16 August 2013
31 same sex couples from main centres intend to marry on Monday
Thirty-one same sex couples from Auckland (14), Manukau (1), Wellington (6), Christchurch (6) and Rotorua (4) have told
Births, Deaths and Marriages they intend to get married on Monday.
Births, Deaths and Marriages has received 31 notice of intended marriage forms for same sex couples in main centres and
Rotorua and on 19 August will issue 31 marriage licences, says Registrar-General Births, Deaths and Marriages, Jeff
Montgomery.
“In addition, we’ve had 977 marriage forms downloaded from our website this week, three times as many as normal, 125 are
for civil union to marriage changes, 156 for couples applying from overseas in advance of arriving in New Zealand and
696 for couples resident or planning to be in New Zealand three days prior to their wedding.
“All couples intending to get married must have a marriage licence. Marriage licences will be available from Registry
Offices when they open on Monday morning.”
“There has clearly been interest from same-sex couples in New Zealand and also from overseas, to get married. A number
of same-sex couples who are currently in a civil union have also decided to change their civil union to a marriage.”
Logistical issues after today’s Wellington earthquake mean regional figures will be available next week.
· Marriages forms record the date of the marriage but not the time of day the marriage occurred
· The number of marriage licences does not necessarily relate to the number of marriages. Marriage licences are valid
for three months and some couples may decide not to get married during that time.
Information on how to get married is currently available on the Department of Internal Affairs website and this will be
updated on 19 August.
The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act enables couples to marry regardless of their gender or sexual
orientation. The new definition of marriage in the Marriage Act will define marriage as "the union of two people,
regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity".
All couples getting married in New Zealand must follow the correct process, including being married by an approved
marriage celebrant or a Registrar of Marriages. The Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages within the
Department appoints marriage celebrants, registers marriages and produces marriage certificates.
Questions and Answers
How has the law changed?
The Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act enables couples to marry regardless of their gender or sexual
orientation. The new statutory definition of marriage in the Marriage Act defines marriage as "the union of two people,
regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity."
When is the first day a same sex couple can get married?
The first day a same sex couple can get married is the day the Marriage Amendment Act comes into force. The Act will
fully come into force on 19 August 2013. Regulations providing new forms for couples to use to give notice of their
intended marriage come into force on 16 August 2013.
The new notification of intention of marriage forms have been available from 12 August in preparation for 19 August. A
couple needs to complete the appropriate form and one of the couple needs to appear in person at a Registry Office to
sign the statutory declaration. This can happen no earlier than Friday 16 August. The marriage licence and associated
documents will be ready for collection on Monday 19 August. The marriage is then able to take place.
Couples coming from overseas please refer to If I live in another country, what do I have to do to get married in New
Zealand? below.
If I have a civil union, then want to get married to my partner, what is involved?
As a couple in a civil union who wish to continue in a relationship with each other, you may change the form of your
relationship to a marriage without having to formally dissolve your civil union. You will be required to produce
evidence of your current civil union when you complete a ‘Notice of Intended Marriage, change of relationship from civil
union’ form and pay the fee.
If I live in another country, what do I have to do to get married in New Zealand?
If you are applying for the marriage licence from outside of New Zealand, the only difference is in regards to the form
you complete (i.e. BDM 58: ‘Notice of Intended Marriage where both parties ordinarily resident outside New Zealand.’ A
new, updated version of this form īs available on the DIA website).
If you are overseas, the statutory declaration may be signed by a Commonwealth Representative, and then sent to the
Registry Office in New Zealand closest to where you will be married. This notice should arrive at least a week before
you intend to get married. If it is convenient, you can have the declaration witnessed by a Commonwealth Representative
at our London or Sydney office.
Alternatively, you can complete everything on the form except the declaration and send it (with payment) to the Registry
Office in New Zealand closest to where you will be married. When you arrive in New Zealand, you then need to visit that
office, sign the declaration and collect the marriage licence.
Or, you can travel to New Zealand, pay the fee and fill out the form here in front of a local Registrar and then three
days later a marriage licence and associated documentation would be ready for collection and a marriage can take place.
Please note that the recognition of your New Zealand marriage is subject to the laws of your home country.
What will a marriage licence cost?
The fee for a marriage licence or to give notice of a change of relationship is the same - $122.60 if using an approved
marriage celebrant, or $173.70 if having a Registry Office ceremony.
Will you still be able to choose ‘bride’ and ‘groom’ on marriage forms?
Yes, ‘bride’ and ‘bridegroom’ remain as terms on the marriage forms. Alternatively, individuals may choose to refer to
themselves as ‘partners’ should they wish. The terms that the couple choose will appear on marriage certificates issued
after the marriage is registered.
Can a celebrant or church minister refuse to marry a same sex couple?
The Marriage Act authorises but does not oblige any marriage celebrant to solemnise a marriage. This is unchanged by the
Marriage Amendment Act. However this is further reinforced by the Amendment Act which states that no religious or
organisational celebrant is obliged to solemnise a marriage that would contravene religious beliefs or philosophical or
humanitarian convictions of a religious body or approved organisation.
If someone has the license to officiate at civil unions, will they automatically be able to perform marriages?
No. Marriages and civil unions are administered under different Acts. To 'solemnise' or conduct marriages, a person must
be approved in accordance with the Marriage Act 1955 and have their name published as a Marriage Celebrant in the New
Zealand Gazette. There are three types of marriage celebrant: independent; Ministers of religious bodies; and
organisational:
Independent Marriage Celebrants - persons appointed by the Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages as
marriage celebrants and who operate independent of churches and organisations. Only those persons appointed by the
Registrar-General as Marriage Celebrants and whose names appear in the List of Marriage Celebrants in the New Zealand
Gazette and at www.bdm.govt.nz have the authority to solemnise marriages in New Zealand.
Ministers of religious bodies (as specified in Schedule 1 of the Marriage Act 1955) – each of these religious bodies
nominates its ministers, and the ministers’ names are published in the New Zealand Gazette and on www.bdm.govt.nz.
Organisational celebrants – approval is granted to certain organisations that have as one of their principal objects
the upholding or promotion of religious beliefs or philosophical or humanitarian convictions; these organisations then
nominate their designated celebrants and the names are published in the New Zealand Gazette and on www.bdm.govt.nz.
To 'solemnise' or conduct civil unions, a person must be approved by the Registrar-General in accordance with the Civil
Union Act 2004 and have their name published as a Civil Union Celebrant in the New Zealand Gazette and at
www.bdm.govt.nz.
How many Civil Unions and marriages were there in 2012?
Statistics New Zealand has this information here: Civil Unions and Marriages (Provisional).
ends