As Stacey and Scotty Morrison celebrated 20 years of marriage, reflecting on all they have experienced and achieved together, something occurred to them. With their children getting older and more independent, and a little more time for themselves now, it’s almost starting to feel like they’re boyfriend and girlfriend again.
Laughing, Stacey, 52, explains, “On our anniversary, suddenly all our kids were in other places, and we just went, ‘Whoa.’ We didn’t expect to have three days to be together. We didn’t organise anything and it was so awesome to just have those different ways of being a couple. He felt like my boyfriend.”
Scotty adds, “It’s almost like the old days coming back around to 20 years ago.”
It was a full-circle moment for the parents of three – Hawaiki, 19, Kurawaka, 17, and Maiana, 13 – who have put their family first for so many years.
A Tahiti proposal to remember
“Our whānau is at the core of everything,” enthuses Scotty, 55.
Looking back on their early dating days, Stacey shares how life-changing it was meeting Scotty.
“I never thought I’d get married, so it was very whirlwind and I was trying to keep up with a completely different expectation of what I thought life would be like,” Stacey remembers.
“In meeting Scotty, I understood why people get married and knew for sure I wanted to be married to him – and I still want to be.”
Just six months into dating in 2005, Scotty couldn’t wait any longer to start “forever” with Stacey.
“We were on holiday in Tahiti,” he recalls with a grin.
“The ground was rocky, so I strategically placed my jandal and got down on one knee. Luckily, my knee landed perfectly on the jandal!”
A wedding steeped in whānau, culture and love
Despite never picturing herself as a bride, when the proposal came, it was a resounding yes from Stacey. That leap of faith laid the foundation for what would become not just a marriage, but a shared life deeply rooted in whānau, culture and purpose.
Their wedding, held on their marae at Ōhinemutu, remains vividly etched in both their memories.
“I remember as Stacey came up the aisle, [renowned kapa haka group from Rotorua] Te Mātārae-i-Ōrehu performed a guard of honour and did an awesome haka,” Scotty tells.
The late Te Wharehuia Milroy, a reo Māori expert and close mentor to them both, opened the ceremony with karakia before the traditional exchange of vows, with Scotty’s Uncle Terry Morrison as their celebrant. Another uncle, the late legendary entertainer Sir Howard Morrison, and his cousin, actor Temuera Morrison, sang for them, and Mike King delivered a warm speech.
“And, of course, I remember how beautiful Stacey looked,” smiles Scotty.
For his bride, the day was deeply emotional.
Stacey explains, “There were really heightened feelings from the first moment of that day. I felt like my late mum lifted me out of bed and everything felt kissed with magic. I was just floating, really.”
Ten years later, a second proposal on the same marae
There were a few nerves on the drive to the marae, but as soon as she saw Scotty and all their loved ones waiting, Stacey was completely at peace.
“I get why people don’t want to get married or feel like it’s just a bit of paper,” Stacey tells.
“But making that public statement, bringing our people together and having some of the most respected people in our lives do that for us… there were so many layers to it. I couldn’t have ever predicted it, but I’m so glad we had a big fat Māori wedding.”
Scotty adds, “The photos are irreplaceable – photos of people who aren’t with us any more – and it makes it even more special.”
Ten years later, he surprised Stacey all over again on the marae where they wed with a second proposal to “renew the contract”.
“Our kids were there and Kurawaka was running around my legs, going, ‘He’s got a ring, he’s got a ring!’” remembers Stacey.
“But even then, it was breathtaking and I couldn’t quite believe it.”
Two decades on, both show that lasting love grows from intention, not perfection.
“I just think our timing was right for each other and I’m really grateful for that, and that we keep on choosing each other,” says Stacey, adding, “Blimmin’ heck, 20 years went fast.”
Twenty years of love expressed in new ways
Scotty elaborates, “The levels we connected on initially are the foundation, but as we’ve gone through 20 years, I like that we keep on connecting in different ways and now the love we have is on so many different levels.”
“Our romance is expressed in different ways now,” Stacey says.
“Like, our big present to each other was getting our floors redone because they had been smashed by 16 years of family.”
Playfully, she adds, “Scotty had looked it up – it was an emerald anniversary. I didn’t know that, but I do love emeralds.”
Laughing, Scotty is quick to retort, “It’s still on the agenda.”
Watching them banter warmly, it would be easy to think they’ve cracked the code to marital happiness. But both insist they don’t want anyone to think they’re claiming to be relationship experts. Like everyone, they share that their marriage isn’t without challenges.
“It’s hectic and midlife is hectic for everybody,” Stacey says, realistically.
Finding balance amidst busy schedules and big ambitions
The pair juggle exceptionally busy workloads in broadcasting, teaching te reo Māori and writing their hugely popular Māori language books.
“You can’t ever be smug and think, ‘We’re all good’ or, ‘This is how you do it,’” insists Stacey.
“We’re just doing our best on the daily.”
For Stacey, when things get difficult, communication is key.
“We don’t like being mad at each other,” she confides.
“I hate feeling unsettled. It’s not fun and draining for everybody. So one thing we’ve had to work out is, what’s the balance when I want to talk about it and you [Scotty] need to think about it?”
For him, martial arts have been a powerful outlet.
“I go to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and get all my frustrations out,” tells Scotty, who last year earned his second black belt.
Stacey smiles, “My husband is a Scorpio and apologising is not a strength.”
Their honesty is refreshing as they explain that often it comes down to timing and finding a window in their jam-packed schedule to sit down, talk it out and resolve whatever is bothering them. Above all else, they both agree their children – including the one they carry in their hearts – are their biggest accomplishment.
“Nothing comes near the privilege of having our three tamariki and one we remember, who is part of our whānau but didn’t make it to this world,” reflects Stacey.
Raising children in te reo Māori as a shared journey
In 2010, Stacey suffered a miscarriage at nine weeks pregnant and has since been vocal in normalising how deep the grief of miscarriage can be. Choosing to raise their children exclusively in te reo Māori, a language both Stacey and Scotty learned and reclaimed as adults, has defined their commitment to each other, their children and their culture.
“It’s been a big journey, but very important to both of us,” explains Stacey.
“Everything about wanting to bring them up with te reo Māori we connected on.”
Now that their oldest son Hawaiki has moved to Australia to play rugby league and their teenage daughters are more independent by the day, Scotty says their best moments are often the simplest.
“The real highlights are when we’re just sitting together, someone makes a joke and everyone laughs,” he says.
“It’s basic, but whanaungatanga [family connection] is the key to success.”
Recently, while filming the television series Our Hidden Treasures, which they co-host, Stacey’s strong māmā instincts were triggered when she released a kiwi into the wild.
She tells, “I was speaking Māori to him, talking to him like a baby, and he lay back and closed his eyes, and I thought, ‘I don’t want to let you go.’”
Named 2025 Screen Personality of the Year, Scotty also feels a profound connection to his work.
“When we’re filming Origins, you go to places where your ancestors were, so it’s actually walking in their footsteps, and you start to feel emotional and connect on a deeper level with those ancestors,” he reflects.
Connecting with the past to inspire the future
Where Our Hidden Treasures looks at New Zealanders’ personal items and aspects of our recent history, the third season of Origins explores what it was like when Māori arrived in Aotearoa 800 to 1000 years ago.
“Origins is the first 100 years, Our Hidden Treasures is the past 100 years,” says Scotty.
Stacey felt admiration as she watched her husband moved to tears while holding a toki [ancient axe] during Origins.
“I’m very proud of how Scotty shares his emotion and awe freely. He didn’t plan to do it, but it comes up because of how passionately he feels about it.”
With 20 years under their belts already, Stacey and Scotty are clear: health, happiness and family are their shared priorities for the future.
Confides Stacey, “As I get older, I want there to be many, many years ahead, so I’m making the investment in my health to make sure of that. “Both of us are focused on being healthy and longevity, but also doing all the things that make us happy.”
She concludes, “I just think you do whatever you can to celebrate the privilege of getting to these ages and stages, and design a life that makes you happy.”
Watch Origins on TVNZ+
To submit an item to Our Hidden Treasures, visit ourhiddentreasures.com.
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