OPINION
Jacinda Ardern’s marriage to Clarke Gayford at a vineyard in Hawke’s Bay wasn’t quite a royal wedding but Ardern is a Dame, which makes it about as close as we get. It wasn’t what you would call a fairytale wedding. It was, in its way, a wedding for our times, its original date postponed by the uncertainties of a pandemic, its celebrations planned and cautiously executed under the radar. “It’s been a case of where is Wally?” mused 1News’ man in Hawke’s Bay, Henry McMullan, romantically. “Just where is Jacinda?”
From the time she was spotted having a drink at a “potential hens do in Hastings”, the coverage had an endearing yeah-nah, only-in-New-Zealand vibe. Any updates? “Yes, well unfortunately not,” said McMullan. Sausage rolls were reported on. “Rather quirky canapes,” observed the Daily Mail.
On the happy day, McMullan was planted far from the action at Craggy Range vineyard. “Unfortunately, I’m stuck outside on the wrong side of the fence.” Sounds of revelry reached our lonely correspondent across a paddock. “I’ve heard a couple of cha-hoos,” he noted wistfully, “and a fair bit of clapping.” Henry waded into dangerous territory for any live cross: wedding fashion analysis. “A lot of colourful dresses and a lot of floral prints,” he reported valiantly. “And hats for the men.”
He drew to a merciful close with an abrupt segue into a ringing endorsement of an area still recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle. Jacinda’s big day, he declared, is evidence that “Hawke’s Bay is open and we are one hell of a wedding destination”! Cha-hoo.