Eloping in New Zealand

Permits, Insurance & Environmental Responsibility

The permits, insurance and environmental care behind a properly run New Zealand elopement — and why they matter.

Why permits matter

Many of New Zealand’s most beautiful ceremony spots — national parks, alpine reserves, glaciers and lakeshores — sit on public conservation land. To hold a wedding, photograph it, or land a helicopter there commercially, the operator must hold a Department of Conservation (DOC) concession. It’s what keeps these places protected, and what keeps your day entirely above board.

You never have to think about any of this. I arrange every permission and permit for you.

Properly certified, so you’re in safe hands

Sadly, not every operator does things correctly. When you elope with me, you can be confident that everything is in order:

  • A current DOC concession (2025–2035), held by New Zealand Dream Weddings 2015 Ltd, covering Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park, Wānaka, Queenstown and Lake Tekapo.
  • Current public liability insurance, renewed every year.
  • Independent ROSA outdoor safety audit certification (2025–2028) — ROSA is the Register of Outdoor Safety Auditors.

Caring for these places

The landscapes we marry in are precious, and I treat them that way. That means a leave-no-trace approach, using only approved sites and landing zones, respecting culturally significant places, disturbing no native plants or wildlife, and flying only with licensed operators. These places have taken your breath away for a reason — and I intend to keep them that way for the couples who follow you.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a permit to get married in a national park in New Zealand?

To hold a ceremony, take photographs or land a helicopter commercially on public conservation land, the operator needs a Department of Conservation (DOC) concession. You don't apply for this yourself — I hold the required concession and arrange every permission for you.

Is my marriage still legal if a planner doesn't have a permit?

Your marriage itself remains valid as long as the legal requirements are met. But an operator running ceremonies on DOC land without a concession is breaking the law and won't hold proper public liability cover. Always check that your planner is correctly permitted and insured.

Are your helicopter landings approved?

Yes. Every alpine and glacier landing is on a site approved through a DOC concession, an operator approval or private-land permission, flown only by operators who meet New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority standards.

With love, from New Zealand

Let’s plan your New Zealand wedding

Tell me your story and what you have in mind. I’ll personally guide you every step of the way — the same as I have for couples from around the world since 1999.

Elope With Us