| Information about the Marriages |
Availability
| Valid From: .. | 01/01/1955 |
| To: .. | Ongoing |
| Frequency: .. | Annually |
Design
Purpose: As the principal agency responsible for processing and publishing marriage statistics in New Zealand, Statistics New Zealand seeks to provide information that meets the legal, public policy and community requirements for up-to-date official statistics at the local, regional and national level.
General Information ..Method of Collection
Under the provisions of the Marriage Act 1955, a couple wishing to marry in New Zealand must complete a Notice of Intended Marriage (BDM60) at least three days before the marriage. The BDM60 (or marriage licence) includes a statutory declaration which must be made in the presence of a Registrar of Marriages. The marriage must take place within 3 months of the licence being issued. The details from the BDM60 are transferred to two copies of the form BDM45 (Copy of Particulars of Marriage). Both copies of the BDM45 are signed by the parties at the wedding. The BDM45 confirms the details and legal validity of the marriage. Within ten days of the ceremony the celebrant must send one copy back to the Registrar who prepared it, the other copy is given to the couple as a record of their marriage. The BDM45s are marked against the BDM60s then forwarded to Births, Deaths and Marriages (a division of the Department of Internal Affairs) in Wellington where the marriage is registered.
Marriage data are derived from information provided on the BDM60 and BDM45. Statistics New Zealand receives a monthly electronic file of marriage registrations from Births, Deaths and Marriages. Statistics NZ is responsible for processing and publishing marriage statistics derived from the marriage registrations. Marriage data are published annually and unless otherwise stated refer to marriages by date of registration not date of marriage.
The questions on the current Notice of Intended Marriage Form (BDM60):
(Details must be given for both the Bridegroom and the Bride)
Full address of church or other place where marriage is to be solemnised+
Date or approximate date of marriage+
Full name of celebrant+
Denomination or organisation+
For both the Bridegroom and the Bride:
Current first or given name*
Current surname or family name*
First or given name(s) at birth+
Surname or given name at birth+
Full date of birth
Usual occupation, profession or job*
What was your last relationship (if any)?- marriage, civil union, never been married or in a civil union
If previously married or in a civil union, how did that relationship end*
Place of birth
Usual residential address in full
First or given name(s), surname or family and surname or family name at birth of father+
First or given name(s), surname or family and surname or family name at birth of mother+
+ Question on the BDM60 but not supplied to Statistics NZ
* Question on the BDM60 supplied to Statistics NZ but not coded by Statistics NZ
Output Variables
Output variables are pieces of individual information that can be extracted from the survey/output data. Often output variables can be cross tabulated with other output variables, for example sales by industry classification. The list below contains all current and past output variables which have been released for this survey/output.
| Variable Name | Description |
 | |
| Period | Year and month of registration |
| |
| Date of Marriage | Day, month and year |
| |
| Groom's Age | Age of bridegroom |
| |
| Marital Status of Bridegroom | Marital status of bridegroom at marriage |
| |
| Groom's Birth Place | Country of birth of bridegroom |
| |
| Bride's Age | Age of bride |
| |
| Marital Status of Bride | Marital status of bride at marriage |
| |
| Bride's Birth Place | Country of birth of bride |
| |
| Residence of Groom | Territorial Authority where bridegroom usually lives |
| |
Changes in Output Variables over time
Guide to Interpreting Data
Summary of Changes to Survey/Output ..Important Dates Relating to Marriage Statistics
1844 Vital Statistics first published as part of “Statistics of New Zealand” (blue book).
1858 The Registration Act.
This act provided for compulsory registration of births, deaths and marriages.
1859 Compulsory registration of births, deaths and marriages introduced.
1909 Mäori Land Act.
Provisions were made for the registration of Mäori marriages in a separate register.
1910 Collection of Vital Statistics entrusted to the Government Statistician (formerly the responsibility of the Registrar General).
1914 Monthly Abstract of Statistics first published.
1921 Vital Statistics report first published. Previously vital statistics were published in the blue book.
1928 New Zealand Pocket Digest of Statistics first published.
1931 Re-enactment of Mäori Land Act 1909.
This act made provision for the administration of Mäori marriages either under the Marriage Act or under the Mäori Land Act 1909. A separate register for Mäori marriages was retained.
1933 Marriage Act Amendment.
This amendment made the minimum legal age of marriage 16 years. It also permitted women to act as officiating ministers for the purpose of solemnising marriages.
1939 Marriage Act Amendment.
Repealed the 1933 Marriage Act Amendment. Similar regulations with regard to the minimum legal age of marriage were introduced in this amendment.
1944 Marriage Emergency Regulations.
This act provided for the keeping of a special register of service marriages solemnised outside New Zealand between parties, one or both of whom were members of New Zealand’s armed forces.
1946 Marriage Amendment Act.
This act replaced the 1944 marriage emergency regulations and in addition provided for the validity of service marriages.
1951 Mäori Purposes Act.
This act stipulated that Mäori marriages were to be solemnised and recorded in the same way as non-Mäori marriages.
1952 Abolition of the Mäori marriage register.
1955 Marriage Act.
This act set down the law regarding the solemnisation and registration of marriage.
1987 Last year of publication of annual volume on vital statistics. Some information
incorporated into Demographic Trends. Official confirmation 4 July 1989.
1995 Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995.
1995 As part of government restructuring the public registries group of the Department of Justice was split up from 1 October. Internal Affairs was given responsibility for Births, Deaths and Marriages.
1996 Following the 1996 Census of Population and Dwellings, Statistics New Zealand changed its standard statistical concept for deriving population estimates and projections from the de facto population to the resident population.
1998 Internal Affairs computerised the vitals collection system from 1 January. Data now provided electronically to Statistics New Zealand and supply of birth, death and marriage registration forms phased out. Data from 1 July processed by Statistics New Zealand using new LAN-based system.
2005 Civil Union Act 2004 came into force on 26 April 2005. First ceremonies were celebrated on 29 April 2005.
Usage and Limitations of the Data ..Examples of uses
Analysis of trends in age specific and general marriage rates.
Limitations of Data
Residence of groom is the only field coded giving a geographic breakdown of where marriages occur in New Zealand. No information is coded for residence of bride. From 1998 onwards the information is coded by territorial authority only.
Related Data Sources ..Divorces
Population Census
Sampling Errors ..None - no sampling involved.
Non-sampling errors Processing errors
There is always the chance of processing errors happening but quality control measures are in place. These include:
a) Verification of outliers.
b) Checking for valid codes.
c) Removal of duplicate records.
c) Following up missing responses.
Non-response
Caveats on Release ..
Customised Output
Marriage statistics available from Statistics New Zealand include marriages by age, marital status, birthplace and year of marriage for both bridegroom and the bride, and also residence of bridegroom.
Businesses whose existence is directly or indirectly related to marriage statistics, such as florists, wedding boutiques, photographers, etc would find this information useful for predicting future demand for their products and services.
Catalogue & Reference Numbers
Other Comments
Classification(s) used
Classifications |
Classification Versions |
Classification Type |
AGE - Age - New Zealand Standard Classification |
V1.0 |
NZ Standard |
TA06 - Territorial Authority 2006 |
V1.0 |
NZ Standard |
AGEGPS - Age - 5 Year Groupings |
V1.0 |
Standard |
Glossary of Terms
| Term | Description |
| |
| Age-specific | A measure relating to an age group. Age-specific rates are commonly calculated for fertility, mortality, marriage, marriage dissolution and abortion. |
| De facto Relationship | Two people usually living in the same dwelling, but not in a registered marriage to each other, who:
- share mutual concern for each other;
- have a degree of economic, social and emotional interdependence; and
- consider their relationship to be akin to marriage.
(Also referred to as de facto marriage, de facto union, consensual union, cohabitation.) |
| Marital Status | A person’s status with respect to the marriage laws or customs of the country. Legal marital status is a person’s status with respect to registered marriage. Social marital status is a person’s status with respect to consensual union (partnered or unpartnered). |
| Marriage (Registered) | The act, ceremony or process by which the legal relationship of husband and wife is constituted. In New Zealand, marriage may be solemnised either by a celebrant or before a registrar of marriages. A licence must be obtained from a registrar before a marriage by a celebrant can be solemnised, and notice must be given by one of the parties to a registrar.
(Also referred to as registered marriage.) |
| Marriage Rate (Crude) | The number of marriages per 1,000 estimated mean population. |
| Marriage Rate (General) | The number of marriages per 1,000 estimated mean not-married population aged 16 years and over. |
| Median Age | Half the population is younger, and half older, than this age. |
| Occupation | A set of jobs which involve the performance of a common set of tasks. |
Contact Details
Liability
Statistics New Zealand gives no warranty that the information or data supplied contains no errors. However, all care and diligence has been used in processing, analysing and extracting the information. Statistics New Zealand shall not be liable for any loss or damage suffered by the customer consequent upon the use directly, or indirectly, of the information supplied in this product.