25 reasons for a night off

John and Bronagh Key celebrated their silver wedding anniversary last night. Photo / Michael Craig

When there's a country to run, there's not much time off.

But Prime Minister John Key and wife Bronagh made an exception last night to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.

The silver anniversary comes just after another anniversary - Key's first year as Prime Minister.

Yesterday was another normal Saturday on the job. In the morning, the Prime Minister opened a new dental research centre in the Bay of Plenty.

The afternoon saw him up the coast at Whangamata, clipping the ribbon on the town's controversial marina. It had taken 17 years to get to the point where it could be opened after objection and protests.

The anniversary would have gone unnoticed, but for a mention made by Key in Whangamata of his plans for the evening: that he and Bronagh would be celebrating 25 years together that night. The anniversary is next weekend - but Key will be away at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.

Key said yesterday: "My wife Bronagh was asked recently 'How on earth have you put up with him for 25 years?' To which she said: 'Very easy. He's only been home for seven of them'."

The couple allowed the Herald on Sunday to photograph them as they headed out to a "nice" restaurant last night.

Then they headed off for some rare time together - protection squad members in tow.