Maria and Israel tie the knot
Silver Fern and rugby star wed in private ceremony
Silver Fern Maria Tutaia has tied the knot with her longterm partner, Australian rugby star Israel Folau, in a private ceremony in Australia. Tutaia and Folau announced their engagement in October last year and Australian media reported the couple were wed in Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, on Wednesday.
Tutaia, 30, recently responded to a fan speculating whether any future children of their union would represent Australia or New Zealand by saying her children would represent New Zealand and Samoa, not Australia.
Folau, 28, is skipping the Australian end-of-year tour, and played his final game of the year two weeks ago against the Barbarians.
He told Australian media this month they weren’t in a rush to get married.
“We’re not in a rush to get things done, we’re just really trying to enjoy our time together because we don’t get a lot of that together.”
The wedding ceremony coincided with the result of Australia’s samesex-marriage plebiscite being revealed. Folau, a Christian, has been an outspoken opponent of same-sex marriage.
He shared his stance on social media and last month told reporters at a press conference that he stood by his previous comments.
“I stand alongside what I said on that time . . . I stay true to myself and what I believe in.”
Tutaia and Folau have spoken of their long-distance relationship and how often they would spend only two nights a week together. They haven’t confirmed which side of the Tasman will be their full-time home.
Tutaia signed again with the Northern Mystics for two more years in July, amid speculation she would take a sabbatical after the 2018 Com- monwealth Games.
The couple’s most recent public appearance together was at Derby Day in Melbourne this month. earned in the service of Oman.
There was also frustration from veterans that the medals were being worn ahead of decorations earned in the service of New Zealand.
Mark said he would seek advice — and has conceded he got it wrong.
It is a breach of rules for a New Zealand citizen to wear medals from a foreign nation without the Queen’s permission, able to be granted by the Governor-General.
A spokesman for Mark said: “The minister has spoken to officials and is seeking approval for the wearing of his Omani decorations. The application is being processed by the Cabinet Office. This can take several weeks.”