Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou,
Ko Tainui tōku waka,
Ko Maungatautari tōku maunga,
Ko Rangitīkei tōku awa,
Ko Ngāti Raukawa tōku iwi,
Ko Tokorangi tōku marae,
Nō Rotorua ahau,
Ko Theresa Rorason-Hope tōku ingoa.
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
Kia ora e te whānau, Talofa lava, Mālō e lelei, and warm Pacific greetings!
My name is Theresa Rorason-Hope, and I currently reside in Pōkeno (southern boundary of Auckland). I was born and raised in the small and humble community of Ōwhata in Rotorua, and I whakapapa to Ngāti Raukawa. I am the middle child in my immediate family, having two brothers, and four lovely nieces and nephews who reside in Wellington.
In early 2025, I married my best friend, Paul Hope; and after five years of marrying other couples, I finally had my turn!
I’m a woman of mixed heritage – Māori, Samoan, and Tongan, and I love working with couples from all cultures, backgrounds, and faiths. Genuine connection and whakawhanaungatanga are at the heart of everything I do. Whether your ceremony includes a few words in Te Reo Māori, a karakia, or elements that honour your whakapapa or aiga, I’ll make sure it reflects who you are and what matters to you most.
Becoming a marriage celebrant in (2020) was never part of my plan. It was something that manifested from a unique set of circumstances – officiating my best friend, Espie’s surprise wedding during Covid-19. From that moment, I knew I found a new passion that was something truly special, and have since had the privilege of marrying many couples, each with their own beautiful love story.
Apart from serving as a marriage celebrant, I’ve spent the last 15+ years of my professional career working across education, government, and community sectors; supporting rangatahi and whānau. More recently, for the past year, I have been helping communities address family harm in Tāmaki Makaurau. My mahi has always been about serving others, uplifting people, and building strong connections and communities.
As your celebrant, my role is to walk alongside you, to listen, guide, and create a ceremony that feels authentically you. I’ll make sure everything flows smoothly so that you can relax, be present, and simply enjoy one of the most meaningful days of your lives.
It would be my absolute honour to stand with you both and officiate your wedding day.
Please feel free to get in touch for a kōrero — I’d love to whakawhanaungatanga (connect).
Nga mihi,
Theresa
