NEW ZEALAND: RESPONSE ON CHILD MARRIAGE FOR NZ,

UNCLAS WELLINGTON 000225

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EAP/ANP, G/ISI KHADIAGALA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KWMN ECON ELAB PHUM PGOV SCUL SOCI NZ
SUBJECT: NEW ZEALAND: RESPONSE ON CHILD MARRIAGE FOR NZ,
NIUE, TOKELAU AND COOK ISLANDS

REF: STATE 36341


1. The following are responses to the request for information
on child marriage in New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Niue and
Tokelau, keyed to the questions in paragraph 7 of reftel.


A. The legal age of marriage in New Zealand is 16. Children
(both male and female) can marry at age 16 if they have not
been previously married, and have obtained written parental
consent. The legal age of marriage without parental consent
is 20 years. In the Cook Islands, the legal age of marriage
without parental consent is 20 for both males and females.
With parental consent, the ages are 18 for males and 15 for
females. In Tokelau, the legal age of marriage without
parental consent is 21 for males and 19 for females. With
parental consent, the ages are 18 for males, and 16 for
females. In Niue, the legal age of marriage without parental
consent is 21 for males and 19 for females. With parental
consent, the ages are 18 for males and 15 for females.


B. Underage marriage is not permissible under New Zealand
law, and is not a significant problem. There is no readily
available information concerning the practice of under-age
marriage in the Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. Indications,
however, are that there are not significant problems.


C. There are no U.S.-funded initiatives in the above-listed
countries that address child marriage.
Burnett