The Kiwi police officer who asked his boyfriend to marry him during his graduation ceremony has explained the heartwarming reason he decided to do it in public.
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Constable Erik Meechan chose the biggest stage available for the biggest gesture of his life. As his wing finished their final task at the Royal New Zealand Police College, he stepped out in front of his classmates.
There weren't many words, but they couldn't have meant more.
"Could Matty Judd please come forward?" he asked.
When a surprised Mr Judd - Const Meechan's partner of five years - stepped out of the audience, Const Meechan dropped to one knee and proposed.
And the answer was yes.
The beautiful proposal was captured on video and shared to Twitter by the New Zealand Police account. It shows the happy couple embracing while classmates break out cheering behind them.
"An extra special graduation at police college today," the police tweet reads.
"#heputaringonit."
"I just wanted it to be a bit special, a bit different," says Const Meechan, who is being deployed to Porirua. "That's a goal achieved.
"My usual style would be to have done it at home while we were watching a movie or something but graduation is a very special event that means a lot to us."
Const Meechan says he and Mr Judd have talked about marriage in the five years they have been together, after meeting through friends.
"We've talked about it for a while but it's one of those things that will always be a surprise," Mr Judd reveals. "He's normally very reserved - I'm much more likely to do something extravagant.
"I think he wanted to do something extravagant that I would appreciate. And I did."
Const Meechan maintains he was more nervous about making his speech than baring his soul in front of several hundred people including the Commissioner and Minister of Police.
"I thought if I was going to make a speech, I might as well go for it."
Commissioner Mike Bush and Police Minister Stuart Nash were among the first to offer their congratulations. It was definitely a first.
Cmmr Bush says the proposal - and the supportive reception in the packed RNZPC gym - showed how police culture embraced the diversity of modern New Zealand.
"It was just awesome," he says.
"The fact that Erik felt so safe and supported in that environment was a fantastic demonstration of what our core value of valuing diversity is all about.
"I wish Eric and Matty all the very best for the future."
Newshub.
