Designers Announced for Prestigious Auckland Garden Designfest
Organisers of the Auckland Garden DesignFest have aptly chosen the first day of spring to announce their much
anticipated designer line up. The 2015 event will showcase 20 gardens representing the design skills of 16 designers
over two days on 14 and 15 November.
The festival is jointly organised by the Rotary Club of Newmarket and the Garden Design Society of New Zealand, (GDSNZ)
and this will be the third time the biennial charity event has taken place.
Joining Chelsea Flower Show Silver Medalist, Xanthe White and TV and radio gardening personality, Tony Murrell at the
DesignFest are talented New Zealand designers; Trish Bartleet, Nigel Cameron, Trudy Crerar, Barbara Garrett, Joanna
Hamilton, Phillip Millar, Bryan McDonald, Sue and Colin McLean, the design duo of Mark Read and Richard Neville, Murray
Reid, Robin Shafer and Karen Wealleans.
Designers were required to submit gardens which were then reviewed by a panel of experts from the Garden Design Society
of New Zealand. All of these gardens have not previously been open to the public and many may not be again. There will
be a diverse range of gardens on show, in terms of both size and style and the talented designers will also be onsite to
talk to visitors about their designs.
GDSNZ, Joint Chairperson, Rose Thodey, says; “We are absolutely delighted to have such an array of brilliant designers
at this year’s festival. The gardens they have created are outstanding and we can’t wait to share them with visitors in
November.”
Proceeds from the festival will go to Ronald McDonald House, Garden to Table and children’s charities supported by the
Rotary Club of Newmarket Charitable Trust.
“We have such wonderful sponsors onboard this year who really share our passion for garden design and we thank them for
their support. A huge thank you also to the garden owners who will very kindly open up their private gardens to the
public. Without these generous people and thousands of volunteer hours, the festival simply would not happen,” says
Thodey.
Barry Thom, Director, Unlimited Potential Real Estate, the Premier Sponsor of the event, says; “Every day we see the
value that well thought-out design can add to a property. We jumped at the chance to champion this event and showcase
New Zealand’s outstanding garden design talent whilst supporting some incredible charities.”
Wayne Howett, CEO of Ronald McDonald House, says; “We have been one of the charity partners for this event since it was
founded in 2011 and we continue to be grateful for the generosity not just of Aucklanders, but the many other visitors
from around New Zealand and even Australia who attend what has become a great weekend for garden and design
enthusiasts.”
Tickets for the Auckland Garden DesignFest are on sale at iTICKET, plus various garden retailers (see website for
details) and also at the garden gate. Visitors can choose from a $65 all garden ticket or single garden access for $10
each. Discounted Earlybird tickets are also available until 30 September. Group discounts are also available.
For more information and updates about the Auckland Garden DesignFest visit www.gardendesignfest.co.nz or follow them on Facebook.
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