Couples in no rush to tie civil union knot

Anyone who thinks the queues of de facto couples outside registry offices today will rival those of rugby fans chasing tickets to a top game will be disappointed.

There are more than 600 celebrants, but a hunt for couples booking a civil union in the law's first week uncovered only two dead certs and various rumours.

Labour MP Tim Barnett, who chaired the select committee which heard submissions on the civil union legislation, understands that a heterosexual de facto couple from Te Aroha will hold their ceremony on Saturday.

And Wellington couple John Jolliff, 75, and Des Smith, 65, plan to be outside the doors of the registry office to apply for their licence first thing after fighting on the frontlines for their 19-year-long relationship to be legally recognised.

Mr Jolliff said the vows were already written for their civil union ceremony at the Wellington Town Hall on Sunday.

The Mayor of Wellington, Kerry Prendergast, will be the celebrant.

The ceremony will be followed by a party at the Boatshed - and a honeymoon in Paris.

It will take about three days to process civil union licences, so Friday is the likely date of the first ceremony.

It is understood that one couple have sold to a women's magazine the exclusive right to report on their civil union ceremony.

Many other couples will hold their ceremonies later.

So, despite the months of staring down the Catholic Church and Destiny Church, of fronting up to select committee hearings and marching to get the same legal rights as married couples, there will be no shot-gun civil unions here, thank you.

Barring a last-minute stampede, it is shaping up to be a lot more low-key than in the United States on July 1, 2000, when Vermont became the first state to pass a civil union law.

Town Clerk Annette Cappy opened her office on the last stroke of midnight, and minutes later Kathleen Peterson, 41, and Carolyn Conrad, 29, had a ceremony with 75 friends and relatives around a candle-lit fountain.

Jewellers advertised civil union rings, bakers made same-sex wedding figures for cakes, and a boutique brewery, owned by lesbians, launched Gay Pride Ale.

Dean Knight, a law lecturer at Victoria University, said New Zealanders were just more low-key.

Mr Knight has every intention of joining partner Alan Wendt in a civil union. But not just now.

"I always think a spring civil union is much nicer than one in autumn anyway."

He suspects some are waiting until civil unions become de rigueur to avoid the media circus.

"I know people who are showing off engagement rings, but they are waiting for a while," Mr Knight said.

"Some haven't had the time anyway. We've been too busy actually getting the right to organise the ceremony. It's only been a reality since December, and you've got to save up for a party."

Mr Barnett said he was surprised at the slow start.

"There aren't many in the first week or two. I was surprised, but people know it's not going to disappear next week. It's now the law and people don't have to rush into it."

Others were glad the right was introduced, but declared it was not for them.

One lesbian in a long-term relationship said she would not enter a civil union. "Marriage doesn't work for straights. I don't see why it should work for us."