In England we are generally asked by the Master of Ceremonies to 'Be upstanding for the bride and groom' as they lead us into the dining room.
 | | Kiri's uncle gives a Maori blessing |
Here, the MC, complete with mic, asked us for silence while the bride's uncle, Rick Winera, pronounced a Maori blessing, called a Karakea. The blessing is formal in style and follows a traditional pattern - the speaker thanks God, recalls the family ancestors (called 'tupuna'), and mentions the extended family (called 'whanau'), thanks the hosts of the party, then welcomes the visitors to the event. Several other members of the family then joined the speaker and sang a short Maori welcome song called a 'Waiata'. The bride's aunt would have liked the family to sing a traditional Maori wedding song but … they couldn't remember all of the words! Keeping up customs
 | | Maori fighting dance in Rotorua |
For a long time Maori customs and the Maori language were not appreciated and in the 1960s it looked as though the traditions would die out completely. However, there was an upsurge of interest in the heritage of the country, and in the 1970s the Maori language started being taught in schools. Kiri and her sister joined a Maori club at school, where they were taught Maori words, customs and how to dance in the traditional way, using a fluttering hand movement called 'Wiri Wiri' (pronounced 'witty witty'). This form of dancing is done by women and complements the better known 'haka', largely performed now by New Zealand rugby players and designed to scare the enemy via growls, popping eyes and prominent tongues. The government established a centre in Rotorua called the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, which is dedicated to the promotion and development of Maori culture; and the Te Wananga Whakairo, a carving school for the training of new carvers. Not all Maori's view this as an unadulterated blessing, but it is a sign of official recognition that the culture and heritage of New Zealand is valuable and worth protecting. And back to the ceremony...
 | | Carol's mum, Lilian Bianchi |
Carol's mum, Lilian Bianchi, giving her speech
My mother, as the representative of our visiting family, was then invited to respond with a short speech and a blessing on the wedding meal. The best weddings are a combination of the original and the traditional. No wedding is complete without a cake, and no Maori design is complete without paua shells, traditionally used for the eyes of the elaborate wooden carvings which decorate the Maori meeting place called a Marae. The halls are wonderful places, filled with carvings depicting Maori stories and tales of ancestors. How to combine the two - cake and paua? Kiri and Leon didn't want a wedding cake, but rather individual cup cakes for everyone, and so asked an artist friend, Andre, if she would create a cake stand for the occasion.
 | | The fruit cake alternative |
Andre and Kiri's brother in law, Anthony, from Rowatonga, spent the week before the wedding fishing and diving, and managed to catch enough paua shells to make an original wedding cake stand using traditional materials. It looked incredible and the cakes were nice too! How to end such a day? And finally, what would be the icing on the cake for New Zealanders?
Answer: a win at rugby.
And who won the 7's on Kiri and Leon's wedding day?
New Zealand. A perfect end to a perfect day! | 
