Michael Van de Elzen is looking a little forlorn when the Weekly arrives at his rural West Auckland lifestyle
block. There’s been a death in the family. Rosie the chicken has flown to the big coop in the sky.
“We miss her, don’t we, Rosie?” the celebrity chef says solemnly to another plump chook, before shooing her out of the house.
“All the chickens are called Rosie,” explains Michael. “Every animal is called Rosie. It makes life easier.”