Orange choc Chippy, David S'more: Gelato store offers political party flavours

A Christchurch gelato store is turning the polls sweet again with political party-inspired flavours to encourage people to vote.

Rollickin’ is selling flavours based on seven New Zealand political parties and has partnered with the Electoral Commission to educate those under 25’s on the importance of voting.

This year’s flavours include Allsorts of Winston in tribute to New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters – a liquorice gelato, white chocolate fudge layers and an allsort on every scoop – “because he’s worked with all sorts”.

There is also Orange Choc Chippy for Labour Leader Chris Hipkins – a caramel gelato with a tangy marmalade mix-in and a stack of dark choc chips.

“Open wide: ideally for a spoon, but three free doctor’s visits are on the menu too. Nurses get a guaranteed job; everyone else gets guaranteed choc chips,” Hipkins’ flavour read.

The new flavours are now on offer. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

David S’more for Deputy PM David Seymour – a toasted marshmallow gelato, choc fudge and butter bikkies.

Blueberry Lux – for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon – creamy cheesecake gelato, a blueberry ripple and buttery shortbread chunks.

“Back for seconds and fixing the basics: Nothing fancy, done properly. Debt down, ripple balanced, shortbread back to surplus, and not a crumb of new tax.”

Marama Matcha is a vegan option for Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chloe Swarbrick – an “eco-crime-fighting duo”.

The flavour? A matcha coconut gelato and mango Swarbrick Swirl.

“First on the KiwiMart shelf and showing the supermarket duopoly the checkout! Wealth tax kicks in at the third scoop. The only flavour in the cabinet that’s already met its emissions targets!”

Cherry on ‘Op, another vegan option for The Opportunity Party, with reference to their “fresh leader, in the middle sweet spot”.

The flavour is a red cherry sorbet, choc fudge and a bed of choc soil: a bit sweet, a bit sour, and angling to be the cherry on top.

“Land value tax on the soil not yet included! Citizen’s income for all — that’s your scoop budget sorted,” the description read.

There is also a Golden Kūmara Brûlée Roasted caramelised golden kūmara gelato with a burnt-sugar brûlée ripple and a caramelised crunch.

“Kūmara came to Aotearoa by waka and has fed our country ever since.

“Sweet as, and bringing Māoritanga to the cabinet!”

Jed Joyce, owner-operator of Rollickin Gelato, said the idea started in 2017.

“We started partnering with the Electoral Commission - a lot of our customers are in that bracket below 25, which has quite a low turnout for enrolment and voting,” he said.

“They come down and do a session, educate our customers, answer any questions about how you enrol, how do you check if you’re enrolled.

“As a business, we’re completely neutral, so we just are here to educate and show how your vote does make a difference.”

Jed Joyce, owner-operator of Rollickin Gelato said the idea started in 2017. Photo / Jazlyn Whales

Joyce said although there may be repeated flavours on the menu, all of them have been “elevated”, with a chart updated daily showing which flavour is polling the highest.

“We record every scoop that goes out the door, and then every morning we update a chalkboard in store with the results that are feeding in live,” Joyce said.

Additionally, if a party leader comes through the stores, the store gives away their flavour free for an hour.

“That obviously shifts the polls again and just reiterates that, you know, every vote counts and it can make a difference.”

In previous years, flavours on offer have included “David S’more” – a marshmallow and chocolate flavour for Seymour and “Jacinda Fever” – a red velvet and cheesecake-inspired flavour.

“Naughty Ol’ Winston” – has been a previous flavour for Peters, made with liquorice and chocolate lumps.

“Cookie Crusher Collins” was dubbed the flavour for Judith Collins – a cookies-and-cream-inspired flavour.