MEDIA RELEASE
1 December 2016
Who Is NZ’s Longest Married Couple 2017?
Is 81+ years still the NZ record? And is it a World Record? For the second year running, Family First NZ has launched
the annual search for the Longest Married Couple in New Zealand.
Nominations will be taken until 15 January 2017 with the winners named on 14 February 2017 (Valentine’s Day) to coincide
with National Marriage Week.
“New Zealand couple JERAM & GANGA RAVJI (below) who won the award at the beginning of this year celebrated 81 years of marriage in April, and both turned 100 years old this year. That's very impressive and is going to be very difficult to beat. It
may also set a world record which we are checking on,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.
The highly acclaimed activity of recognising couples for their long marriages, which is in its seventh year in the U.S.
and fourth year in Canada, has drawn media attention from around the world. In 2014 Harold & Edna Owings of California were recognised for their 82 years of marriage.
“This is an opportunity to promote marriage and honour couples who have done the ‘hard yards’. Marriage is a great
institution but it requires love and commitment, hard work, and community support. We want to celebrate with couples who
are setting the example for younger married couples just starting out,” says Mr McCoskrie.
The NZ winners will be selected solely from nominations submitted. The national winners will be recognised on
Valentine's Day 2017, which coincides with National Marriage Week which is the second week of February each year. An
appropriate award - (the Ravjis had a professional photo sitting with their extended family which includes 6 children,
15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren) - will be presented by Family First NZ at a ceremony to be held at the
winner's location during Valentine's week.
Nominations which are open to any married couple (either NZ citizen or NZ resident) may be submitted by emailadmin@familyfirst.org.nz or by posting to Family First NZ, P.O.Box 276-133, Manukau City 2241.
2016 WINNERS
Photo shows Jeram and Ganga Ravji receiving their prizes from Family First NZ which included flowers, chocolates, and a
photo sitting valued at $1500.
JERAM RAVJI and GANGA JERAM RAVJI
81 years of marriage in April 2016.
They both turned 100 years old this year in May and June respectively. In April they celebrated their 81st wedding
anniversary. Together they
have 6 children, and 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren all living in Auckland.
ENDS