ARC Media Release 13 November 2007
Gold and Silver at the Ellerslie International Flower Show
The ARC sponsored Raingarden picked up gold, and the ARC Sculpture in Our Garden won silver, in the exhibition category
at the Ellerslie International Flower Show this afternoon.
The Raingarden exhibit, designed by Unitec Landscape Design students Kirsten Sach, Jamie Douglas and Zoë Carafice, aims
to help solve our stormwater problem by taking advantage of Auckland’s rain.
The Sculpture in Our Garden exhibit was created by the Botanic Garden's own team of Brooke Stark, Glen Carter and Keith
Hyde. The exhibit is based around three sculptures by Auckland artist Richard Cooper and demonstrates how New Zealand
gardens can be complemented by the placement of quality artworks.
The winning trio were absolutely delighted and grateful at their gold award. “Winning gold not only means that all our
hard work has paid off but also ensures that our message will get out there. Our aim was to create awareness and
encourage people to take responsibility for their local environment by incorporating simple stormwater solutions into
their own gardens,” said Kirsten Sach, spokesperson for the students.
Auckland Botanic Gardens Manager Jack Hobbs congratulates both teams for their creativity in raising environmental
awareness.
“Both teams have managed to engage people with environmental messages through the use of art. It is wonderful to work
with people with so much passion and commitment,” he says.
ARC Environment Management Chair Dianne Glenn agrees that the Ellerslie International Flowershow is a perfect platform
to highlight environmental issues and provide solutions.
“The ARC sponsored rain garden demonstrates a functional raingarden that every household in the region could install and
thereby contribute to better stormwater management, winning gold will help its profile,” she said.
ENDS