File photo Marriage equality hasn't been enacted in New Zealand just yet, but plenty of gay and lesbian foreigners are already coming here for civil unions. Statistics New Zealand figures 85 gay or lesbian couples from overseas had civil unions in New Zealand in 2012. "Around 1 in 5 civil unions in New Zealand are registered to couples from overseas, compared with 1 in 10 for marriages," population statistics project manager Joel Watkins says. The figures come ahead of an expected influx of foreign gay couples marrying in New Zealand from late August, when same-sex marriages become available. As for local residents, 235 gay and lesbian couples had civil unions in 2012. Of those 142 were female and 93 male. The first civil unions were celebrated in New Zealand on 29 April 2005. Up until the end of 2012, 2,455 residents have registered a civil union in New Zealand, and 124 civil unions have been dissolved. In 2012, 8,785 married couples divorced. Just over one-third of couples who married in 1987 had divorced before their silver wedding anniversary.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 3rd May 2013 - 6:58pm