NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
    • The Great NZ Road Trip
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

Same-sex couples celebrate wedded bliss

Amelia Wade
By Amelia Wade, Rotorua Daily Post staff
Political reporter·NZ Herald·
19 Aug, 2013 02:12 AM6 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The big day is here - it is now legal for same-sex couples to get married. And there are many lining up to finally tie the knot, with almost 1000 marriage forms downloaded, four couples racing to be the very first and 31 ceremonies around the country. In the foyer of Rotorua Museum this morning, two couples married. Jess Ivess and Rachel Briscoe from the Bay of Islands and Richard Rawstorn and Richard Andrew from Christchurch arrived in a white limousine to be married in front of about 100 people.

It could have been any other wedding, except for a few variations like "I now pronounce you wife and wife" and cheers of "hip-hip, gay" at the reception.

But Tash Vitali and Mel Ray made history when they tied the knot today, becoming among the first same-sex couples in New Zealand to be legally married.

Their marriage licence was picked up from the Department of Internal Affairs the minute it opened at 8.30am and was whisked up to the Auckland Unitary Church in Ponsonby by motorbike.

The congregation cheered as it was brought into the church as Reverend Dr Matt Tittle conducted the ceremony.

"I am honoured to pronounce you wife and wife," said Dr Tittle.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"You may now each kiss your bride."

Speaking outside, he said he was honoured to preside over the wedding.

"It's history in the making and hopefully it will help other countries to do the same and help New Zealanders to realise that everyone has worth and dignity no matter who they love."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Tash Vitali said she was "so excited" and proud to be among the first gay couples to marry in New Zealand.

"It feels pretty cool. It's overwhelming. This must be what famous people feel like with all these cameras in your face."

Labour Party MP Louisa Wall, whose bill to legalise same-sex marriage was passed into law in April, said today's ceremony was what all her hard work had been about.

"Up until this point in time it's all been theoretical, debating about what this might mean, and I think today we've seen exactly what it's all about: celebration of family, friends, commitment and love."

Discover more

World

Abbott trips may not be fatal

15 Aug 05:30 PM
New Zealand

Church head seeks gay-wedding ban

16 Aug 05:30 PM
Entertainment

A gentleman who lived on his wits

17 Aug 02:03 AM
New Zealand

Great day to be gay

17 Aug 05:30 PM

But there was still much to do to get equality for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community, she said.

"There's been a philosophical analysis about this being about Western liberalism and not about universal human rights for all human beings. And I think the push back from countries like Russia really needs to be challenged globally."

The couple rode to Auckland waterfront on a horse-drawn carriage where the reception kicked off at the Cloud on Queens Wharf, hosted by Auckland drag queen Miss Ribena.

"I've been on the gay scene for 22 years so for this day to come at last is just fabulous," Miss Ribena said.

A few people arrived at the Department of Internal Affairs in downtown Auckland this morning to pick up their marriage licences.

An Australian couple who wanted to be identified only as Sarah and Emma, in their 20s, cheered and clapped as they were given their papers.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The pair, who will marry in Auckland this afternoon, said they could not speak to media until after that, as an Australian television show was covering their big day.

However, Emma said it was a wonderful acknowledgment of the gay community to be able to marry.

"It's nice to be attached to something very special," she said.

Another couple, from the US, were the first gay couple married in the department offices at 9am.

They declined to be interviewed, but said it was a privilege to be able to get married in another country.

"We just found this to be our best option...I never thought we would be here in New Zealand, but it's nice."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

SKY WEDDING

Thousands of feet up in the air, Auckland couple Lynley Bendall and Ally Wanikau became one of the first same sex couples in New Zealand to be legally wed this morning.

The couple exchanged pounamu necklaces instead of rings after pledging their commitment and love for one another in front of their family, friends and swathe of media on board an Air New Zealand flight from Queenstown.

Cheers, applause and whistles erupted as the celebrant, Kim Jewel Elliot, proclaimed: "You are married!''. The champagne then started flowing and stewardesses handed out canapes.

Modern Family star and marriage equality advocate Jesse Tyler Fergusson, who also recently married, was a guest at the ceremony and toasted the newlyweds at the reception in a hangar at Auckland Airport.

Ms Bendall said the whole morning had been "overwhelming'' but was clearly extremely pleased to finally be able to marry her partner of 14 years.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It's the fact we're finally equal,'' she said.

After cutting their rainbow cake and tossing their bouquets from a ladder next to the black plane, Ms Bendall and Ms Wanikau celebrated with their loved ones. As part of Air NZ's wedding package, the couple will have their honeymoon in Palm Springs.

The couple won the Love is in the Air competition after their three young children made a video about why their wanted their mums to be married.

ROTORUA MUSEUM PLAYS PART

On the first day that same sex couples can legally get married in New Zealand, Rotorua Museum has been part of a history-making event, with two couples tying the knot there this morning.

The couples, Rachel Briscoe and Jess Ivess, from the Bay of Islands, and Richard Rawstorn and Richard Andrew, from Christchurch, won a competition run by The Edge radio station to win their `all-expenses paid' wedding, which was broadcast live on both national TV and radio.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The couples were in Rotorua for over a week prior to their nuptials, planning their weddings, hosting their hen and stag dos and enjoying some of the region's activities and attractions. The Museum was the venue for both the ceremony and the wedding breakfast.

"The couples have become quite the celebrities,'' said Rotorua Museum sales and marketing manager Joanna Doherty.

"They were at the museum for a full day last week doing a commercial photo shoot and we have had significant interest from media both in New Zealand and overseas.

"The museum looked absolutely stunning. The outside was lit up in rainbow colours the night before, inside the venue were dashes of blue light on the walls, and pink on the sculptures, to match the colour themes chosen by the couples.''

The atmosphere at the museum was amazing with guests and onlookers giving a rousing cheer as the formal nuptials were completed and again when the legal documentation arrived for signing.

A TV documentary will be screening on TV2`s 20/20 programme on Thursday following both couples and capturing the excitement of the competition, the planning, and finally the ceremony.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New Zealand

Watch: Famous filmmaker ramps up fight against luxury Wellington development

18 May 12:00 AM
New Zealand

Mt Victoria residents "angry" about a proposed luxury development in their neighbourhood

New Zealand

How NZ beaches inspired UK author's debut novel

18 May 12:00 AM

The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Watch: Famous filmmaker ramps up fight against luxury Wellington development

Watch: Famous filmmaker ramps up fight against luxury Wellington development

18 May 12:00 AM

The Mayfair plans include 32 luxury apartments with a pool and gym.

Mt Victoria residents "angry" about a proposed luxury development in their neighbourhood

Mt Victoria residents "angry" about a proposed luxury development in their neighbourhood

How NZ beaches inspired UK author's debut novel

How NZ beaches inspired UK author's debut novel

18 May 12:00 AM
Watch: Christopher Luxon to make pre-Budget health announcement

Watch: Christopher Luxon to make pre-Budget health announcement

17 May 11:37 PM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP