The Elliotts’ Massey Cupid memory

The beautiful story of John and Athalae Elliott began in March 1991 at Massey University. John pursued his Bachelor of Agriculture, and Athalae was studying for a Diploma in Horticulture (Nursery). They soon discovered they were neighbours. This chance closeness planted the seeds of a partnership destined to last a lifetime.

Their first date on 8 April, 1991, marked the beginning of a journey filled with shared experiences, growth, and love. This journey would take them through the halls of academia and into the depths of each other’s hearts. Athalae, who later shifted her academic focus to a Bachelor of Education in primary teaching, walked down the aisle at Wharerata on 12 November, 1995. The wedding ceremony was just two days after Athalae’s final exam, symbolising the start of their new chapter together.

The couple not only cultivated their professional lives but also a thriving family, welcoming three children, Rowan (24), Mac (23) and Peta (18), into their happy home.

Today, John is the manager at Super Air, an aerial fertiliser business, while Athalae teaches and supports students at the Northern Health School.

As they celebrate their 28th wedding anniversary, the Elliotts exemplify the profound connections that Massey University fosters – connections that extend well beyond the classroom and into the very fabric of life.