Dame Jacinda and her TV host partner of almost 10 years began married life at the exclusive Craggy Range Winery on the outskirts of Havelock North, where they exchanged vows on Saturday before a reception full of laughter, cheering and dancing.
Speaking yesterday morning, Mr Hipkins said the event was ‘‘lovely’’, but he did not want to comment further.
The wedding was originally set to take place in 2022 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dame Jacinda gave a five-minute wedding speech, including nods to friends, close colleagues and family, some of whom had twice travelled great distances to be there for it.
She gave a special shoutout to Craggy Range and head chef Casey McDonald, who was just about to serve up the main course, before spending roughly a minute talking about her ‘‘best friend’’ and now husband.
Earlier, the wedding was officiated by the couple’s friend and former deputy prime minister, Grant Robertson.
Fashion designer Juliette Hogan, who made Dame Jacinda’s dress, and her husband were guests. Official images released by the couple yesterday evening showed a smiling Dame Jacinda in the ivory sleeveless, cowl-neck halter gown featuring a high neckline, cinched waist and low back.
The former PM also wore a long tulle veil, which was clipped into a chignon up-do, created by hairdresser Tane Tomoana, who has previously worked on looks for Dame Jacinda.
Her shoes were by Mount Maunganui designer Chaos and Harmony and the couple’s wedding rings were designed by New Zealand jewellery designer Zoe and Morgan.
Two buses - including one containing Mr Hipkins and his partner, Toni Grace, former speaker of the House and ex-veteran MP Sir Trevor Mallard and former minister Megan Woods - took some guests to the wedding.
Musicians Marlon Williams, Hollie Smith - Mr Gayford’s ex-partner - and MC Tali were also spotted among guests.
Other political guests included former minister Kelvin Davis, former MP Dame Annette King and fellow former MP Darren Hughes. Dame Jacinda’s former press secretary, Andrew Campbell, also attended.
Throughout the ceremony - which began around 4pm - cheering could be heard from the roadside outside Craggy Range as Dame Jacinda made her way up the aisle.
But they were interrupted by the noise of a small helicopter hired by a member of the Australian paparazzi.
As the helicopter flew over the venue - staying in the air for 59 minutes - Dame Jacinda’s bridal party stopped and took shelter under large sun umbrellas. They only emerged after the helicopter flew away.
Meanwhile, police said the public was largely respectful regarding the eagerly anticipated wedding, and no arrests were made on the day or night of the ceremony.
A car doing a burnout over the river from the wedding venue was photographed by a Hawke’s Bay Today photographer at the time vows were being exchanged, and a small group of antivax protesters were spoken to by police earlier in the day.
From about 9am, the protesters set up a small protest camp on the boundary of Craggy Range.
Members of the group berated members of the media and played a series of rap songs with X-rated lyrics about Dame Jacinda, her former government, the Covid-19 mandates and lockdowns, and the media.
Police arrived at Craggy Range after they had placed more than 30 large billboards on the stone walls at the front of the vineyard featuring photos and case studies of people who allegedly suffered health impacts due to Covid-19 boosters.
The protesters received a mixed reaction from motorists driving past, one man slowing down near them and yelling, ‘‘Get a life, you pack of losers.’’
But as crowds lined Te Mata Peak’s viewing point to catch a glimpse of the wedding of the year at the exclusive and heavily guarded Craggy Range Winery, the prevailing attitude was positive - that after a tough year, it was nice to have something to smile about.
- The New Zealand Herald/Hawke’s Bay Today
