GARDENA set to unearth New Zealand’s Gardener of the Year
GARDENA is on a mission to unearth New Zealand’s greatest gardeners and is taking over as Gold Sponsor of NZ Gardener’s 2015 Gardener of the Year competition.
Now in its ninth year, the search is run by NZ Gardener magazine and celebrates New Zealand’s unsung horticultural heroes. Readers nominate passionate gardeners who are using
their gardening skills to help people in their community.
With over $15,000 worth of prizes up for grabs, the magazine is seeking five Horticultural Heroes from around the
country. Nominations are open now and full details on how to nominate a great gardener can be found in the magazine’s
July and August issues.
Previous finalists have established school gardens and orchards; supported solo parents by helping them establish
gardens at home; and rallied their neighbours to plant vegetables, herbs and flowers on the street verge.
“Every year Kiwi gardeners surprise us,” NZ Gardener’s editor Jo McCarroll says, “in the ways they are using gardening their skills to help build and strengthen their
communities. I can’t wait to see the incredible finalists that emerge this year.”
The line up of GARDENA’s Horticultural Heroes will be featured in the October issue of NZ Gardener magazine and readers then vote for their favourite to determine the overall Supreme Winner who will be named GARDENA’S
2015 Gardener of the Year.
Last year’s Supreme Winner and 2014 Gardener of the Year was Owen Takuira-Ngaropo who started a thriving community
garden in his hometown of Papamoa. Called ‘The Rock’, Owen’s garden produces fruit and vegetables for local food banks
and teaches new skills to those on Periodic Detention.
After supporting the competition as Silver Sponsors in 2014, GARDENA Business Development Manager Margot Dell said the
decision to support the competition again was an easy one.
“We are thrilled to be supporting a competition that recognises and celebrates the joy of gardening as well as community
spirit,” says Dell.
Inventor of the original click-on hose fitting system that inspired a complete range of clever and easy to use garden
and watering solutions, GARDENA products have featured in New Zealand gardens for over 40 Years.
ENDS