THE world was watching but Speers Point pair Paul McCarthy and Trent Kandler only had eyes for each other as they became the first Australian same-sex couple to marry in New Zealand.
Wearing matching pale pink waistcoats and black suits, they said ‘‘I do’’ just like any couple who had been in love for more than a decade.
‘‘We have waited a very long time to marry and had resigned ourselves to the fact that we would never have the opportunity, so we are both extremely excited,’’ Mr McCarthy said.
‘‘Trent is my soul mate for many reasons. He loves me for who I am. We are so alike. We laugh at the same things, cry at the same things, we both love travel, cinema, wildlife and pets.’’
Mr McCarthy, 42, said he was not nervous on Monday, but he was aware his wedding marked an historic moment for same-sex couples.
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‘‘It is a bit daunting. When we arrived at Wellington airport, we were greeted by two film crews and welcomed to the city by the Mayor Celia Wade-Brown,’’ he said.
‘‘We appeared on television that night and now have people coming up to us in the street to pass on congratulations. It has been a bit surreal.’’
The couple married in Wellington at 9am on Monday after winning a Tourism New Zealand competition to be the first married under the country’s Marriage Amendment Act.
Mr McCarthy, a vet, and Mr Kandler, a school teacher, wrote their own vows and pledged their commitment before 16 family and friends from Newcastle at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
Former Wellington mayor and chairwoman of the New Zealand Tourism Board Kerry Prendergast officiated over the ceremony, which included poems by the duo’s sisters and was followed by a small reception at nearby Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club.
Australian Marriage Equality has said hundreds of same-sex Australian couples were planning to follow the Speers Point’ couple and head to New Zealand to marry.
New Zealand was the 15th country to allow same-sex marriage, while gay marriage in Britain is expected to be fully in force next year.
In Australia, campaigners continue to be thwarted. However, Kevin Rudd pledged earlier this month, that if elected, he would hold a vote on marriage equality within his first 100 days in office.
Mr Kandler believes the rights and treatment of same-sex couple is continuing to improve.
‘‘I think its come a long way. I was a teenager in the late ’80s early ’90s at school I dealt with a huge amount of homophobia,’’ he said.
‘‘I wasn’t necessarily aware of my sexuality at the time I just stood out as very different to the other kids. It went on for years. It was six years of abuse really.’’
The couple, who met through friends, enjoyed their first holiday as a couple in New Zealand and were happy to formalise their marriage there.
‘‘It’s the same as any other relationship. It just comes down to love,’’ Mr Kandler said.
Author: Amy Edwards
Publication: Newcastle Herald
Date: 19 August 2013