Tui Flower

Lucy Tui Hampton Aitken ( Flower, 23 November 1925 – 15 August 2017), generally known as Tui Flower, was a pioneering New Zealand food writer. She has been described as "New Zealand's Julia Child".

Early life and family Born in Matamata on 23 November 1925, Flower was the daughter of Leonard Flower, a postmaster, and Constance Ruby Irene Flower (née Mincher). She grew up in Matamata and Tauranga, and received her secondary education at Epsom Girls' Grammar School, where she was a boarder. In 1944, she went on to study at the University of Otago, obtaining a Diploma of Home Science.

Career After leaving Otago, Flower taught home science at Pukekohe High School. She was awarded a bursary to study at the École hôtelière de Paris in 1954–55, and was subsequently employed by Unilever in Wellington as a home economist. In her nine years at Unilever she worked initially on laundry and cleaning products and packaging, and later on frozen, dehydrated and canned foods. When Flower retired from her role at the New Zealand Woman's Weekly, her test kitchen had a staff of nine.

Personal life In 1980, Flower married Keith Thomas Aitken, who was editor of the Auckland Star newspaper from 1977 until his retirement in 1983. He died in February 1985. She was also a life member of the New Zealand Guild of Food Writers.

Flower died in Auckland on 15 August 2017.

Selected publications