Labour leader Chris Hipkins on Ardern’s wedding, his summer break and the year ahead

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins is due to begin the year in opposition hot on the heels of attending his predecessor’s lavish wedding over the weekend.

Hipkins was among the many famous faces at Dame Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford’s Hawke’s Bay wedding over the weekend.

The former Prime Minister spoke to Newstalk ZB this morning, saying the wedding was “lovely”.

Chris Hipkins and Toni Grace seen leaving their motel the day after Jacinda Ardern's wedding. Photo / George Heard

“Aside from a few hiccups along the way, they got the opportunity to enjoy their wedding in relative peace and privacy and I think that’s a lovely thing,” Hipkins said.

A car doing a burnout across the river from the wedding venue was photographed by a Hawke’s Bay Today photographer at the time the vows were being exchanged, and a small group of anti-vax protesters were spoken to by police earlier in the day.

A burnout pulled over the other side of the Tukituki River from Craggy Range, just as Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayword wed. Photo / Connull Lang

Ardern 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 before a reception full of laughter, cheering and dancing.

Hipkins looked relaxed and tanned, dressed in shorts, a T-shirt and sunglasses, as he was leaving the Village Motel in Havelock North with partner Toni Grace.

He earlier told the Herald that the event was “lovely” and that he had also taken advantage of the opportunity to indulge in more than a few of his beloved paua and snapper sausage rolls while at the wedding.

Paua and snapper sausage roll on the menu at Ardern and Gayford's wedding. Photo / Instagram, Tane Tomoana

Ardern 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 the occassion.

She gave a special shout-out 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.

The wedding was officiated by the couple’s friend and former Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson.

The couple are now heading away on a family holiday.

The wedding was originally set to take place in 2022 but was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dame Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford pictured at their wedding. Photo / Felicity Jean Photography

Fashion designer Juliette Hogan, who made Ardern’s dress, and her husband were guests. Official images released by the couple yesterday evening showed a smiling Ardern 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 Ardern.

Two buses - including one featuring Hipkins and 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 (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. Ardern’s former press secretary Andrew Campbell also attended.

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