Photography by: Babiche Martens
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and for rugby legend Liam Messam, his wife Monique, and his sons Jai, 15, and Bodie, nine, it’s the hub of their Hamilton home. It’s the place where they come together to enjoy delicious kai and conversation.
With their sons’ friends dropping in, family gatherings, and a wedding after-match to prepare for, the kitchen renovation had to pull its weight. A scullery was added to the existing kitchen, and the appliances were given a fresh new fit-out.
“We wanted appliances that could cater to our larger family gatherings. We knew Haier would meet that need – and look sleek and seamless too.”
The priority: a fridge big enough to feed a family. “With three hungry boys in the house, a large fridge was a must. We love to cook and freeze meals for busy nights, so extra fridge and freezer space was essential.”
They opted for the Haier 600 Series Quad Door Refrigerator Freezer, offering 623L of storage and a 4.5-star energy rating. The ice maker is perfect for cooling drinks during Hamilton’s hot summer, and the cantilevered shelving makes food storage easy.
Meals are whipped up in the Haier 500 Series Built-in Oven, which can be pre-heated via the Haier SmartHQ app. “We love our oven and induction cooktop. It’s amazing having a new oven that heats so quickly – the thermostat in our old one didn’t even work.”
The app sends alerts when cooking’s done, lets you adjust the heat from the couch and helps prevent burnt dinners.
With its sleek grey glass finish, the oven also includes Air Fry mode, steam-assisted cooking and the family favourite: Pyrolytic Self-Clean, which breaks down food residue for effortless cleaning.
“We’re looking forward to summer, hosting friends for a hākari and cooking up something amazing – no pressure. With the app and new appliances, we can be outside enjoying the sunshine with our whānau without keeping one eye on the oven.”
Clean-up is easier too, thanks to the Haier 600 Series Built-under Dishwasher – a first for the family. “I never thought I’d be excited about dishes, but I absolutely love our dishwasher,” says Liam. “We’ve never had one before and it might be my favourite part of the kitchen. I’ve always done the dishes old-school, like my mum taught me.”
The SmartHQ app allows you to select and start a cycle remotely and will ping an alert to your phone when it’s finished. The only thing it can’t do? Unload the dishwasher – that’s still a job for the boys.
To learn more about Haier appliances, download the Haier SmartHQ app visit haier.co.nz.
