Marriage in New Zealand

As a result of these bills, all couples in New Zealand, whether married, in a civil union, or in a de facto partnership, now generally enjoy the same rights and undertake the same obligations.

These rights extend to immigration, next-of-kin status, social welfare, matrimonial property and other areas.

This move was strongly criticised by opponents of the legislation, such as then-Attorney General Michael Cullen as an overly 'radical' attack on the Bill of Rights.

Section 205 of the Crimes Act 1961 provides a two to seven year imprisonment term for bigamy for a person who enters into a formal marriage or civil union recognised by New Zealand law with a third person when they are already married or in a civil union recognised by New Zealand law.

Advocacy for full legalisation of polygamy in New Zealand has come from some religious organisations and from polyamorous groups.

However, polygamy has little public support among New Zealanders, and no major political party has endorsed its legalisation.

[14] From 1888, parliament continued to recognise custom marriages in legislation while the courts sometimes did not, creating a contradictory system.

In 1933, the minimum age of marriage for both men and women was raised to 16 with the consent of a parent or guardian required for those under 21.

Following the passing of the Age of Majority Act 1970 those over 20 did not require the consent of a parent or guardian from 1 January 1971.

In some cultures, the tradition of forced marriage is practised and this occurs to a small degree in New Zealand.

One women's support organisation reported that forced marriage makes up half of their youth work and one worker had 50 such cases over a four-year period.

[18] After Blue left Parliament, the bill was picked up by fellow National MP Jo Hayes and was eventually drawn from the ballot on 13 April 2017.

[19] Marriages in New Zealand are allowed between any two people regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Maori had their own marriage practices and immigrants to New Zealand from England, Scotland, Ireland, and other countries were of various Christian denominations, other religions, and non-believers.

Marriages were performed by officiating ministers of various denominations while other people simply declared themselves married.

Some people were particularly concerned at the possible seduction or kidnap of their daughters or young heiresses by unscrupulous individuals.

The Act voided all marriages solemnized by licence issued by the Church of England of those under 21 where the consent of the father, guardian, or mother had not been obtained but allowed marriages where banns had been read in the home parishes and no objection had been received from the father, guardian, or mother.

The Act validated all marriages "solemnized by any minister of any Christian denomination, who had not or shall not have received episcopal ordination".

Based on the English Acts, it was introduced by Governor George Grey "to regulate the law of marriage in the Colony of New Zealand".

Marriages were to be performed by officiating ministers in a church building or office or other place specified on the notice and license or certificate, or by Deputy Registrars of Marriage in registry offices or other place specified on the notice and license or certificate.

The Act required "that in some part of the ceremony and in the presence of the officiating minister and witnesses as aforesaid each of the parties shall declare— I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, A.B., may not be joined in matrimony to C.D.

And each of the parties shall say to each other— I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, A.B., do take thee, C.D., to be my lawful wedded wife [or husband]".

Penalties for non-compliance with the Act were severe: "any person knowingly and wilfully so offending, and being lawfully convicted thereof, shall be deemed and adjudged to be guilty of felony, and shall be transported for the space of fourteen years: Provided that all prosecutions for such felony shall be commenced within the space of three years after the offence committed".

12, increased the number of listed religious bodies entitled to provide officiating ministers to twelve.

The Act also made provision for the recognition of officiating ministers of religion not associated with the listed religious bodies provided they had the support of twenty-four householders.

The penalties for falsely pretending to be an Officiating Minister and solemnizing a marriage and other breaches of the Act were reduced to seven years penal servitude.

5, voided all marriages "between persons either of whom is under the age of sixteen years" that might take place after the passing of the Act.

This increased the minimum age of marriage to 16 for both men and women with consent required from a parent or guardian for those under 21.

It allowed marriages to be solemnized with open doors in the presence of an officiating minister and two or more witnesses, at any time between the hours of six in the morning and eight in the evening.

The definition reads: "marriage means the union of 2 people, regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity".