New Zealand

Department of Tourism website: www.newzealand.com
Image: istockphoto, Paulus Rusyanto photographer

 
New Zealand is worth the trip.  Few places offer more varied or spectacular scenery, allowing you to be married on a mountaintop, chapel by a lake, or on a pristine beach.  If the landscape is not enough you can experience natural encounters with penguins, go on a safari, get up close with a volcano and enjoy a myriad of outdoor activities in every season.

Your thrill seeking guests will also applaud your choice of destination for your wedding.  The landscape is beautiful, but there are also many ways to explore it that will get the heart beating including bungee jumping, rappelling, canoeing and caving.  Those with a desire to enjoy the scenery & activities in a more leisurely manner will also be pleased with lots of hiking, wine tasting, golf, spas and beaches.  There is something for everyone.

Quick Facts

• Language:       English & Maori
• Passport:        Yes, and it must be valid 3 months beyond the date you intend to depart the country.
• Currency:        New Zealand Dollar
• Time Zone:       GMT + 12  New Zealand observes daylight savings time during the summer months
• Airport:  Auckland Airport has the largest number of international arrivals and departures but  airports are also located in Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Queenstown.
• Weather: The northern part of New Zealand is subtropical and the south is very temperate. The warmest months are December, January and February, and the coldest June, July and August.  The weather can quickly change without notice. Summer temperatures average between 68° and 86°F and winter between 50° and 59° F.

There are two types of marriage ceremonies in New Zealand: a civil ceremony held by a Registrar of Marriages in a Registry Office and a ceremony held by an authorized marriage officiant at a location other than a registry office.  To get a marriage license, one of the couple must appear in person and complete the appropriate type of “Notice of Intended Marriage” form. The license is issued three days later along with 2 copies of a document entitled “Copy of Particulars of Marriage” which must be given to the marriage officiant before the ceremony is performed.  The Department of Internal Affairs has prepared a very helpful brochure for anyone interested in getting married in New Zealand. http://www.bdm.govt.nz/pubforms.nsf/URL/GettingMarriedbrochure.pdf/$file/GettingMarriedbrochure.pdf

 
Articles:  Fall Winter 2005