HERITAGE

THE MARRIAGE OF MAREWA

Four foot ten with light brown hair and blue eyes, Marewa Parkinson was the only daughter of a wealthy Banks Peninsula family. She lived at Kaituna Homestead on a large sheep farm that had belonged to her grandfather Thomas Hodgson Parkinson.

Schooled at Rangi Ruru, Marewa enjoyed a full social calendar that included balls, tennis parties, race club meetings, and regular overseas travel.

Accompanied by her parents, Walter and Agnes, in July 1925, she attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace. The following year, she was presented at Court by her aunt, Lady Parkinson, the wife of Sir Thomas Parkinson, physician to the Admiral Prince Louis of Mountbatten. Amongst the beautiful gowns and exquisite jewels, Marewa appeared in half-length white charmeuse embroidered with diamanté, pearls, and silver, with a matching train and feathered headdress.

In 1928, over 400 guests came to Kaituna for Marewa’s wedding to Leonard Coop – to unite two old and respected Peninsula families. It was one of the largest functions held in the district for years.

The service took place in the garden. Marewa wore her oyster white satin Court frock, embroidered in crystal, with side panels and sleeves of silver lace. A V-shaped train hung from her shoulders, draped on one side with Irish lace. A long filmy tulle veil fell from a coronet of orange blossom and hid her face. She carried a begonia bouquet.

Her chief bridesmaid wore a lupin blue taffeta frock, caught at the waist with a diamante buckle; the skirt fell in uneven lengths. The two bridesmaids and two flower girls dressed alike in lupin blue georgette, and they all wore blue capeline felt hats turned up in front, with a streamer falling over one shoulder. Each carried a small early Victorian posy of pink flowers mounted on blue tulle.

When Marewa left for her wedding tour, she wore a cherry red crepe de chine frock with a cross-stitch design on the bodice and the pleated apron of the skirt banded in fawn. Her hat was of a fawn georgette closely stitched, and she carried a musquash fur coat.

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