Ngātahi
19 June 2026
Russell Burnard
General Manager and Registrar-General
Message from the
Registrar-General
Kia ora koutou,
I have confirmed the dates for this years annual renewal of independent marriage and civil union celebrants.
The renewal period will run from Friday 28 August to midnight on Monday 28 September 2026. The updated list will be published on 13 November 2026 in the NZ Gazette.
Before the renewal period opens, please check that your RealMe Verified Identity is current. This will help ensure a smooth renewal process.
You can confirm your details at www.realme.govt.nz
We will share further guidance closer to the renewal period.
In this edition, I also want to remind you about the complaints process, including recent changes that allow more timely decisions where standards are not met.
Noho ora mai rā,
Russell
Update on complaints process
Celebrant standards
Celebrants must be of good character, carry out their duties properly, and meet a genuine public or community need.
Being of good character goes beyond meeting basic requirements. Celebrants are expected to conduct themselves in a way that maintains public trust. Their behaviour should not bring the role into disrepute or reflect poorly on the office of the Registrar-General.
If standards are not met, outcomes can range from a warning or caution, to removal, with performance also reviewed at annual renewal.
Overview and outcomes
We introduced a complaints process for couples wishing to raise concerns about a marriage or civil union celebrant that went live in December 2021.
Since then, 24 complaints have been received. Some were dismissed as unfounded and others upheld, resulting in cautions or warnings. No celebrants have been removed to date as a result of the complaints process.
Minor or quickly resolved issues are not recorded, but more serious matters are kept on record and may affect a celebrant's renewal.
Faster decisions for serious complaints
Until recently, if the Registrar-General believed a celebrant should be removed, the final decision had to be made by the Minister of Justice.
From 6 June 2026, the Registrar-General can now decide directly. This allows faster action where there are serious breaches and helps maintain public confidence.
Fair process for removing a celebrant
If a removal is being considered, the celebrant is notified and usually given about two weeks to respond.
If removal is confirmed, it takes effect after five days.
Couples who are affected can choose another celebrant, with 9,728 currently registered nationwide.
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.
