Auckland to Host a Major International Flower Show

Auckland is again to host an international flower show, the first since the Ellerslie International Flower Show moved to Christchurch in 2008

The inaugural New Zealand Flower & Garden Show will be held at the new location of Bastion Point in heart of Auckland’s Eastern Suburbs on the 23rd – 27th November 2016.

The show will be managed by an experienced flower and garden show management team, including multi-award winning designer and international judge Kate Hillier.

“This will be huge for Auckland,” said Hillier.

“New Zealand has a very strong pedigree in garden design and this will give our top talent an opportunity to demonstrate their skill in an event of international standard,” she said.

“Our objective is to create a show that will attract national and international exhibitors and visitors to Auckland, and to put New Zealand back on the world stage of garden and floral design.”

And international names are already registering their support for the event, with Chelsea Flower Show Gold medal winning South African Leon Kluge and Singapore Garden Festival winner, Aussie Jim Fogarty sending enthusiastic messages of support.

“I’m sure that many Australian designers will be very excited to come over to see this new show, and I certainly look forward to seeing you there too,” said Fogarty.

The spectacular new venue of Bastion Point will undoubtedly be a major feature, the only show in the world to have such a stunning and quintessentially New Zealand backdrop.

Wayne Pihema, Chair - Whai Maia Limited, speaking on Behalf of Ngati Whatua Ōrākei says that the Iwi is excited to see their land used for the show.

“The Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei have a very strong connection with the land.

“We are committed to the preservation and restoration of the flora and fauna on our whenua (land) to a state where the mauri, or life force, of the land is thriving.

“It is fitting that Bastion Point should be a meeting place for designers of all nations who share our love of the visual and spiritual properties of plants,” he said.

Hillier says there will be many enhancements in the inaugural New Zealand Flower & Garden Show from previous events, in particular a focus on community and culture.

The show will also reflect changes in international trends, with organic and edible gardens becoming a feature.

Organisers expect that there will be more than 100 horticultural displays with another 200 exhibitors from the industry.

The New Zealand Flower & Garden Show is an exciting new attraction for Auckland City.

At the time the Ellerslie Flower show moved to Christchurch it was estimated to be worth more than $15 million to the Auckland economy, attracting 65,000 visitors, and organisers are confident that the new show can meet and exceeded this value in future years.

ENDS

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