What plant will be this year’s winner?

Media release – September 22, 2005

Pohutukawa, kowhai, cabbage tree, kauri…what plant will be this year’s winner?

New Zealanders are being asked to vote on what is their favourite native plant this year.

The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network and the Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation are looking to find out what people see as the New Zealand’s favourite plant.

Network spokesman John Sawyer said today the pohutukawa topped New Zealand’s national list in previous years (2002 and 2003) with kowhai, cabbage tree, kauri, nikau and rimu all making the top ten.

``This vote will make people think about what native plants they like most. The project helps raise the profile of New Zealand native plants.

``Knowing what are the country’s favourite native plants is also of interest to the tourism industry.’’

He said some people think lupin and macrocarpa were New Zealand natives while other people don’t realise there are eight species of kowhai.

The profiling of New Zealand native plants via this project helps draw attention to the alluring beauty of plants as New Zealand’s heritage.

For the first time the voting will also determine regional variations in the favourite plant, from Northland to Southland.

Votes can be cast on the New Zealand Plant Conservation Network: www.nzpcn.org.nz. Voting closes on November 30.

ENDS

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