Jeff Montgomery The Department of Births, Deaths and Marriages says everything is on track for the first same-sex weddings in New Zealand on 19 August. New ‘intention to marry’ forms will be released on the week of 12 August, they can be lodged from the 16 August and licences can be picked up three days later. Anyone who wants to get married on 19 August needs to lodge their form on Friday 16 August. Registrar-General Jeff Montgomery says it could be a busy weekend for his staff. “We’re not sure what the volumes will be like, of people coming in on that Friday. But we’ll be all ready to go.” Montgomery says when the civil union laws came in there were a small number of people who wanted their certificates on the first day they were available and to have their union straight away. “I don’t think there will be a huge rush. But there will be some who will want to do it on the first day. And we will be accommodating them.” Montgomery reiterates that licences can’t be issued until three days after the application is lodged. “There has to be a three day gap. So no one can come in on the Monday morning and get a licence and be married on Monday, that’s not possible.” Read more here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 2nd July 2013 - 9:58am