wider team, wish you a Meri Kirihimete.
Closedown over Christmas and New Year
Our last full working day is Friday 20 December 2024.
On 23-24 December 2024 and 3 January 2005, we will operate with reduced staff in order to continue processing marriages and civil unions.
We will re-open on Monday 6 January 2025.
Your couples should apply early for their marriage licences, so their plans are not affected by office closures during the holiday period.
Continue to send enquiries to the correct email address (do not phone us). We will respond to the enquiry as soon as we can:
- Celebrants@dia.govt.nz - provides support to marriage and civil union celebrants only.
- bdmtoregister@dia.govt.nz - returning the fully completed and signed particulars for registration after the ceremony.
- MarriageLicence@dia.govt.nz - for couples that have questions or corrections to a marriage or civil union licence that they have already applied for.
Outcome of 2025 renewal
The independent renewal is closed. As at the date of this newsletter, we are heading into 2025 with:
- 3,461 independent marriage celebrants
- 2,138 civil union celebrants
- 141 registry celebrants.
If removed during renewal last day is 18 December
Independent marriage and civil union celebrants that were removed during the recent annual renewal, can marry couples up until 18 December 2024. That is when the new list of approved celebrants is published in the New Zealand Gazette.
Number of weddings performed
Each year we publish the number of marriages and civil unions that independent celebrants performed during the last year.
The list is now available at Independent Marriage & Civil Union Celebrants - Number of Ceremonies Performed - Independent Marriage & Civil Union Celebrants
Only approved celebrants can marry couples
Please remind anyone you know that wants to be a celebrant, that they cannot marry couples until they have been officially approved as a celebrant and their name has been added to the list of celebrants.
Until they are approved as a celebrant, they may only participate in a marriage ceremony by, for example, reading a poem. This similarly applies to others who may want to be involved in the ceremony.
It is an offence to pretend to be a marriage celebrant and the marriage may be void ab initio.
Fake weddings are not permitted
A fake wedding is where there is a ceremony in the form of a marriage that does not comply with New Zealand legislation. This is normally when the intention is to be false and deceptive, even if no harm is intended.
For instance, a marriage licence may not have been applied for and issued according to the Marriage Act 1955, or an approved marriage celebrant did not officiate at the ceremony. This also applies to civil unions.
Potential offences are:
- it is an offence to pretend to be a marriage celebrant and marry a couple. On conviction, the person could be imprisoned for up to 5 years.
- marriage celebrants commit an offence if they encourage or assist someone to pretend to be a celebrant. On conviction, the celebrant could be imprisoned for up to 5 years.
- if a marriage celebrant was involved and they married the couple outside the legal requirements. On conviction, the celebrant could be imprisoned for up to 5 years or a fine of up to $600, or to both.
- it is an offence to make or cause to be made, false statements to cause a false entry to be registered. On conviction, the person could be imprisoned for up to 2 years, or a fine of up to $400, or both.
In addition, if a celebrant was found to have made a serious breach of the law or a serious complaint was verified, they may be removed from the list of celebrants and will no longer be able to marry couples.
Couples may have commitment or renewal of vows ceremonies.
If you are aware of a fake or imitation wedding occurring, email the facts to CelebrantFeedback@dia.govt.nz.
The Celebrant School - Te Wānanga Korowai Aroha offers training, professional development, and support services for celebrants throughout the country. More information is available at 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 .
