- Across Aotearoa, wedding bells are ringing. - Kua tuhono nga whakapapa. - I do. - I feel very lucky to be a celebrant. - And making them official... - So fancy. - ...are our Maori celebrants. - Which one is it? - Ah, I need to give him a ring around the ears. (ALL CHEER) - Raise your glasses for the newlywed couple! (CHEERING, APPLAUSE) - From the vows to the rings... - You may now kiss your bride. - ...they help couples say, 'I do.' (UPBEAT MUSIC) This is Aroha Nui. Captions by Jordan Waetford Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2022 Living her best life in Opotiki is local celebrant Annette Papuni-McLellan. - Nice. Been busy. I have been a celebrant for eight years now. - Just pull them out how they are. - Now? - Yeah. We're ready. - For me, it's more about the kaupapa of love. And I do it for a koha. Cut the meat. - Yep. Boys have got it. - Ka pai. I feel honoured and privileged to be asked to be a celebrant and share that special moment with the bride and groom. (LAID-BACK MUSIC) This week I'm marrying Kaye and Manu. - Am I allowed to laugh? - You are allowed to. You will get lots of laughs, my darling. - OK. (ALL GIGGLE) - I've known Kaye for approximately 21 years now. She is a very well-known personality in Opotiki. I'll just explain it to the bridal group ` today, we're not going through all the personal stuff. We're just breaking it down stage by state for Manu and Kaye. - Annette, she's beautiful. Beautiful woman. I worked in a school before my accident. We had her youngest daughter at our kura. - The ladies walking down first. The boys will be by Manu. - Oh, OK. Cool. Get your guys' numbers. Get your guys' numbers sorted. - In 2019, Kaye was on a work trip when the van she was in was struck by another vehicle, leaving her in a wheelchair. - Kaye becoming a paraplegic, physically, you can see it. - Our baby's supposed to be up the front. (CHUCKLES) But she wants to have a ride today. - But spiritually, mentally, she is still Kaye. - Nervous? - (GIGGLES) - Manu suffers his own heart condition that, at times, can be quite debilitating to him. No, you don't. (ALL LAUGH, CHATTER) Come to me. He has a very quiet, loving personality. He just supports Kaye and his tamariki wherever he can. He doesn't say much at all. - Ah, ka pai. Well done, team. (LAUGHTER) - Annette's own love story has lasted the test of time too. - My first taste of real true love was my darling husband, Trevor. - Take it slowly. - Be lovely. Trevor and I have been married for 28 years. Do you want to grab that end of the table? Just pull it out a fr` like, like centimetres. We have two beautiful daughters, Caitlin and Grayson. We're a very loving whanau. And they've introduced two very special son-in-laws into our whanau. This is the best part. Sitting around the table with you lot. - Yep. It's about family. - How long? - 28 years. 34 together. - Hm. That's ages, eh? (ALL LAUGH) (ROCK MUSIC) - Today Annette's got an important task. One-on-one sessions with Manu and Kaye to go over their vows for the big day. - If you want to say them yourself, just from the heart, that's fine. If you want me to say a sentence and then you repeat after me, that's fine too. So let's have a read of this and make sure that there's nothing I've missed. READS: I stand here today in front of our children... whanau to honour you, Kaye. - Um... I just` as I was reading a text looking for it, I said, 'What about friends?' And` - Yup. Friends... and whanau. Yup. READS: We have laughed and cried together. We have stood by each other in good times and in hard times. We've been through so much together. I am very proud of who you are, your personality, your laughter, your aroha. I want you to be my wife. I love you. - Hm. That's spot on. (BOTH CHUCKLE) Perfect. - Are you sure? - Yeah. - I think when you've been together for 22 years, it's, at times, difficult to encapsulate what that relationship means. You know, just to acknowledge it's 22 years you've been together, and here you are still, today, mindful of the last 12 months, but take that kind of out of the equation. How do you feel about that? - Good. - Yeah. - We don't have to go through much, but it was nice to hang out with Annette. - Anything in there you want to add? - No. I just felt that one. (BOTH LAUGH) - Oh, you're so easy. - Like most men, Manu keeps his feelings close to his chest and his korero to a minimum. But will Annette's session with Kaye be as straightforward? - We have been through such a shitty year. - Yep. - Sorry for my` - No, no. (BOTH WHISPER) - (CHUCKLES) So much together with our tamariki and whanau. - Yep. True. Ka pai. - I will support, cherish and love you always, but there might be times I don't listen. I love that. - (CHUCKLES) - I will continue to be the best I can. Occasionally not shut my mouth. - (CHUCKLES) Really? No kidding (!) - Yeah. I know, right? I was going to put a potty word in there, but I better not. Everyone knows I'm a bit potty at times. - I can just cover the mic. (BOTH CHUCKLE) - Annette is close to her couples, and especially Kaye. With her guidance, it doesn't take long before the potty words are swapped for something more poignant. - When you acknowledge the hard times, we're not only talking about the last` the event of a year ago. Manu has obviously been there by you. - I lost my dad. Manu was there. - Yes, exactly. That's what I was trying to get you to talk about. - My brother. - Yep. Your dad, your brother. And didn't you lose someone else? - He lost his kuia. - Yes. - Yeah. - So the vows are not only talking about the last 12 months, nearly, they're talking about the losses that you share, which ties back into our table of remembrance. - With the trauma of the crash still fresh, every word means so much more. - Yes. I know, cos with the accident and everything, I feel, you know, I` I feel I` they were there. They were there to help. They saved me, you know? The experience with Ani is` Annette, is just awesome. - Cool. Well done. - Thank you. - Ka pai. (CHUCKLES) My favourite part for both the vows was the end. That it's a simple I love you. - But will Manu be heard when he finds his voice at rehearsal apopo? - They stand for 40 minutes. - That's too long for them to stand. - They suck it up for 40 minutes. - (CHUCKLES) (RELAXED MUSIC) - It's rehearsal day, and before everyone arrives, Annette is running through her own lines with daughter Caitlin. - Te au aroha ` au. - Te au. - Aroha. Te au aroha. - Au. Te au. And laugh when I make a joke. - (CHEERS) - Yeah, that's it. It does help me to have a one-person audience, because they're honest and they critique me well. Feedback. - It was good. You just need to believe in yourself and breathe. - With the all-clear from Caitlin, it's time to get the full rehearsal underway, with Manu, Kaye and the rest of Opotiki. - So we're going to pretend like it's tomorrow. - OK. - I just brought two chairs, and we can get a bigger chair if we need to. Just so you feel how it could feel for you if we're both sitting. - You know, eh, with his heart condition and that. - Yes. - He does run out of thing, even though he's probably putting on a good front right now, cos he's been on the go since this morning. So that might actually suit him better, to have that. - Yeah. - I want to marry this man, because... with everything (CHUCKLES) we've been through, you know, he's still there with me. That's it. I... He gifted me` gifted us four beautiful babies. And I just` I really love him. - The whole town might be here, but not all the groomsmen. - Have you got any more of your groom's party here? - No. I don't. - Oh, that's all right. Where's Terrence? - They've gone hunting and stuff. - Oh, that's OK. - Yeah. Yeah. I'm just lost. I don't know what's going on, (CHUCKLES) what's going to happen. - We might get some stand-ins for the rehearsal today. - Yes. - She's awesome. Huge help. Eh, this the first time for us doing this, getting married. - Cue the chaos of a rehearsal. - If you guys just go back for a minute, please. - So, you're here, right? Right. - I don't want to see her come down the line. - He doesn't want to watch her. - The ladies will form that way and everybody else will be there. Yeah? Bro. - It was organised chaos. They stand for 40 minutes. - That's too long for them to stand. - They suck it up for 40 minutes. - (CHUCKLES) - Sorry, honey. - OK. Yup. - But I wasn't getting my way. (LAUGHS) - With the positions set, the actual rehearsal can finally begin. (SOFT MUSIC) - I wanted to marry this lady. To be honest, you know, I wanted to do it a long time ago. Things weren't perfect, But we just continued, just, you know, working. Working on it. And... fate would just have us come back together. - Are you ready, Manu? And there's a couple of things there that we're not going to do today. We're going to save that for tomorrow. And then I'm going to share a wee story about how you met. Your version and then Manu's version that he shared with me the other day. - Am I allowed to laugh? - You are allowed to. You will get lots of laughs, my darling. - OK. (ALL LAUGH) - There's lots of laughs, I can assure you. And I'll ask you, 'Do you, Manu Grant Ene, take Kaye Waireti Tai to be your lawful wedded wife. and think about it overnight. (ALL CHUCKLE) Just think about it. (BOTH LAUGH) How do you feel? How do you feel about that? - That's beautiful. - Oh, the fun's to come. (LAUGHS) And the special moments. - Yeah. And it was just a rehearsal. (CHUCKLES) - I know. - And we all cried. (CHUCKLES) - It's just a rehearsal and we're crying. Far. - Yeah. - Started getting real from there, I guess. (SOFT MUSIC) - I felt happy seeing the way everything progressed in the practise. Kind of sealed the deal for me, because you could feel the emotion. That is gold. - What happens if it rains? - We're not going to have to worry about a plan B. It's going to be beautiful. Just like the winds have died down a little bit. - Yup. - And it's going to be fantastic. This is when she wants to get married, the universe will provide. (CHUCKLES) - Famous last words. But will the universe cooperate? (FUNKY MUSIC) - It's Kaye and Manu's wedding day. - Hurry up! Youse are running late. Ha, ha, ha, ha. - I texted Kaye and Manu and said, 'It's raining.' (CHUCKLES) And Kaye come back and said, 'Too bad.' - That's the blessing. - After 22 years, Kaye doesn't want to wait a minute longer to marry her sweetheart. - Still look amazing. - (CHUCKLES) - Even though it was raining, the feeling of love was in the air. So that shows you that love prevails. - It's time to get these two hitched. - We got this, team. - We got this. - We got this. - # Tera te marama # ka rewa mai i te pae. # I ahu mai i te muri # i te rongo # moetawhiti # eeee. # - And then Kaye arrives, and she looks beautiful. It was a special moment. And that's why I do this job. Tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Talofa lava. Welcome to everyone to the wedding of Manu and Kaye. Doesn't our bride look beautiful? She's absolutely stunning. You're amazing. Manu, you are one lucky man, and you scrub up pretty well too, I have to say. So, what do you reckon, whanau? Shall we get this show on the road? - ALL: Ae - I've got question for you. Mm. Take your time. You've had 24 hours to think about it, remember? I asked you it yesterday. I said to have a think about it. Do you, Manu Grant Ene, take Kaye Waireti Tai to be your lawful wedded wife? - 'Course. (ALL LAUGH) - I didn't hear that. - I do. - Ka pai. Question for you now. Again, you had 24 hours to think about it, eh? Do you, Kaye Waireti Tai, take Manu Grant Ene to be your lawful husband? - Two (BLEEP) oaths, Dad. (ALL LAUGH) - I think that means yes, eh, whanau? (CHUCKLES) - To the point. No muck around the bush. - That's right. (BOTH CHUCKLE) - With the formalities under way, it's now time for the man of few words to speak up. - Wonderful. Now we're going to share your vows. - Can he go first? - She's trying to boss me around now. (ALL LAUGH) He will go first. (CHUCKLES) - We have laughed and cried together. We have stood by each other, through good times, and in hard times. We have been through so much together over the last 22 years. I am very proud of you. Your personality, your honesty, your loyalty, your laughter and your love. (CLEARS THROAT) I want you to be my wife. I love you. (APPLAUSE) - How beautiful was that? - Cos I was just looking straight at her while I'm doing the vows, and, yeah. Yeah. I pretty much memorised it, I think. (CHUCKLES) - Tissue. Choice. (ALL LAUGH) That's the one. Dad. LOUDER: Dad. We've had a` We've had a pretty shitty year. But here we are today, hand in hand. I'm lucky, and I'm very proud to be here. (EXHALES) In all our time together, both the` both the tough and good times we've faced, this has made our love more true. That's me. Too much of a blubbery mess. - So, Manu, as you place this ring on Kaye's finger, you're promising to continue the pure aroha and awhi that you have shared for the last 22 years, and will continue to show Kaye in the forever years to come. Kaye, it's your turn. And as you place this ring on Manu's finger, stop for a moment and remember, not only is this a commitment sealed with aroha, it is one of the many ways, again, you have and will continue to show Manu in the forever years to come. Whanau, at this moment, it gives me my absolute honour to be their celebrant today, and pleasure to announce them husband and wife. (ALL CHEER, APPLAUD) I am so happy for them both, at that moment, because... it sealed all their wedding plans, all Kaye's hopes and dreams of getting married, and Manu's dreams of marrying Kaye. And in that moment, it was just magic. It really was. You may kiss your bride. (ALL CHEER, APPLAUD) (UPBEAT MUSIC) (FIREWORKS CRACK, ALL CHEER) Oh, I'm going to tear up. - Annette, she's just a beautiful lady. Very beautiful lady, Annette. Yeah. And I can't thank her enough. Beautiful woman. (ALL CHEER, APPLAUD, LAUGH) - Yes, girl, work! Whoo! www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2022 Next time on Aroha Nui ` we meet a tiddly celebrant in Devonport. - Beautiful to have you here, my nephew. Really, really looking forward to this kaupapa that's coming up before us. - You were our first choice, uncle. Yeah. - Ngahiwi Walker sets the coordinates for a whanau wedding up north. - And he comes over with hand cuffs. (LAUGHS) - You know, I've done a few weddings, but I know that this one is going to be, ah` different. It's gonna be funny, and it's gonna be out the box, because that's how my nephew is. - And keeping his nephew on course could be a challenge.