Stock photo Photo: 123RF
If you're fed up with Northern Hemisphere listicles on how to prepare for a cold Christmas, here's a taste of what it takes to host a summer celebration
"When you love someone, you feed them."
This from Colin Mathura-Jeffree, who is probably the country's premier guest. He's often paid to turn up to swanky functions, to have his photo taken with admirers (and there are many admirers), and to generally just be fabulous.
"It's a privilege to be a guest," he says. "You should never be entitled."
But give him a choice, or a clash of events, and he'll be at the neighbourhood bash or family do.
"I will drop everything ... I will be there in a second, because it's about my community," he says.
However, Mathura-Jeffree has spotted lately a new and unwelcome trend.
"[Something] I've noticed creeping through my social situations are people that'll arrive and almost sabotage the food story by saying something like, 'well I can't eat these kind of foods', and 'can we re-cater?' or 'I don't like the smell of that'.
"It's just attention-based.
"Don't do that. Just harmonise with the party and don't be a stand-out ... just really feed the energy of a collective. And that's what's really important for Christmas."
On Saturday's episode of The Detail we're talking about how to host a Kiwi Christmas with Mathura-Jeffree (I feel I know him well enough now to call him Colin) and Trudi 'the Foodie' Nelson, who has put on many a function of her own - many of which Colin has attended.
Nelson says most people with dietary needs will bring their own food, but she personally would make sure there is something for the gluten-free or vegan guest.
"That's as easy as going and getting some cherry tomatoes, which are like little red baubles, and putting them on a big bed of ... green leafy cos, or some nice fancy lettuces and just plonking the red baubles on the top and a bit of feta which is the red, white and green. There's a GF dish right in one. It's quite easy and it's quite festive."
Trudi agrees with Colin on the need for harmony.
"I think that's a huge, huge word for Christmas, it's a completely stressful time of year."
Especially where family dynamics are involved, and especially if they're staying with you.
"You've just got to smile, smile and smile some more. So get dressed in that red or green outfit, put on that festive hat. Look at yourself in the mirror before everyone arrives and just smile and say 'you've got this'. Peace. Harmony.
"It's amazing how far that will actually go, a great attitude. It actually works wonders. You might not have thought of every dish, you might not have the fancy napkins, but if you smile and just welcome people .... it's absolutely key."
When it comes to decor, Colin says it's good to have a bit of an understanding of the theme.
"People want to walk into a wonderland ... it can just be something quite petite and small or it can be magnificent ... you know, one Kardashian-type mad room. People love that."
So put your tree up. Trudi says there's a life hack for that - lay out your decorations and get guests to pick one to place on the tree as they come in.
Both agree a wreath on the front door is essential.
Colin says he's conscious now about waste, and says if it's recyclable, it's better.
Silver ferns and pohutukawa in a vase adds a real NZ touch, but Trudi says don't go overboard. Her key words for the season are calm and cruisy.
But she also understands that the season isn't for everyone - and she's one of the many New Zealanders who will be alone this Christmas.
"I'm just hoping there will be people who open their doors to me, I've got family here for a couple of days but leading up to and straight after I'm on my own.
"I believe that if you can open up your door to extras this time of year, then far out ... do it."
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