If you could time travel, where would you go and why?

He’s not alive but Billy T James springs to mind. I was only young when watching on TV and [him] having my family in hysterics, the way he joked about both Ma¯ori and Pa¯keha¯ people, bringing people together as one the way it should be. I think some of our current politicians could take a leaf out of his book. Billy T for Prime Minister.

What’s your most embarrassing moment?

It happened at the first-ever Taste of Auckland, my first-ever cooking Chef’s belly. But I’m currently working on that – trying a low-carb diet so I don’t have to miss out on all the tasty stuff Back to the Far North, where I grew up; but 100 years ago; to go fishing, gathering etc, as it would have just been amazing.

What life lesson will you pass on to your children?

I like gardening a lot and being creative, so most probably some kind of gardener/landscape designer.

If you were given three wishes that you could fulfil by a magic genie, what would they be?

It’s a bit of a cliche but a peaceful world would be great. No child would ever go hungry. To fulfil my idea of happiness.

Murray Wiblin appears at this year’s Taste of Auckland, November 16-19 at Western Springs, Auckland. Tickets for the event are available at tasteofauckland.co.nz.

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