The number of divorces in this country has dropped to a 20-year low, according to figures released today.
The Family Court granted 8700 marriage dissolution orders in 2009, the lowest number since 8600 in 1989, and below the annual average of 10,000 divorces between 1999 and 2008, said Population Statistics manager Denise McGregor.
The New Zealand divorce rate - divorces per 1000 estimated existing marriages - was 10.2 in 2009, the lowest divorce rate since 1980 when the Family Proceedings Act was passed.
The number of divorces rose sharply following the passing of that Act, which allowed for the dissolution of marriage on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, and divorces recorded a temporary high of 12,400 in 1982.
The latest drop in divorces follows overseas trends. In 2008 divorces in England and Wales fell 5 percent from 2007. Divorces in Australia decreased 2 percent in the same period.
Many people did not realise that some free counselling was available when their relationship was in trouble, said Jeff Sanders, chief executive of Relationship Services.
"We have seen a significant increase in the number of people seeking counselling through the Family Court over the past year."
The largest provider of professional counselling and relationship education, the service said it provided couple counselling to 16,600 people in last year.
Its figures showed 6700 children under the age of 17 were affected by their parents' divorce last year and 3200 of them were under the age of 10.
"When couples with children separate or divorce, it's really important that they separate 'well'," Mr Sanders said.
"We know that separation can have a major impact on children so it is really important that in the midst of their own distress, parents find support and information about how to keep their children from harm."
The statistics also showed that about one-third of New Zealanders who married in 1984 had divorced before their 25th, or silver wedding anniversary.
Last year there were also 16 dissolutions of civil unions, an insufficient number to compare with the proportion of divorces.
Meanwhile, the figures showed there were 21,600 marriages registered in New Zealand last year, down 1 percent from the previous year.
That was due to fewer remarriages as the number of first marriages was unchanged from 2008, at 14,800.
The general marriage rate, or marriages per 1000 unmarried adults, was 13.2 in 2009, down from 16.1 in 1999.
The latest rate is less than one-third of the peak level of 45.5 per 1000, recorded in 1971.
The falling marriage rate was put down to the growth in de facto unions, a general trend towards delayed marriage, and more New Zealanders remaining single.
