Forget LA, Rachel's dad loves the bay
By LINDY ANDREWS Northland Age, New Zealand

As supermodel Rachel Hunter jets from her home in Los Angeles to London and the arms of bad boy rocker Robbie Williams, her dad climbs into bed at Greerton after another day of cleaning up other people's mess.

It's a long way from Tauranga to the neon-lit boulevards of downtown LA but her proud dad Wayne wouldn't swap his Bay of Plenty lifestyle for anything.

While his daughter's face and body earn her millions at the click of a camera shutter, Wayne Hunter makes his living by keeping Bayfair shopping centre gleaming.

There's nothing remotely glam about grubby floors and grotty loos but that's the way he likes it.

Eighteen months after leaving Auckland for a new life _ and a new love _ in Tauranga, there are no regrets for the cleaning supervisor.

For years, Mr Hunter slaved in the airline industry. Now he's lapping up the sun and a change of pace.

At Rachel's invitation, he's had plenty of opportunity to taste the champagne lifestyle, especially when she was married to rocker Rod Stewart.

``We had some amusing times,'' he said. ``I used to go and watch his concerts and we used to sit and have a rum before he went on stage. When I had my heart attack in 1994, he and Rachel were on the phone every day.

``Then, when they broke up, I spent hours walking along the beach talking to him.''

Despite what you might read in the women's magazines, Rachel's still going strong with Robbie Williams, he says. True, there have been hiccups in the relationship but she's in London with him as we speak.

And no, Mr Hunter hasn't met The Ego yet.

But for all this, there's little reflected glory to be seen in the sprawling Greerton family home Mr Hunter and his partner Rhonda bought just a few months ago.

In fact, the only visible clue to the relationship between Rachel and her dad is the T-shirt he's wearing _ emblazoned with the name of his former son-in-law.

When he's not working, he likes to take long walks and to be there when the kids _ 14-year-old Anna and 13-year-old Paul _ get home from school.

``I don't need lots of money,'' he insists, ``I just want to enjoy life.''