Ben's Birthday Girl Harley We Love Her Tutu Bits!

The actor’s darling daughter reaches a milestone.

- Sebastian Van Der Zwan

When Woman’s Day visits Shortland Street hunk Ben Barrington and his partner Kristie Fergus at their spacious, light-filled home nestled amid beautiful native bush and by a babbling stream in West Auckland, they’ve only been in the house a week.

“We looked at open homes every weekend for about six months,” the actor tells. “There were lots of ups and downs, and we saw a lot of houses we liked that we missed out on, but it worked out in the end. We absolutely love this place.”

Understandably, when the couple realised their gorgeous daughter Harley’s first birthday fell smack-bang in the middle of their moving dates, they decided not to celebrate it. Make-up artist Kristie explains, “The timing couldn’t be worse, but the first birthday is really for the parents, isn’t it? It’s just an excuse to get your mates around.”

Fortunately, Woman’s Day has come to the rescue, bringing balloons, party hats and a super-sweet vanilla cake for Harley’s very own pink-themed party. The chubby tot couldn’t be happier as she dons a sequined tutu and bats at the decorations, joined by her doting big brother Olly, 15, Kristie’s son from a previous relationship.