MEDIA RELEASE
10 December 2004

Internal Affairs Ready For Civil Unions

The Department of Internal Affairs will be working over coming months to ensure all New Zealanders can access civil union products and services from 26 April 2005. This will include, providing, licences, registration services, appointment of civil union celebrants and registry ceremonies.

Brian Clarke, Registrar-General, Births Deaths and Marriages, says systems and processes are now under development. “We are developing the infrastructure within the Department of Internal Affairs to facilitate the availability of civil union licences, upon application, from 26 April 2005.

“We will ensure registrars and celebrants are appointed, registration processes and IT processes are up and running and staff trained. Further the Department will provide factual information about civil unions to the public from today through our Freephone number 0800 22 52 52 and website www.bdm.govt.nz

“Over coming months we will appoint civil union celebrants. Current marriage celebrants do not automatically become civil union celebrants. Anyone interested in becoming a civil union celebrant will need to submit an application which will soon be available on our website or obtained on request through our Freephone number. There are however criteria that need to be met before appointments can be made,” says Brian Clarke.

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