Race On To 2006 Ellerslie Internat'l Flower Show

Media Release 25 August 2006

THE RACE IS ON

To The 2006 Ellerslie International Flower Show

With less than three months until the opening of the Ellerslie International Flower Show, work is underway to transform the grassy verges of the Auckland Botanic Gardens into a floral paradise.

The first hole has been dug and the first tree has been planted. A beautiful 20 year-old Copper beach weighing an impressive 5 tonnes was carefully installed earlier this month with some hefty trucks and digging machines.

The team behind the Show, have been busy at work since the beginning of the year in a demanding selection process to choose the best gardens, landscape designs and horticultural exhibits to be featured in the 2006 Show.

The team will not be satisfied with recreating the huge successes of last year’s Show but plan to make the 2006 the best Show ever with new gardens new plants, new features and show stopping highlights

Kate Hillier, the Show’s Exhibition Manager has had her work cut out coordinating the many different gardens and displays. She has been working closely with many of the designers to ensure their initial plans and ideas will translate into truly stunning exhibits ready for the opening day on 15 November.

Kate says, “This is my first year as the Shows Exhibition Manager, having previously been a member of a gold medal winning team and then a judge at the Show. I am really excited about how this year’s Show is shaping up and think it could be the best to date. We have put a lot of hard work in behind the scenes, which the public will see in the raising of the overall standard and quality of the gardens and exhibits, as well as the addition of new features and highlights. If you haven’t been to Ellerslie International Flower Show in a while you should definitely make sure you do not miss this year’s show, it will be very special.”

If last year’s Show was anything to go by with:

- 70,000 visitors through the gates

- 100,000 individual flowers on display

- 2,000 packets of Wild Flower sold

- 1,600 umbrellas (sold to keep off the sun!)

This year will prove to be ‘A Sight To Behold’.

Visitors to the 2006 Show can expect to see:

- Over 300 exhibitors

- 7 gardens by past gold medal winners in the Avenue of Gold - new this year

- Floral demonstrations given by experts in the Floral Art Marquee – new this year

- 20 more gardens than last year’s Show

- More flowers and more colour than ever before

Tickets to the Show are already on sale. Early birds who are wise enough to buy their tickets in October will be rewarded with a special discount. This year visitors will have the option of buying special Diamond Club tickets that give holders VIP parking, access to the express lane entrance for feature exhibits, regular newsletters, limited Show membership and entrance to a prize draw to win an amazing $10,000 of diamonds – an amazing bargain for only $65.

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Notes to Editors

Show Dates
Wednesday 15 November – Sunday 19 November

Ticket Information
Tickets can be purchased at any Ticketek outlet, by contacting 09 307 5000 (or your local Ticketek number) and via the website: www.ticketek.co.nz

For further ticket, queries please go to www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz. The sites’ ‘Ticket’ link provides full information on process and where to obtain tickets

Sponsors
Ellerslie International Flower Show 2006 thanks the following sponsors:
Sponsors
Ellerslie International Flower Show 2006 thanks the following sponsors:
Naming Rights Sponsor: Visique
Host City: Manukau City Council
Gold Sponsors: Progressive Enterprises
Fairfax NZ
Silver Sponsors: Bell Tea Company
Newstalk ZB
Sentinel
Tower
Matua Valley
Official Suppliers Caffé L’Affare
Yates
Honda New Zealand
Phoenix
Langham Hotel Auckland
: Carats Design Jewellery
Ticketek
Tip Top
Alert Taxis

ENDS

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