15 same sex marriages today

August 2013

Births Death and Marriages has been notified of 15 same sex couples who have married today, nine registry office weddings and six weddings by marriage celebrants.

The marriages included a number of high profile same sex weddings, organised by Tourism New Zealand, ZMFM, The Edge and Air New Zealand, says Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Jeff Montgomery.

“We have had same-sex couples all over New Zealand notify us that they want to get married and we have also had couples from overseas show interest. We’re working with all of our customers to make sure they are fully informed of what they need to do so they can get married as early as possible.

Couples need to fill out a notice of intended marriage form and then one of the couple needs to bring the form to a Registry Office, make a statutory declaration in front of a Registrar of Marriages and pay the fee. The form includes the terms ‘bride’, ‘bridegroom’ and ‘partner’. Three days later we will issue the couple a marriage licence.”

Updated figures show 37 same sex couples intended to marry today, Jeff Montgomery says.

“We expect that most of these couples will have got married today. Couples who marry in locations other than marriage registries e.g. churches, have 10 days to return their papers to us for registration. So final figures for the numbers of same sex couples who married on Monday 19 August will be available in a couple of weeks.”

In addition, five further same sex couples have notified Births, Deaths and Marriages today that they intend to get married. These five marriages can occur on or after Thursday 22 August when the couples receive their marriage licence.

Mr Montgomery says there has been a consistent level of demand from same-sex couples to get married.

“We will regularly update figures on our website, www.dia.govt.nz.

Same-sex couples in a civil union may also decide to change their civil union to a marriage. It’s really important that same-sex couples read up on the process so they know what they have to do.”

“I’m pleased that the hard work by all our staff to deliver the changes required to support the requirements of the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013 has been completed.



Regional figures for same sex marriage

Note: Births, Deaths and Marriages will regularly update national and regional figures on the Department of Internal Affairs website, www.dia.govt.nz .

Notes for journalists

• Marriage 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 has been updated today.
• 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