Marriage Celebrant Essentials (March)
starting Tuesday 10th March 2026 - only 1 place leftThis 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.
Class times on Zoom:
Tuesday 10 March 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tuesday 17 March 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Tuesday 24 March 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Enrolments less than one week before course commencement incur a 10% surcharge to cover the additional admin.
For full exposure to a wider range of ceremonies, this paper is ideally complemented by Ceremony and Celebration, which will be offered in February and June this year. See other course listings.
Professional Practice – Build Your Brand
Monday 16, 23 & 30 March 2026Prerequisite: This is designed for students who have already completed at least one Certificate paper. Practising celebrants wanting to improve their management and marketing systems are also welcome to enrol in this as Ongoing Professional Development (OPD) which is recognised by CANZ.
Student feedback has shown that celebrants often start making decisions about their brand early in their training, so to help avoid expensive mistakes, we now offer our Professional Practice paper in two, shorter, stand-alone courses, each with a distinct focus. This first one (BYB) helps you to define and/or refine your brand and to establish the systems to manage, market, and support your practice. This course can be taken at any point during your training.
The course consists of three Zoom evening sessions held 7.00pm-9.30pm on Monday 16, 23 & 30 March and an applied assignment on which you will receive individual feedback.
To provide adequate time for pre-course work (which will require some research on which to base your celebrant branding and systems), and to take advantage of extended earlybird rate, please enrol by Saturday 7 March.
Polish Your Practice (PYP), the ceremony design part of Professional Practice, will be offered both in May as well as later in the year as the final paper in your Certificate. Our Graduation ceremony will be in November.
Māori Language for Ceremonies: He Karanga ki te Reo Māori
Two Zooms: Wednesdays 25th March & 1st April 2026; 7.30-8.30pmThis practical celebrant training workshop is designed for those who want to feel more confident, competent, and culturally grounded when using te reo Māori in their ceremonies.
It is particularly suited to celebrants in the earlier stages of their te reo journey, although newer celebrants with greater fluency may also find the workshop valuable as a ceremony-focused refresher.
Facilitated by Karen Tangaere (Ngāti Porou) — celebrant and teacher — this workshop provides a supportive, encouraging learning environment that gently reduces fear, builds understanding, and supports accurate pronunciation and respectful use of te reo Māori in ceremonial contexts.
In this workshop you will:
- Identify common barriers to using te reo Māori — and learn practical ways to move through them
- Explore meaningful opportunities to incorporate te reo Māori into your ceremonies
- Practise pronunciation of the Māori words you already use (or want to use)
- Rehearse greetings, commonly used phrases, and blessings relevant to ceremony
You will have time to ask questions, voice concerns, and practise aloud.
The workshop is delivered over two sessions, allowing space to embed learning and build real confidence in your language use.
If you miss a session, a recording or written resources will be provided — though nothing replaces the value of live practice.
This is ceremony-specific training, designed by celebrants, for celebrants.
Tūwhitia te hopo! Feel the fear — and do it anyway. He Karanga ki te reo Māori – invite Māori language into your ceremonies now.
Earlybird rate available until 15 March.
Marriage Celebrant Mastery
Starting Tues 7th April 2026 in weekly evening sessionsThis in-depth course is designed for those seeking to become fully trained, professional marriage and civil union celebrants offering bespoke, personalised ceremonies.
Building on the foundation of our Marriage Celebrant Essentials (MCE) course, this MCM course assumes a strong working knowledge of the legal responsibilities outlined in the Marriage Act and Civil Union Act.*
You’ll explore the full design process and a broad range of creative elements that can be woven into modern ceremonies of commitment. Through practical, hands-on learning, the course covers:
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Interviewing techniques
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Vow coaching
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Enhancing your ceremony writing and delivery
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Responding to the diverse needs of couples
- Managing Rehearsals
Whether you’re aiming to deepen your celebrant practice or elevate your professionalism, this course is practical, inspiring, and fun!
Course Format:
Tuesdays, 7 April – 5 May
⏰ 5 weekly evening sessions, 7:00pm–9:30pm (via Zoom)
*Practising celebrants who have already conducted four or more marriage ceremonies may apply for direct entry, bypassing the MCE prerequisite.
Enrolment Details:
To ensure smooth enrolment and allow time for pre-course preparation, we strongly recommend registering early. Earlybird rate available until 26 March
Marriage Celebrant Essentials – May
starting Thursday 14th May 2026Get your professional celebrant training underway with the next MCE. This popular course fills quickly and is an ideal short course for aspiring marriage celebrants. 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 to be appointed by BDM, and for 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.
Thursday 14th May 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Thursday 21st May 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Thursday 28th May 2026: 7:00pm-9:30pm
Earlybird enrolment till 30 April (last class sold out so don’t wait too long).
Funeral Celebrant – fabulous combo of online and face-to-face training
starting Wednesday 13th May 2026This combination of online and face-to-face funeral celebrant training gives you the best of both worlds – the convenience of Zoom to begin and the added depth of in-person training to complete. If you want to competently and confidently design and lead funeral ceremonies in NZ, there is no better option. You will build some skills and knowledge in the online classes and then meet for an intensive, practical weekend in Auckland. Here you get the inside view of the funeral industry with Q&A’s, site visits and presentation practice to a real live audience. This enriching experience has been highly endorsed by past students – it’s real and builds your collegial network at the same time!
We prefer students to have completed the Ceremony and Celebration paper first, 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:
Wednesday 13th May: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Wednesday 20th May: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Wednesday 27th May: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Wednesday 3rd June: 7:00pm-9:30pm online
Saturday 13th June: : 10:00am-5:00pm face-to-face in Auckland
Sunday 14th June: 9:00am-3.00pm (Please note: the weekend times allow for those travelling)
Precourse work is sent prior to the first Zoom session.
Earlybird rate applies for those who have completed enrolment 6 weeks prior to course commencement. Later fee is $799)
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.
Polish Your Practice (Prof Practice – Pt 2)
starting Monday 18 May 2026Prerequisite: This paper is one of the two components of our Professional Practice strand, and is typically completed last in your CertCelSts qualification. It may, however, be taken prior to Pt 1 – Building Your Brand. Please contact the Director if you are uncertain about your eligibility.
Polish Your Practice consolidates your learning across the four quadrants of professional celebrant practice and provides a final refinement of your performance standards.
This paper focuses on strengthening client engagement for more complex ceremonies, deepening your understanding of ceremonial purpose, and advancing your capability in working with diversity, difference, and sensitive contexts.
In addition, we examine emerging sector issues, including the role of technology and artificial intelligence in contemporary celebrancy. Participants may request specialist topics of interest, allowing the cohort’s needs to shape elements of the curriculum.
The course is delivered over four Zoom sessions, held weekly, 7.00pm-9.30pm (NZT) on these dates:
Monday 18 May 2026
Monday 25th May
Monday 1st June (note: this is the Kings Birthday Weekend)
Monday 8th June
Sessions combine discussion, case studies, skill-building exercises, ceremony delivery, and facilitated peer reflection.
Enrol by 7 May for earlybird rate
Transition Ceremonies – Diploma paper
starting Wednesday 8 July 2026 - evening and weekend Zoom sessionsPrerequisite: At least 2 previous TCS papers including Ceremony & Celebration
Extend your skills and practice into Transition Ceremonies in a small class of experienced peers! This is an advanced course focusing on the design and delivery of ceremonies for transition through change and crisis – whether personal, family or community (e.g. illness, bereavement, abuse, infertility, separation and divorce, natural disasters etc). It is principally intended for those with existing mastery of key ceremony skills, and some experience as celebrants (or facilitators). If unsure, you are welcome to contact the Director to discuss your eligibility.
Dates: Wednesday evenings 8, 15, 22, 29 July & 5 Aug 7-9.30pm
plus Sunday 9 Aug 9.30 – 3pm
Weekend session time may vary depending on group size
Because this course is only offered every 2nd year, for many students, this will be the final paper for their Diploma in Celebrant Studies. Grab this opportunity to graduate in our 30th Anniversary celebrations.
Divorce Ceremonies and Conscious Uncoupling
A Zoom Workshop with Wendy Haynes Wednesday, 15 April 2026When a couple marry, ceremony gathers community to witness and honour the joining of two lives. But when a relationship ends, there is often no ritual to acknowledge what has been shared, or the loss and transition that follows. How might ceremony and ritual help both the couple, and those around them, make sense of this threshold with support and care?
We’ve invited our favourite Australian celebrant colleague and author, Wendy Haynes, to lead this workshop on Divorce Ceremonies & Conscious Uncoupling. Her experience ranges from a crafting ritual for one person, to intimate ceremony just for the couple, to including their children or chosen witnesses, through to large gatherings with friends and family too. Is this something you could offer in your community? Come and explore:
Date: Wednesday 15 April 2026
Time: 7:00-9:00pm (NZST)
Cost: $95 earlybird till 18 March, thereafter $140
Photo Credit and thanks to Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash