Golden Bay Celebrant Laura Manson

19/12/2025

Perfect peonies from a dear friend!

03/12/2024

I love being a celebrant in New Zealand, therefore I’m celebrating today with pride.

Because of this, it is important for us to pause and take a moment to celebrate our roles as celebrants, and we do this through National Celebrants Day, held each year on the 20th of November.

18/08/2024

Police are aware of reports emerging in several police districts where people have received a scam phone call from someone claiming to be a Police Officer.

Tasman District Prevention Manager Inspector Mark Rowbottom, is urging locals across the whole Tasman District to be alert to the scam.

The ‘officer’ will claim to be from a particular department, tell you that you have been a victim of fraud or a scam, and begin to try and obtain further financial information from you.

People have been directed to go to their bank and withdraw money for evidence of the supposed scam.

This is a scam – no legitimate Police Officer will ever ask you to hand over money, for any reason.

If you want to establish if the officer is genuine, ask for the officer’s full details, then hang up, contact Policed on 105 and request someone to check for you.

Older members of our community are being targeted and Police urge anyone with older, vulnerable relatives or friends to make them aware of this activity.

Since early August, Police have had several instances of this being reported and we have made arrests in Auckland and Wellington.

Three people are currently before the courts in relation to scamming vulnerable people in the Auckland and Wellington Districts.

One of these, a 26-year-old UK national, has since been convicted of scamming more than $330,000 out of victims.

People will need to be vigilant because enquiries into reports of such scams are ongoing.

New Zealand Police will also never contact people seeking their banking details, card numbers, PIN, or passwords.

There are instances where legitimate Police Officers will contact you as part of their duties, but New Zealand Police will never ask you to withdraw money.

Remember:
• Police will never ask for details about your bank cards, PIN, or passwords over a phone call or even an email or via text
• Trust your instincts, if something doesn't feel right, or is too good to be true, it probably isn’t
• If you are uncertain, ask for the officer’s details, hang up, contact 105 and request that officer contact you back
• Police aren’t in the business of offering prize money.

If you are in the unfortunate position of being a victim of a scam, please report the matter to Police.
Take the chance to upskill yourself on scam awareness, check for further information on the Netsafe website: https://netsafe.org.nz/ n

12/06/2024

When you work with a Celebrants Aotearoa celebrant, you’re working with a professional with experience in creating inclusive, family-friendly ceremonies. Having a Celebrants Aotearoa celebrant for your day, means you can spend more time with your guests to enjoy!

Here are five ideas for your baby naming ceremony:
- Signing a special naming certificate
- Creating a time capsule/memory box
- Planting a tree
- Having a guest book
- Making a video

Let a Celebrants Aotearoa member help you create the most beautiful baby naming ceremony.

celebrantsaotearoa.co.nz

10/04/2024

This is horrible!

15/02/2024

14/09/2023

Chai Pyle is offerring a great deal!

02/06/2023

Golden Bay Workcentre Trust presents "To Marry or Not to Marry...That is the Question". Getting married? or not getting married? Come listen to this community discussion!
$5 koha
Located at Mohua Social Services Community Hall Friday 9th June 3pm-5pm & Friday 16th June 3pm-5pm.
Please contact Alex Stevens to register: [email protected]

21/04/2023

What is legally required and acceptable for the recording of parents' names on the application for a marriage license?

The reason for including parents' details are to record ancestry and to ensure compliance with section 15 of the Marriages Act.

Legally, couples marrying need to list:
- Their biological parent or parents
- Their post-adoptive parent or parents, depending on what the court order says (in NZ court or overseas).
- In an assisted human reproduction procedure, it may be the partner of the mother (woman or man) that consented to the mother undergoing the procedure.

But there have been cases where we have agreed that a distressed child does not want to have a parent named on their marriage paperwork because of historic abuse. Also, we are aware that anecdotally some couples list others who they consider to be their parents – e.g. whāngai.

So, there’s legally what should be done, with a range of complicating factors. And then there are cases where we can be flexible if there is good reason. And then there are those who quietly list incorrect information and we may never know. Importantly, none of this affects the validity of their marriage.

We are currently replacing our very old registry systems. This will give my team a “single view of the customer”, meaning in the future we can match birth records with marriage records and ensure the correct parent details flow through into marriage records.

We are also using this as an opportunity to review the forms and will be looking at the information we provide through “pop-up windows” etc.

SOURCE: Jeff Montgomery at BDM - https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1955/0092/latest/DLM292639.html

18/03/2023

❤️

Today I officiated a lovely civil union. Now I’m relaxing with a glass of wine after a much needed high tide swim.

It brings home how much energy our job as celebrants requires. People think we just swan in for half an hour and make a small fortune.

In reality:
- we explore the clients’ unique requirements, often over a long interview, and a follow up meeting
- we work with our couple to design and choreograph the ceremony
- we provide guidance on how to apply for a marriage licence and navigate the legals
- we craft the words of the couple’s personal story, in a style that speaks to them and their guests
- we make sure we have all the legal paperwork
- we angst over the weather and what we’ll wear
- and for most of the day before the event, the ceremony is on our mind, we practice speaking it, and thinking about the logistics of the microphone, vow cards and rings
- we print everything out and make sure we have all our props and paperwork and check it five times
- we do our hair and makeup
- we keep an eye on the traffic. Today I had to head north, and there’s only one road. So we get there early and wait. We go in, and we wait for the guests and attend to any last minute issues or concerns. Often it starts late. Often it is either really hot, windy, wet or noisy
- and then.. we do our “half hour”
- afterwards we ensure the paperwork is completed correctly so the marriage is registered, and file all our notes
- and we hope that we delivered everything the couple hoped for
- and then we see pictures on the couple’s socials mentioning the hairdresser, the makeup artist, the caterer and the florist… 😆

But I love it nevertheless, because I am a romantic and hope that Walt Disney was right and there really is a happy ever after! 💖

02/03/2023

Look at this! 🦋❤️