Seventy one years married - Theo and Ivan Hape's strong partnership

Theo and Ivan Hape at home a day after their 71st wedding anniversary.

Working hard, looking after your health and respecting each other are the recipe for a long marriage, according to Theo and Ivan Hape.

Married in a registry office July 29, 1949, the marriage did not have the most auspicious start, both fathers of the couple refusing to agree to the union.

"So we eloped," Ivan says, and 71 years later they are still together. Admittedly Ivan's dad lent them his car and some petrol rations for a honeymoon in Napier. (Petrol was still rationed in post-war New Zealand.)

Ivan, born and raised in Dannevirke, left Dannevirke High School in 1945, working for his dad then farming at Oringi before returning to the Aerodrome Rd farm where the couple still live.

He said the life of sheep and beef farming was always hard but very enjoyable and with Theo they ran the two farms Theo was "head shepherd" when Ivan was away shearing for three months each year.

Theo and Ivan raised three children - Josephine, Diane and Tony. The latter lived with them since Covid-19 lockdown.

They have three grandchildren.

A huge garden kept the family well fed and Ivan every year ploughed up a corner of the choumoellier paddock for a community garden if anyone wanted it.

Ivan was very interested in rugby and golf playing the latter until not so long ago.

He retired from farming in 2002 retaining five acres to potter about in. The farms are now dairy units.

Over 71 years the couple had their ups and downs, but Ivan said he always respected Theo, who never smoked or drank alcohol.

Theo joked that she tried to "give Ivan away after a year but he stayed on," and she is pleased he did.