Civil Unions one year on

24/04/2006

April 26 marks a year since civil unions were introduced. The Civil Union Act was passed in December 2004 with the Department of Internal Affairs required to establish services and systems to allow couples to apply for and enter into civil unions from the 26 April 2005.

Brian Clarke, Registrar-General of Births, Deaths and Marriages says that since 26 April last year there has been steady interest in civil union services.

“There have been 460 civil union registrations since 26 April last year. This total figure comprises 178 male/male, 199 female/female and 81 male/female registrations. There have also been two changes of relationship from marriage to civil union,” says Brian Clarke.

He says these figures are broadly in line with our predictions, though an accurate prediction of the number of civil unions in the first year was always difficult to make because of the lack of a New Zealand benchmark.

“The objective of the Department of Internal Affairs has been, and remains, to provide customers with access to civil union services through the appointment and registration of celebrants, provision of a registry service, issuing of licences and certificates and accurate and reliable information about entering into a civil union.

“Internal Affairs is pleased with the delivery of the civil union services which has run smoothly since they were introduced on 26 April last year, and we remain committed to providing an effective customer service,” says Brian Clarke.

Customers can find out information about civil unions through our website www.bdm.govt.nz
or by contacting our Freephone number 0800 22 52 52.


Contact:
Tony Wallace, Senior Communications Advisor
Department of Internal Affairs
Phone 04 382 3437 (direct line) Mobile 0274 402 667 (mobile)
e-mail: tony.wallace@dia.govt.nz