21 February 2026
Hopelessly Devoted
Ngā Mārena. Rural Weddings.
writer: Arpége Tarataa-Rangikura (Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rārua)
photographer: Kimberley Rich
Arpége Taratoa, now 32, and Knox Enoka, now 31, were initially caught off guard by their feelings for one another. But with help from some heart-shaped candy, they went from love to marriage, continuing to surprise each other along the way.
Top image. “The organza in the tree at our ceremony was actually hilarious. In our minds we wanted this kind of draping, flowing backdrop – but it was a mission to get up! It took three people to try and loop and throw and climb – and then one of my besties, who is just ridiculously creative, took over and curated the madness like a magical muse.” Above. “We’re both very playful, creative and go with the flow – it makes doing life with each other exciting, adventurous and easy,” says Arpége. “Nothing is too outrageous, and we support each other in our aspirations, and there’s no resistance to doing life a little differently.”
Arpége. I never thought I’d be doing the whole marriage thing again. I grew up in a religion that I’ve since left, but marriage was ingrained in our psyche from a young age. I first married at twenty-one and, not long after my son Waiariki turned one, his dad left. As a solo mum, separated at twenty-four, I’d lost all faith in the concept – in fact, I leaned heavily into a more liberal perspective that marriage and monogamy were just social constructs built to control and suppress women… until three years later, when in walked Knox.
The first time I saw her, I was getting a tattoo of a raspberry in memory of my late niece, who’d passed away at nine weeks old. I heard the door and, for some reason, I turned around, and there she was – the most beautiful, alluring woman I’d ever seen. It was odd, to be honest, as I’d never been attracted to a woman in that way – not in real life, anyway!
Months later, I was employed in that studio, curating the space and working for Te Tuhi Mareikura Trust. I didn’t know Knox worked there until I arrived for my first day of work. I found out she was in a relationship, so I avoided her like the plague – I’m not one to get flustered, but I could not be around her without being a nervous wreck. We were alone for the first time at a staff get together. Recently single, Knox decided to take the opportunity, while she could, to lay a kiss on me. I won’t lie – it was pure magic. Things moved quickly, and I fell deeper in love as I watched the bond between her and Waiariki, now 8, blossom into something incredibly special.
Top right. “Our theme,” says Arpége, “was summer lovin’ – inspired by Grease.”Top right “Knox looks hot in anything, but her dark features and gorgeous green eyes stand out in black. Following our theme, she went with Danny Zuko vibes and black-on-black – but made it chic.” Bottom left. “We definitely risked it doing long-lunch-style on the front yard facing the water,” says Arpége, “but we trusted the universe and it couldn’t have been more perfect!” Bottom right. “I designed our menus to suit the same aesthetic as our favourite Vietnamese spot, and even purchased all the pink chopsticks from them,” says Arpége. “On the menus was a crossword, and the hidden word was our new surname – Rangikura.”
Knox. From the moment we first kissed I knew it wasn’t just some random hook-up. I was blown away – I felt physically and spiritually that I was supposed to be with her. I’ve never experienced something so crazy like that moment. Our first date was probably when Arpége took me on a fish-and chips picnic date – I totally hijacked it though. I had been slipping candy heart lollies into her pocket and hand for the past few weeks – the ones that say things like “hug me” or “kiss me.” On this date, I had decided to give her one that said “be mine,” and that’s actually how I asked her to be my girlfriend. I used the same candy hearts to propose.
It was 2 December and Arpége’s 30th birthday was on 4 December, so I used this opportunity to take her out for a “birthday surprise day.” After the school drop-off, we went horse riding because, literally, since we met, Arpége had not stopped talking about how much she wants to ride horses. We went on a decent trek, which actually went a little over time – so I was a bit stressed as I had booked Wai Ariki spa for the restorative cultural journey I knew she’d been dying to try. I blindfolded Arpége on the way home and walked her over to a picnic, which I had her sister set up for us at Sulphur Point facing the Mount – it’s Arpége’s favourite view of Mauao, her maunga. We popped some champagne, and little did she know that I’d organised for Waiariki to be dropped off to us. He came running over with a candy heart that said, “marry me.” I think Arpége was in shock, because it felt like a really long pause before she said yes! It was kind of funny because Waiariki’s school had a last-minute event on that night and he was performing, so we went from this magical day to a school barbecue – a wild contrast but, hey, that’s being a parent!
Above. “Knox wore Pounamu I’d gifted her, and the ring I chose for her was Pounamu, specially made by Te Kaha Pounamu for us.”
Arpége. When it came to our wedding day, I’d planned a couple of surprises for Knox, which had me nervous all day. The first was a wero performed by my son down the aisle before me. I wanted to weave my culture into the ceremony and that felt right. Koro had carved a small taiaha for him, and when Waiariki got to the end he laid down a gift I’d had made for Knox and a pōhutukawa leaf for her to pick up, as is tradition. He was actually meant to come back and walk down with me but he forgot, so my dad ended up walking me! The second, to honour Knox’s roots, was a Hawaiian cultural dance I’d learnt on a wānanga, which I performed to a beautiful Rarotongan song. I’m not a performer by any means, and I was so nervous I didn’t eat anything – it’s my one regret of the day! Marriage for me this time around felt different – I still hold those liberal beliefs, but Knox really made me believe in true devotion. Saying “I do” was the easiest decision I’ve made. I’ve never been in a relationship where I felt so seen, held and heard.
Above. “Knox makes the hardest parts of relationships feel easy – something tells me it won’t be hard to keep falling for her for the rest of my life.”
Bride: Arpége Taratoa (Ngāi te Rangi, Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Rārua), 31, daughter of Melanie & Kelcy Taratoa, Mount Maunganui
Bride: Knox Enoka, 30, daughter of Angela & Eric Enoka, Lower Hutt
Wedding Location: Pahoia, Bay of Plenty
Ceremony & Reception: Pahoia Beach Retreat
Celebrant: Choiwee Moon
Photographer: Billie Blue
Videographer: Postcard Productions
Arpége’s Outfit: Aware Barcelona
Knox’s Outfit: yd.
Jewellery: Te Kaha Pounamu
Shoes: An op-shop find
Makeup: Sophie Garth
Hair: Muse Hair Studio
Styling: Hot Mess Lovers
Signage: Amelia Walters Studio
Tablescapes: Created using flowers the couple picked themselves at Peek-a-bloom Flower Farm
Catering: The Mighty Cray
Cake: Baking by Mum
Beverages: A DIY gin bar with Ginato Gins and Six Barrel Soda Seltz Drops, along with Big Fizz Sparkling Rosé
Tattoo Artist: Ink by Knox
Honeymoon: A week in Christchurch for Electric Avenue Festival
Living: Mount Maunganui
Have you recently tied the knot in provincial Aotearoa New Zealand? Do you want to see your special day featured in the pages of Shepherdess? We love a beautiful, rural wedding - and so do our readers. Romantic, adventurous, rustic, or traditional, we want to hear from you!
Glossary. Koro, elderly man, grandfather. Maunga, mountain. Papatūānuku, Earth Mother, the land. Pōhutukawa, coastal trees in New Zealand bearing large, red flowers. Pounamu, greenstone. Taiaha, long wooden weapon. Wānanga, gathering. Wero, challenge.
Along with being one of our fabulous freelance writers, Arpége is the much-loved programme manager for The Shepherdess Muster.
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This story appeared in the Raumati Summer 2025/26 Edition of Shepherdess.
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