Wellington, Mar 3 : Polyamory relationships are increasingly gaining popularity in Christchurch, the regional capital of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Polyamory refers to people in multiple relationships that often exist within a seemingly "normal" family structure.

Sue 42, and her 48 year old male partner are part of Christchurch's polyamorist community and had set up an internet chat forum for other Christchurch and New Zealand polyamorists in August last year that now constitutes more than 100 members.

"There isn't a sexual focus," Stuff. co. nz quoted Sue, as saying.

"This is about an extended family," she added.

They have five children under the age of 12 and the duo is also dating another couple.

Sue revealed that even their children are aware about their relationships and have accepted the other couple as "people in our lives who are friends and part of our family".

Joan, a bisexual who is in her thirties, revealed that she began looking for multiple partners in her early twenties after she and Dick married.

Joan and Dick, a heterosexual, are a couple who have been married for 15 years and have two school-age children.

"Certainly I had had experiences. I headed in both directions but it wasn't something that was going to stop me being happily married," said Joan.

But after meeting bisexual Harriet seven years ago they thought that they should get together.

However, those who were involved in such relationship increasingly faced jealousy.

The 36-year-old Harriet admits that transparency and understanding of where everybody stood kept it at bay in their relationship.

"The most important part of this family unit is Joan's and Dick's marriage and the children's well being and my well being," she said. (ANI)