There were 20,231 marriages registered to New Zealand residents in 2011. This is the lowest number of marriages since 2001 when 19,972 weddings were celebrated. The number of divorces also dropped, down from 8,874 in 2010 to 8,551 in 2011.
“The decrease in divorces in 2011 is consistent with the recent trend of declining divorce numbers, which started around 2005,” Population Statistics acting manager Deb Potter said.