Marriage celebrants in Dunedin are not expecting any sudden influx of gay marriage requests now that same-sex marriage is legal in New Zealand.
So few civil unions have been taken up in Dunedin since they became legal in April 2005 that statistics have not been released from the Department of Internal Affairs because of the possibility of identifying those couples.
Dunedin marriage celebrant Tricia Warwick-Naziris said so far she had no requests from same-sex couples to get married under the new law - which comes into effect today - and did not expect to see a ''huge rush''.
''We expected a busy week and then a fizzle out, just as we had with the civil union.''
In 2012, there were 390 civil unions nationally, of which 82% (320) were same-sex unions.
New Zealand Celebrants Association member and marriage celebrant Lynne Greer said although she had only two same-sex marriage requests for the next six months in Dunedin, she did not believe the option was unpopular in Dunedin.
Ms Greer said for same-sex couples, as for heterosexual couples, marriage depended on timing.
''You have still got to wait for the right timing and to be asked.
''The opportunity is there now for those that wish to do so. I actually do think the interest is there.''
Ms Greer was unsure why there had been a lack of civil unions entered into by Dunedin people.
''I don't know if we're conservative down here. I think if we had the same population as Wellington or Auckland, I think you would find we would be on par with them.''
Dunedin marriage celebrant Peter Collett had not received any same-sex marriage requests. And he had not conducted a civil union in Dunedin since he registered for them when they became possible.
