A sign of true love

Malaysian tourist Soong Sai Yee proposed to his girlfriend more than a week ago, and the happy couple are still celebrating.

Mr Sai Yee and fiance Chan Wan Yin were attracting a lot of attention in Oamaru yesterday as they stood on the corner of Itchen and Thames Sts posing for photos.

On September 9, Miss Wan Yin, who was based in Nelson on a working holiday, knew something was up, but never expected a proposal.

Her partner Mr Sai Yee had travelled across the world to visit his girlfriend of 14 years.

"He gave me a surprise, there was a banner [reading "Will you marry me?"] on the wall, candles in the shape of a love heart and he got on the ground and proposed," she said.

Her partner since high school then whisked her away for a romantic South Island getaway. They arrived in Oamaru on Friday and in each town they visit, the couple plan to stop at a landmark and take a photo with Mr Sai Yee's proposal banner.

After visiting the Blue Penguin Colony and the Victorian Precinct, the happy couple erected the sign at the end of Thames St by Annie's Victorian Tea Rooms for a photo.

Having already visited Tekapo and Mount Cook, their next stop is Dunedin before heading to Queenstown.

Mr Sai Yee will fly back to Malaysia at the end of October, while Miss Wan Yin will wrap up her working holiday and be reunited with her fiance in December.