SWEET MUSIC TE RAMANUI'S DOWN FOR LOVE

The Christchurch DJ is ready for more dates

- Jo Bailey

Te Ramanui Marriner is no stranger to the spotlight. Whether he's behind his DJ decks, volunteering at Christchurch hospitals or dancing the night away, Te, as he's known to friends and whānau, lives life with a full heart and infectious personality. Now the 28-year-old's taking on an exciting new adventure - searching for love on TVNZ's heartwarming reality show Down For Love.

For Te, being on the show is a dream come true.

“It was fun, but I was a bit nervous too,” he grins, recalling his dinner date on the Christchurch tram, which featured in last week's episode.

Te’s mum Lisa Hortin says he’s always wanted to find a special someone.

“He sees his twin brother Taonui having girlfriends, and wants to do the same things as his siblings and be part of that world,” she shares.

“We love that Te was able to experience a date on the show and the bar has been set really high now, with dinner on the tram, surrounded by the cameras, which he loved!”

Te’s intellectual disability - which affects his learning and fine motor skills - was caused by viral encephalitis, an airborne virus that he contracted when he was just three weeks old. The frightening illness caused his brain to swell, leaving scarring on his right frontal lobe.

Says Lisa, “I gave birth to two healthy boys and Te contracting the virus was such a rare thing to happen. We had more chance of winning Lotto.”