Ceremony and Celebration – start your celebrant training here!
14/15th & 28/29th June 2025 (online across 2 weekends)Are you wondering what a celebrant does, what makes a good ceremony, or how to become a celebrant? This course gives a realistic preview of the role, explores a range of ceremonies, and starts to build essential skills. It is recommended as the first course towards the Certificate in Celebrant Studies (although other entry points are possible). You will gain a firm understanding of the nature of ceremony and ritual and the role of the celebrant in Aotearoa-New Zealand, build essential writing and delivery skills, and receive a framework for the planning and design of a broad range of contemporary ceremonies.
Weekend 14 and 15 June 9.00am – 4:00pm each day then skip forward two weeks to
Weekend 28 and 29 June 9:00am – 1.00pm each day ie the course runs across two weekends
Note: We are delivering this programme fully by Zoom, but be assured that we have mastered how to keep you so engaged that time will fly on Zoom. Feedback from past participants shows that you build both skills and a professional network and have fun in the process!
To enable smooth processing of enrolments and adequate time for pre-course student preparation, we prefer enrolments at least 2 weeks before course commencement. (Please Note: Last minute enrolments involve additional admin and a surcharge is applied within the week prior to commencement to cover this) Please enrol early!
Marriage Celebrant Essentials
NEW Dates starting Tuesday 24th JuneThis very popular, on-line, short course provides all the essentials for starting out on the right foot as a marriage celebrant. MCE ensures a thorough knowledge of the legalities imposed by the Marriage Act and recent changes affecting celebrants. You will be well set up for applying to be appointed as an independent marriage celebrant by Internal Affairs (Births Deaths and Marriages, BDM), and dealing with the tricky legal questions that invariably arise in a public role. You will learn about designing ceremonies at the simpler end of the spectrum.
This course is ideally complemented by the Ceremony and Celebration course, also in June, which provides a thorough foundation for working as a celebrant and the tools to design fully personalised ceremonies, so if the timing suits you, there is the option to go full-immersion here!
Enrolments less than one week before course commencement incur a 10% surcharge to cover the additional admin.
PLEASE NOTE: Owing to family bereavement, the original dates have been changed. New Dates:
Tuesday 24 June: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tuesday 1 July: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tuesday 8 July: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Celebrate Matariki 2025
Date Change: Now Tuesday 17th June - online seasonal ritual at 7:00pmNgā kai a Matariki, nāna i ao ake ki runga – The food supplies of Matariki, scooped up.
The Matariki cluster holds a profound connection to food. Traditionally, its rising signified a time to interpret and predict the abundance of the New Year. Inspired by this proverb, we will craft a virtual feast honouring the stars of Matariki. This celebration will also serve as a space to cherish memories of our departed loved ones and to create a wish dandelion, setting our intentions for the year ahead.
Our ritual facilitator, Darcie Price, has created this new opportunity to help you bring this uniquely Kiwi seasonal celebration into your life, your family and your community to thus enrich the society of Aotearoa-New Zealand. Building on the rituals offered in previous years she will further supplement your kete of ideas and activities that you can include in your local celebrations.
Deepen your knowledge and become part of this evolving national celebration. All welcome – celebrants, friends, family and anyone curious and interested in what Matariki offers! You can participate with a group, but please enrol individually (and email us who’s in your group) as we will be managing breakout groups during the evening.
Note: Estimated length 1 hour. We may record this session for those wanting to purchase it for later viewing.
NB: The date has changed from what was originally advertised – apologies for any inconvenience.
Marriage Celebrant Essentials
starting Tuesday 5th August 2025Join this very popular, on-line, short course for aspiring marriage celebrants. THIS COURSE FILLS QUICKLY! It provides all the essentials and ensures a thorough knowledge of the legalities imposed by the Marriage Act and recent changes affecting celebrants. You will be well set up for applying or renewing your appointment with BDM, and dealing with the tricky legal questions that invariably arise in a public role. You will learn about designing ceremonies at the simpler end of the spectrum. For those keen to stay in the flow and move into ceremonies which are fully personalised, this particular MCE dovetails perfectly with the more advanced Marriage Celebrant Mastery starting 2 September.
Secure your enrolment early in both courses to benefit from the lowest course fees.
Note: MCE Earlybird discount (saving you $50 off the full price of $375 is available until 1 July) Enrolments received within the week before course commencement incur a 10% surcharge to cover the additional admin required.
Tuesday 5 August 2025: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tuesday 12 August 2025: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tuesday 19 August 2025: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Professional Practice – Pt 2: Polish Your Practice
Wednesday 11, 18, 25 June & 2 July 2025Prerequisite: This is one of two parts of our newly reformatted Professional Practice paper, the final paper prior to Graduation. You may complete this paper prior to Pt 1 – Building Your Brand. Please contact the Director if you are unsure of your eligibility.
This paper wraps up the learning in the four Quadrants of professional celebrant practice and gives your performance a final polish. Establishing strong client connection for more complex ceremonies, clarifying ceremonial purposes, diversity and dealing with difference come under the lens, along with emerging issues, such as the use of technology and AI. Students can also request special topics that they would like addressed.
The course consists of four Zoom evening sessions held 7.00pm-9.30pm on the dates above.
Please enrol before 7 May for the early bird fee of $449, after which date the course fee will be $499.
Professional Practice – Pt 1: Build Your Celebrant Brand
Monday 14, 21 & 28 July 2025Prerequisite: Intended for students who have already completed at least one Certificate paper, but practising celebrants wanting to improve their management and marketing systems may apply.
This is the first part of our reformatted Professional Practice paper.
Student feedback has indicated that celebrants often start making decisions about their brand early in their training, and would appreciate some guidance to help avoid expensive mistakes. We have therefore split our Professional Practice course into 2 parts. This first part will help you to define and/or refine your brand and to establish the systems to manage, market, and support your practice.
The course consists of three Zoom evening sessions held 7.00pm-9.30pm on Monday 14, 21 & 28 July.
Please enrol before 9 June for the earlybird fee of $325 and to provide adequate time for pre-course work which will require some research on which to base your celebrant branding and systems.
Part 2: Polish Your Practice will be available later in the year for anyone who has completed all the other required papers and wants to graduate in 2025.
Workshop: He Karanga ki te Reo – Inviting te reo Māori into your ceremonies
Two evening Zooms on Thursday 17 & 24 July 2025This workshop is for celebrants who would like to incorporate more te reo in their ceremonies but are unsure where to start.
Karen Tangaere, Ngāti Porou, celebrant, teacher, will guide you to help overcome common barriers in a supportive, uplifting environment that gently reduces fear, encourages correct pronunciation, and builds cultural understanding.
You will explore:
- why the use of te reo Māori in ceremonies matters
- what connects familiar celebrant processes and mihi whakatau
- pronunciation of the Māori words you commonly use
- how to introduce yourself in te reo
- why karakia are used, what they achieve, and how to offer your favourites with greater confidence
This 2 session workshop allows time to practise and embed your learning. All questions welcome! Tūwhitia te hopo! Feel the fear and do it anyway!
Enrol before 12 June to secure earlybird rate of $75 for both sessions
Funeral Celebrant – superb combo of online and face-to-face training
starting Thursday 31st July 2025Our newly formatted combination of online and face-to-face funeral celebrant training has proved enormously successful in taking advantage of the convenience of Zoom and the added depth of in-person training. If you are considering how to learn to competently and confidently design and lead funeral ceremonies in NZ, there is no better option. You build some skills and knowledge in the online classes and then meet for an intensive, practical weekend in Wellington. Here you get the inside view of a Funeral Director, see a mortuary, visit a natural burial cemetery and urupa, and get live funeral delivery practice. This enriching experience builds your collegial network at the same time!
It is beneficial if you have already completed the Ceremony and Celebration paper, although practising celebrants and others with experience in the industry and/or with loss and grief may also apply. (Contact the Director to discuss your suitability). Grab this opportunity for the ultimate funeral celebrant training package.
Note the dates:
Thursday 31 July: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Thursday 7 August: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Thursday 14 August: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Thursday 21 August: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Saturday 30 August: : 10:00am-5:00pm face-to-face in Wellington
Sunday 31 August: 9:00am-3.00pm (Please note: the weekend times allow for those travelling and may be adjusted depending on group size)
Earlybird rate of $745 applies through to 25 June. Please enrol early
Precourse work is sent prior to the first Zoom session. To provide a smooth start for the group, we need all enrolments/course admin to be concluded 10 days before commencement – enrolments after this incur a 10% surcharge. Please enrol early.