New Member Hub
This is where you’ll find everything you need to get started on your celebrancy journey with us.
Welcome to Celebrants Aotearoa New Zealand. We’re so glad you’re here.
This is a place to feel valued, supported, and connected, where your voice is heard and your professional development matters. Whatever stage you’re at, you’re not on your own. We’re here to walk alongside you.
– Anna Flanagan, President
With over 20,000 views on our website annually, one of the best ways to be found is to build a comprehensive profile.
Use these success tips to stand out.
As a member of Celebrants Aotearoa New Zealand (CANZ), you now have access to the many benefits we offer. Find the full list and see how to access insurance cover, member only events and support.
We support ongoing professional development and encourage celebrant training with our endorsed providers:
We’ve got great resources to get you started on the right foot such as forms and templates, how-to guides, marketing and social media best practice and so much more.
Join our members only national Facebook group to stay up to date, get involved, and connect.
With 12 branches across the country, you can now build lasting connections with other celebrants both nationally and locally. Our Branch Hub has all the information you need to connect with other celebrants.
To help you get the most out of your membership, we host a bi-monthly new member session.
Find and register for the next session, and see all upcoming events.
VCANZ
Becoming a validated member (VCANZ) is your way to grow professionally and personally, ensuring you continue to offer the best possible service to the people you work with.
Learn more about becoming a validated member here
Latest news
A wealth of information to help educate, entertain and keep you up to date.
View the latest news from your National Executive here
Helpful links
Need help?
Our support team are here to help, whether it’s a question that’s not covered in our FAQ’s below, something technical, or where to go to find what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if I need help getting started?
Contact the Celebrants Aotearoa support team, they are always available to help with any questions you may have and provide any assistance.
What services do I receive from my annual membership subscription with Celebrants Aotearoa New Zealand (CANZ)?
Below are some of the benefits you receive in your annual membership subscription:
- Networking with other celebrants through branch activities and events in your area
- An informative monthly newsletter with updates
- Promotional listing on the Celebrants Aotearoa website under ‘Find your Celebrant’
- The ability to use the Celebrants Aotearoa logo on your BDM listing
- Access to the of the member only CANZ chat facebook group for sharing ideas and resources
- Access to member only nation wide and local events – with member prices, most are free to attend!
- 10% Discount on all Grief Centre courses
- Member’s only price for bi-annual conference
- Access to our comprehensive Member’s Resources
- Celebrants Aotearoa Protection with Public Liability Insurance – worth $400!
- For registered marriage celebrant members – access to updates, current and emerging information from Births, Deaths & Marriages through our national executive’s professional relationship with the Director-General.
- Support and counsel from the national executive for individual members facing a complaint or difficult professional situation.
- The ongoing work of the national executive on behalf of all members and all regions to maintain, evolve and guide Celebrants Aotearoa in current times and into the future.
- Opportunities for professional development, education and mentoring at conferences and workshops, in-person and online
- Access to professional supervision
- Assistance from the CANZ support team with any queries
TOGETHER
- WE support celebrants to deliver high-quality services
- WE promote celebrancy as a professional, societal role
- WE influence the place of ceremony and ritual in New Zealand
- WE maintain professional standards with our Code of Ethics and Professional Standards
- WE provide ongoing Professional Development through Branches & National Education events
- WE share information and news through our Wrap Newsletter, Facebook and website
- WE have a recognised programme of professional development
View your member benefits here
What if I am a member but I am not yet offering ceremonies?
If you are not yet offering ceremonies, CANZ support can hold your profile until you are ready – please let support know.
Find your Celebrant - Why can't I find myself ?
We recommend checking your profile settings for the below:
- Log into your member profile
- Click the second option in the menu bar is ‘edit’, this is where you can edit your profile settings.
- Below your Bio are three tick boxes with ‘display profile to public’, ‘display profile to members’ and ‘unsubscribe from bulk emails’.
- Select the ‘display profile to public’ to show in Find your Celebrant searches.
- Make sure to select ‘save changes’, at the bottom.
- Go to the sixth menu option ‘Find a Celebrant’ tab and select up to three regions that you operate in. The first being your home region, the second and third being other regions you are able to work in.
- Select your Primary Region, which should be your home region, just by clicking on the drop down box named ‘Primary Area’.
- Tick the box above if you are happy to travel outside your primary area.
- Select languages spoken
- Then select all ceremonies provided.
- Be sure to select save all changes.
Selecting the ceremonies you offer assist in showing your profile to the public when searching for a celebrant by ‘Ceremony’.
How to I set up my public profile?
Over 20,000 connections are made annually via the Celebrants Aotearoa website, the public and CANZ celebrants via our Find your Celebrant database.
We recommend completing your public profile with the below to get the most out of your membership.
Here’s what to include:
- A short bio
- A head-and-shoulders photo (the CANZ support team can upload this for you
- Your ceremony types and areas worked
- Languages spoken
- Cultural affiliations
- Your contact details, social media links and celebrant qualifications
- Tick “Display to the public” so you appear in Find a Celebrant results
Once your profile is complete, please let me CANZ support know so they can make your profile live.
If you are not yet offering ceremonies, CANZ support can hold your profile until you are ready – please let support know.
I am a Celebrants Aotearoa member but I am not yet registered with Births, Death and Marriages (BDM)?
Click here to apply to become a registered celebrant with Births, Deaths and Marriages.
Can I reach out to other Celebrants in my area?
Feel free to reach out to members in your area. You can create celebrant connections, join informal gatherings or professional development events, be part of networking opportunities and find support within your local area. Your local branch Chairperson and NE Liaison have been informed of your membership upon joining.
Go to the Branch hub here for more details.
How do I become a validated member (VCANZ)?
Becoming a validated member (VCANZ) is your way to grow professionally and personally, ensuring you continue to offer the best possible service to the people you work with.
Learn more about becoming a validated here.
How can I join CANZ chat - the national and local members only facebook pages?
With 550+ members across our national and local CANZ chat pages, you can create connections locally and nationally.
Join our members only Facebook group to stay up to date, get involved, and connect with others.
Join CANZ Chat here.
Join your local branch CANZ chat below:
How many members and branches does Celebrants Aotearoa have?
Celebrants Aotearoa has 850+ members and 12 branches across Aotearoa New Zealand.
You can view more information on your local branch here.
What is covered in the new member zooms?
New member zooms are held bi-monthly and are a great way to:
- Learn what’s included in your membership
- Understand our organisation and communications
- Get an intro to the Member Hub Area
- Explore professional development options
- Ask questions and meet others
Sessions are hosted by the friendly and knowledgeable Anna Flanagan from our National Executive team.
Find the next new member zoom here.
How do I upload or update my profile photo?
Follow the steps below to add or update your profile photo:
- Go to your member profile
- Click once on the circle with your initials to the left hand side of your name
- Drag a photo from your desktop and drop this into the box to upload (a head and shoulders shot works best)
- Press save.
Watch the video on how to upload or update your profile here
View profile photo tips here
How important is it to keep my profile up to date?
To be found when someone searches the website for a celebrant, ensure your profile is as complete as possible.
Our recommendations:
- Your Primary Region of Work is critical to prioritise your listing. This is the region you live and work in. You can also select up to two additional regions where you are able to provide ceremonies.
- Note your gender as male, female, or other.
- Add English as a language spoken or other languages if you are a fluent speaker.
- A great head and shoulders photo – a happy, professional looking image. Not a full body shot, nor one cut out of a group or taken in front of a complicated background. You may have a lovely photo on your website or Facebook page that you can use.
- You are allocated to the correct branch within Celebrants Aotearoa, a current address including suburb needs to be available in your profile (go to your profile/Edit/Addresses).
- Make sure your profile is accessible to the public to advertise your services in Find your Celebrant (Edit/Profile/scroll to the bottom of that page, below your Bio, and click the box ‘Display profile to public’)
- A succinct bio of approximately 200 words. Update this once a year to keep it up to date.
- Placement of an honour after your name eg. QSM, PhD etc.
- Contact details, website, social media, LinkedIn or Facebook links.
If you are a licensed celebrant, please make sure to add the Ceremonies offered in your profile. You can select these from the dropdown boxes available in the Find your Celebrant area.
Save your changes
View other tips here.
Where can I view and pay my invoice or find my membership number?
To find your membership number:
Go to your member profile. You’ll find your membership number under your name, at the top left of the page.
To view your and pay your invoice:
- Underneath your profile photo there is a menu, you’ll see invoices as the third option in this area.
- Click on the ‘invoices’ tab and this will show you your invoices.
- Click on the invoice and select ‘Pay Via Credit/Debit Card’, which takes you through to Stripe payments.
- You can also pay via direct debit – CANZ bank details can be found on your invoice, once downloaded.
To download your invoice:
- In your member profile, under ‘Invoices’
- Select ‘Download invoice’.
- Save for your records.
When does my annual membership subscription renew and how much is it?
Annual membership subscriptions invoices are issued on the 1st of April and are due on the 1st May each year.
The annual membership subscription is $234.00 including GST, since 2024.
For new members joining during the year, your annual membership subscriptions are issued, at a pro-rata subscription for the months remaining.
You will then receive a full years subscription at the beginning of our new subscription year in April.
Why do validated members (VCANZ) appear above my listing in the Find your Celebrant searches?
Validated members (VCANZ) appear at the top of each region’s listings, when a member of the public searches our Find your Celebrant database.
Find out more about becoming a validated member (VCANZ) here
What is the Public Liability Insurance and why do I need it?
Belonging to Celebrants Aotearoa protects you as a celebrant.
Public Liability Insurance, often referred to as General Liability, gives you peace of mind, protecting you and your business against such claims by providing compensation for property damage, and personal injury or death in circumstances that are not covered by the Accident Compensation Commission (ACC).
It also covers any legal defence costs you incur as a result of defending yourself.
View our current Public Liability Insurance Policy here
Further information on Public Liability Insurance:
The Celebrants Aotearoa policy covers members if they are legally liable for damage to third party property or person.
The question around “your own venues/residence” is a little confusing. These venues should have insurance cover for the building and assets (the owner of these is responsible for these insurances).
If members of Celebrants Aotearoa cause damage to this property and are legally liable for these damages, then your Public Liability cover responds.
For example – The Celebrants Aotearoa member lights a candle for a ceremony held at a venue that has been hired. At conclusion of ceremony the candle is left on causing a fire damaging part of the building and the contents inside.
The owner of the assets needs to make a claim on their own insurance holding the celebrant liable. You in turn lodge a claim under your Public Liability cover as you are being held legally liable for these damages by the third party (owner of assets) and their insurer.
The Celebrants Aotearoa policy will not cover the members’ homes or contents while these ceremonies take place. Members who hold ceremonies or events in their own home or residence will need to contact their own insurance provider and advise that they are carrying out these activities and arrange cover.
Celebrants Aotearoa has a Public Liability Insurance Policy that covers all members for claims for third party personal injury or property damage for which they are deemed legally responsible for having caused within their celebrancy business.
In general terms this means that you are protected against claims by clients or members of the public for any damage or harm you may inadvertently cause to persons or property while engaged in your celebrancy work. Legal fees & punitive damages (up to $1,000,000) are also included. There is a $500 excess to discourage small or frivolous claims.
Please note, you and your own property are NOT covered, neither is your Professional Liability (conduct, quality of work or presentation etc.)
When claiming you must be able to prove any incident was clearly associated with a specific celebrancy activity.
Claims must in the first instance be notified in writing to Celebrants Aotearoa as soon as possible after the event. Claim forms will be sent directly to you by Vero Insurance, or an assessor will make contact. Under no circumstance should you admit liability for any incident, nor make any promise of a remedy to any other party. This could invalidate your protection.
Members are advised to read the Policy and Schedule in full so that you understand the benefits and limitations of cover.