Kelly and Christine Palmer

A Love That Stood the Test of Time: The Story of Mum and Dad

Love has a way of finding its own path, no matter the obstacles. The story of Mum and Dad is one of deep devotion, adventure, and a commitment that spanned over five decades.

It all began during school holidays when Mum and her close cousin, Mabel Wharekawa-Burt, would visit Aunty Korma on Matakana Island. These visits, along with inter-marae interactions, provided the perfect setting for a love story to blossom between Mum and Dad. Their bond was nurtured in the simplest of ways—through shared laughter, stolen moments, and the carefree days of youth.

Anne Douglas, Dad’s sister, fondly recalled, “Your father was a good boy in general, but man, he could be naughty.” Mabel added with a laugh, “And I didn’t like him back then because he got your mother pregnant.”

Dad was part of a large group of young men who roamed the island on horseback—Pato Douglas, Arthur Paul, Hector Paul, Hori Rolleston (Mum’s tuakana), and David Douglas (Anne’s husband) were among them. With no proper roads, they made their own fun, riding through paddocks and along the beach. Mum and Mabel would often hop onto the back of the horses, sharing in the adventure.

As teenagers, Mum and Dad’s connection deepened. Dad, ever the romantic, would sneak out of his window, mount his horse, and ride through the night to see Mum at Aunty Korma’s. Their love, however, did not go unnoticed. When Mum’s strict father discovered the relationship, he forbade her from returning to Matakana. Determined to be together, Dad, Anne, and a few others journeyed to Rereatukahia to try and ‘steal’ Mum away. This led to her making a bold decision—she ran away to be with Dad.

In a final effort to separate them, Mum was sent to enroll in the Air Force at 18. But love has its own plans. Routine health tests soon revealed that she was pregnant, ensuring that their destinies were forever intertwined.

When Dad first brought Mum home to meet his parents, she was terrified. Anne recalled watching the scene unfold and trying to reassure Mum with a knowing glance. Despite the nerves and challenges, their love endured, leading to their wedding on August 19, 1967, at Kahuranaki Marae in Te Hauke.

Over the next 56 years, they built a life rooted in love, hard work, and unwavering support for their whanau. They raised two sons and helped nurture over ten first cousins, a close friend’s son, and numerous brothers, sisters, and parents from both sides of the family in their home in Taupo.

“They were enough for each other—there was nobody else,” Mabel shared. “They were both hardworking and very whanau oriented. They epitomized manaaki tangata.”

While in Taupo they were both influential in the United Rugby and Sports club where numerous weekends were spent at working-bees, and of course the obligatory after function attendance when hosting other teams.

They were both revered sports people on the field and court, attaining representative status in their chosen codes of Rugby and Netball. This didn't stop them from also turning their hands to softball, basketball, indoor netball, indoor soccer and squash, often playing alongside their siblings and nieces and nephews.

Their commitment extended beyond their family. Following the passing of our Grandfather Johnny Palmer, affectionately known as Nanny Pa, Dad was encouraged to become an Akonga, a spiritual journey he undertook with full support from te hau kainga at Matakana. Mum, initially hesitant about what this role would mean for their lives, eventually embraced their shared faith and found her own place within it. The Palmer whanau had long been Catholic, but when Nanny Pa fell gravely ill as a child with no medical cure, his father, Te Hoe, took him to Ratana Pā, where he was miraculously healed. This moment, documented in Ratana Pā records, marked a shift in the spiritual journey of our whanau. Nanny Pa became the first Ratana priest in the family, and Dad followed in his footsteps alongside two of his brothers.

Despite their lifelong responsibilities, Mum and Dad never stopped cherishing each other. Even after 56 years of marriage, they continued their annual honeymoon tradition. In the most recent years, they packed up and took the train or bus to Wellington, where Mabel would meet them at Taikura and spoil them for the weekend—a simple yet profound reminder of their enduring love.

Mum and Dad’s story is more than just a tale of romance—it is a testament to devotion, resilience, and the power of love to transcend time, distance, and life’s many trials. Their love was not just for each other but for the entire whanau, and their legacy will continue to inspire generations to come.