Lilies, daisies... and Jacinda
At my place Labour’s hip MP, Jacinda Ardern, takes us through her colourful Auckland home.
Tipped as a future prime minister, Jacinda Ardern is Labour’s hip MP, known for hanging out in Auckland’s ‘It’ crowd and was even once asked to DJ at the Laneway music festival.
Here, Ardern opens the door to her ‘‘chaotic’’ 1990s brick and tile home in Auckland’s Point Chevalier, where she lives with her partner, TV presenter Clarke Gayford.
Ardern’s favourite treasure is an old newspaper clipping showing her grandmother and the late Prime Minister Norman Kirk on their way to a wedding.
‘‘My nana died when I was 12 so we never really talked about politics.
‘‘It reminds me that we probably had a lot in common,’’ Ardern says.
First thing you do when you get home each day?
Kick my shoes off and scavenge in the kitchen.
Best new buy?
Clarke is obsessed with lights. Obsessed. We were meant to go and pick up a few Christmas decorations and we came back with a clear stag head complete with lights and glitter.
Favourite spot to relax?
The kitchen table is where I spend the most time. It’s my office.
Best kept secret about the area you live in?
The Pt Chevalier beach. It’s not really a secret, but if you take a wee walk early enough in the morning you can have it to yourself.
Best money I ever spent on the house?
The Paint Runner Pro.
I saw one at a home show and ranted so much about how good it was that I think someone thought I was working on the stand.
Favourite way of entertaining?
Anything that uses the barbecue.
Best kitchen tool and why?
Salad spinner.
I used to tease my mum about how obsessed she was with hers… until she bought me one.
I can’t live without?
Cheese. And loved ones of course. But also cheese.
Favourite piece of furniture?
My kitchen table. I picked it up off Trade Me. The table wasn’t in great shape so a friend helped me fix it up.
Favourite household appliance?
Probably the yoghurt maker... pretty handy.
How do you feel about unannounced guests?
As a professional door knocker, I almost never turn people away!
Shoes on or off in your house?
Shoes off – but that will be short lived.
Favourite/least favourite household chore?
I am embarrassed to say that I enjoy vacuuming… as long as it’s only once a week
What’s one household trick you’ve learnt over the years?
If you’ve been cutting or handling fish, always wash your hands with cold water first instead of hot. It’s way less smelly.
Favourite flowers?
Lilies and daisies. As far as house plants go, I am a big fan of the peace lily because it’s the one plant I can almost keep alive.
Compile your spring edibles seed wish list
The 2017/2018 Kings Seeds catalogue is out now and full of new season gardening inspiration. We’re always excited to see what new flowers, microgreens, herbs and vegetables will be available. Growing your edibles from seed is incredibly satisfying and offers much greater value for money than buying ready-grown seedlings in punnets from the garden centre (although seedlings are a great solution for a quick fix when you find yourself suddenly running short).
So what’s new this season? I’m particularly intrigued by oyster leaf (‘Mertensia maritima’) which is a cold-hardy Scottish perennial (related to borage) with leaves that taste like oysters and edible flowers.
There’s also a traditional Japanese spring onion called ‘Ippon Negi’ that resembles a baby leek and is grown in much the same way (earthing up around the stem to blanch it).
In the tomato selection, we see three new organic varieties ‘Artisan Blush’, ‘Indigo Apple’ and ‘Sunrise Bumble Bee’ as well as ‘Indigo Gold Berries’ cherry tomato which sounds fabulous with its unique purple and yellow colouring.
You’ll also find Alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum) as a new
Clear gutters and dig drains
There’s nothing like a week of heavy rain to show you which parts of your garden need attention. My lawn resembles a lake at the moment so I’m digging small drains with my spade to guide that pooling water elsewhere. Clear out leaves clogging guttering and mend any broken spouting too. Overflowing roof water cascading down onto your garden will quickly wash away your valuable soil and likely drown or damage any plants in the firing line. It’s not a fun task by any means, but it’s one you’ll be glad you knocked off your list.
Plant spring onions or raise from seed in trays
I use lots of onions during winter – they go into just about everything I cook. I don’t have space to grow large onions but make an effort to grow my own spring onions. Pop in a punnet of seedlings from the garden centre or sow your own in trays or pots under cover. You can sow the seed direct but they’re very slow-growing, so it’s easier to raise them in trays filled with seed-raising mix, then transplant the seedlings to your vege bed when they reach 6-10cm tall. – Lynda Hallinan