It was really important for us to go back to New Zealand to have our wedding.
Māori culture is something we were brought up with and is how all our family were raised before us.
Everything about the Māori culture I’m proud of.
In a wedding, people just do what they feel is right.
We’ll go with the flow.
My dad’s from Whakatāne and his tribe is Tūhoe.
My dad was born in Rotorua and his iwi, his tribe is Aotearoa.
In the wedding there are elements we’ll take from Christianity as well as from
a Kiwi-style wedding with some Māori aspects.
This is a bone carving.
It’s called a manaia.
The fish hook at the bottom represents safe travels.
It’s special to me particularly because it was my dad’s and sort of represents a guardian angel.
I want to have it in the wedding so it will probably be around my bouquet.
Mine’s a “pounamu” which is a greenstone.
Greenstone holds a spirit so you can’t just take it.
Greenstone is only from the west coast of the South Island of New Zealand.
This is special to me because it came from my parents, so it’s quite unifying for us.
We’re just really looking forward to spending the day with our closest friends and family
and just creating an atmosphere of love and whanaungatanga.
Jesse proposed to me in Lake Tekapo.
I was looking out at the lake when I turned around and he was down on one knee and now
we’re getting married at Lake Tekapo as well.
We went up on a hill with Aoraki in the background.
Aoraki is New Zealand’s highest mountain.
It’s one of New Zealand’s great ‘tūpuna’ or ancestors.
It holds a huge amount of respect and significance to New Zealanders.
Jesse and Olivia, I now pronounce you husband and wife.
You may kiss the bride.
We’re going to go back to an old woolshed and have our reception there.
Let’s say a big old cheers to Mr. and Mrs. Goodhue!
We’ve organized a menu with a local caterer.
It’s local produce all from New Zealand.
Before we eat, we’ll be saying a ‘karakia’ which is a prayer very similar to grace in Christianity.
I’ve grown up as a Christian and felt that it was really important to include that in the
wedding but won’t take away from the Māori culture.
We’ll make sure that both are included and represent us.
Father, Son, Holy Spirit, faithful angels and mouthpieces of God, support us forever and ever.
Amen.
In terms of Māori culture there may be a haka – it’s a strong song with physical actions.
People will do the haka to honor the people getting married.
It’s a huge sign of respect.
One part of Māori culture that will most definitely be in the wedding is called a ‘hongi’.
It’s pretty much a Māori way of a handshake but it’s got a lot more meaning to it.
You put your noses together and you share a breath.
You’re sharing your life force.
It’s a way of cementing the unity between two people.
Bringing all my tūpuna, bringing everyone before me to where I am to get married next
to Liv, that’s what I’m proudest of and that’s not only just being Māori too,
that’s being a New Zealander.
Thanks for watching World Wide Wed.
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