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Home / Waikato News

National MP Louise Upston marries long-time partner in surprise home wedding

Imogene Bedford
Journalist·NZ Herald·
16 Dec, 2025 02:10 AM2 mins to read
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Louise Upston (right) married Hamish Craig at their family home on December 13. Photo / Jakob Andrew

Louise Upston (right) married Hamish Craig at their family home on December 13. Photo / Jakob Andrew

National MP Louise Upston has married her long-time partner Hamish Craig in an intimate ceremony attended by their five children.

The newlyweds tied the knot at their family home in Karāpiro on Saturday, near where Craig first proposed to her.

Louise Upston (right) and Hamish Craig. Photo / Jakob Andrew
Louise Upston (right) and Hamish Craig. Photo / Jakob Andrew

“Hamish gave me my ring on my 50th birthday, which is four-and-a-half years ago, and then he proposed to me at home, complete with me in my shorts and gumboots in our sheep paddock,” Upston, the MP for Taupō, said.

“There’s a little spot there that has the best view of the Waikato River and it’s a very special place to both of us.”

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Forty-four members of their immediate family watched as the pair finally exchanged rings after 13 years together.

Louise Upston (right) and Hamish Craig pictured taking their vows. Photo / Jakob Andrew
Louise Upston (right) and Hamish Craig pictured taking their vows. Photo / Jakob Andrew

“We decided we would go low-drama and just have our family when we got married and then we had two celebrants, both very close friends to us, which was nice,” Upston said.

Louise Upston (right) and Hamish Craig have been together for 13 years. Photo / Jakob Andrew
Louise Upston (right) and Hamish Craig have been together for 13 years. Photo / Jakob Andrew

Friends were surprised with the news when they joined the evening celebrations.

“None of them knew that we were getting married, which was lovely, but it was a perfect day. Wouldn’t have changed anything,” Upston said.

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Her “very special” wedding band has five diamonds to represent their five children.

Louise Upston (right) has married her long-time partner Hamish Craig. Photo / Jakob Andrew
Louise Upston (right) has married her long-time partner Hamish Craig. Photo / Jakob Andrew

The 54-year-old was previously married to Craig Upston, who she had two children with, Jess and Mac Upston, and has another son, Hamish, from a previous relationship.

View this post on Instagram

Upston shared a few snaps of her special day to social media, writing that she and Craig “couldn’t be happier!”

She also got the support of her National Party, who shared her post with the caption “Congratulations Louise Upston MP and Hamish! 💙“.

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