A Great Place to Learn

The Celebrant School – Te Wānanga Korowai Aroha is a small Kiwi business, with a big Kiwi heart, and a huge commitment to the role of ceremony in contributing to connection, wellbeing and celebration in communities all around Aotearoa-New Zealand! We’ve been at the forefront of the evolution of contemporary celebrancy in this country, with the development of the first qualification in the world for civil celebrants (initially taught through AUT), the establishment of the school as a private learning organisation, the spearheading of greater cohesiveness for the celebrant profession, providing consulting services and resources to Births, Deaths and Marriages (DIA), the development of online celebrant learning opportunities during Covid, and offering support and ongoing education to inspire celebrants to meet the highest professional standards throughout their careers. You can be assured you’re getting the latest information from leading celebrant practitioners when you enrol with The Celebrant School. Our courses are grounded in the cultural and social context of Aotearoa-New Zealand, meaning you will be well-prepared to meet our population’s diverse needs.

Our teaching team are all well-respected, practicing celebrants, active across a range of ceremonies in different parts of the country. Their practical experience is supported with an in-depth knowledge of ceremony and celebration, giving you access to a great mix of information, resources and techniques to enhance your own practice.

Our courses are offered on a part-time basis to suit your busy lifestyle, and are available increasingly online for easy access and also via face-to-face intensive sessions in Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch. The foundation course – Ceremony & Celebrations – is complemented with specialist strands on  MarriageFuneral, and Transition ceremonies.

Our Marriage strand is delivered in two shorter courses:

a. Marriage Celebrant Essentials provides the basics for recently appointed or aspiring marriage celebrants, to be legally competent and to assist couples getting married in New Zealand with a simple, generic ceremony, similar to that previously delivered through Registry Offices around the country. 

b. Marriage Celebrant Mastery extends this to fully personalised, bespoke marriage ceremonies and includes a wide variety of enactments and other considerations.

Our Professional Practice course completes the Certificate, and gives you the tools you need to set up as a professional celebrant. As well as enhancing your design and delivery skills, it extends your ability to cater for clients from diverse backgrounds.

Our experiential learning process establishes a safe, effective environment for learning and reflection. You will practice creating and delivering meaningful contemporary ceremonies, develop your own unique celebrant style, build your network, and explore ways to market yourself.