A rose by any other name might smell as sweet, but it wouldn’t have the same significance as the blushing Ali Mau bloom. The gorgeous star (44), in her role as a UNICEF ambassador, has become the namesake of a beautiful peachy pink flower, the sale of which will ultimately lead to the betterment of children’s lives around the globe. “It’s a huge honour although I do feel a tiny bit shy about having my name on it,” tells the TVNZ news presenter, who has been involved with the charity since 2006.

While she admits that she’s no green thumb herself, Ali loved visiting Tasman Bay Roses, in Motueka, where the rose was created for her. “My work for UNICEF previously has been a bit grittier, generally speaking, but wandering around the nursery amongst a riot of colour and being presented with my own breed of rose was no hardship at all. I just hope it will be popular. I’m planning to send them to everyone I know as birthday gifts this year so that will cut down on some pointless consumerism!”

Ali has used her public profile to promote many worthy causes over the years and says it’s one of the things that makes the tougher side of fame more tolerable. “Sometimes it’s the only thing,” laughs the star who, after a tumultuous 2009 – during which she separated from her husband of 13 years, fellow newsreader Simon Dallow – knows about this better than anyone.

“It’s one of the little benefits that make everything all right in the world again, knowing you’ve contributed in some way.” But some of the assignments Ali has had to undertake have also been emotionally challenging.

“Travelling to Papua New Guinea was a real eye-opener. Some of the things we saw – the conditions that women and children have to bear – were really diffi cult at times. “We went to a town in the middle of the jungle that had a medical centre that doesn’t really deserve the title. There was a birthing centre there that had been sent a truckload of wire-frame beds but somebody had stolen the mattresses.

The women were still having to give birth on the floor and it broke my heart,” tells the mum-of-two.“I said, ‘We have to get more mattresses! How much can a mattress cost?’ The UNICEF coordinator just shook her head.  She said, ‘It’s a lovely thought but you can’t fix every issue that you see.’ In those situations, you have to take the broader view and help in less immediate ways. It was disappointing because I desperately wanted to do something to help.”

More satisfying was the opportunity to meet with some of the impoverished nation’s HIV/Aids sufferers and help raise money for them directly. “They had walked down from the hills for five or six hours and they seemed so amazed that this group of foreign women had bothered to come hear their stories. It had a huge impact on me,” Ali sighs.

One of the biggest ways her UNICEF work has changed Ali is in making her truly grateful for the life she has. It’s a lesson she wants to pass on to her children, Paris (12) and Joel (8). “Both their father and I lecture them all the time on how fortunate they are – hopefully it sinks in!

“I know if my daughter had her way, I’d be out there working for the SPCA every day, but I’ve always wanted to be involved in children’s charities. I like that changing in this country but compared to the rest of the world, it’s paradise.”

For now, Ali intends to make the most of summer in her little patch of God’s Own. When she’s not filling in presenting news bulletins on TV One, she’ll be spending quality time with her kids. “I’m also going to keep reading the news on Breakfast a couple of days a week, which is great because I adore being part of the team. Then there are other things in the wind that I’m looking forward to revealing to you soon,” she adds with a smile.

Proceeds from the Ali Mau rose will go to Unicef NZ to help raise funds for children in need in Papua New Guinea. They are now available from Tasman Bay Roses (03) 528 7449 and will be stocked in garden centres nationwide this winter.