A South Island Funeral Director has paid his price for posing as a marriage celebrant and causing distress to a newly married man.
The Christchurch District Court convicted Geoffrey Hall (56) and fined $1000 for making a false declaration. The Court also obliged him to pay $3500 to the bridegroom Phillip Ellis for creating emotional harm, $2500 as reparation for wedding costs and $750 to Internal Affairs Department as prosecution cost.
The Court heard that Mr Hall conducted the marriage in Kaiapoi in 2006.
Reverend Maurice Gray, also from Christchurch was discharged without conviction. He had earlier faced a charge of making a false declaration in connection with the same marriage.
But he was ordered to pay $3500 in reparation to Mr Ellis for emotional harm and $750 towards the Department as prosecution cost.
Deputy Registrar-General of Births Deaths and Marriages Ross McPherson said the verdicts sent a strong message that no one can pretend to be a marriage celebrant and make false declarations.
“Marriage celebrants are an important part of our social fabric and we expect them to perform their role in accordance with legal requirements.
Information about marriage celebrants can be obtained from the official New Zealand Gazette or online (www.bdm.govt.nz).
