Latest News Stories

Caveman Clyde is a crowd pleaser - 22 November 2008
Clyde Tukaiora Connell’s spectacular Waiora exhibit for the Auckland Flower Show has won the coveted ‘People’s Choice’ Award. Taking people back to the bush, the ambitious creation included a 2.5m high cave, waterfall, built-in aquariums, and abundant lush planting.

Waiora means ‘water of life’, and Clyde’s aim with the garden was to show the harmony between man and nature, with water as the life-giving force sustaining both.
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Floral skills in the spotlight - 21 November 2008
Despite the airconditioned cool of the floral halls, the heat was has been on the floral exhibitors at this year’s Auckland Flower Show. The Floral Arts Society (Auckland Branch) Designer of the Year was judged as part of the show, and was awarded to Leigh Greenstreet of Kumeu Floral Art Club. Her ‘Mardi Gras’ rendition had just the right balance of “rough and smooth”, according to Lorraine Usher, chair of the society for the Auckland area. “Judges look for a particular balance of textures, and Leigh achieved that with a gorgeous mix of apricot brown Melaleuca bark, purple orchids and lime green anthuriums.
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Auckland Flower Show judges 'moved by tides' - 20 November 2008
Judges of the ‘Best in Show’ Award winner, Moved By Tides, describe the garden as a “subtle and sophisticated expression of New Zealand native coastal plants”. Praising the garden both for its horticultural excellence and environmental education, head judge Michael Jones says the entry by the Landscape Design Company set itself apart with its outstanding choice of ecologically compatible plants.
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Auckland Flower Show ready to blossom - 19 November 2008
The Auckland Flower Show opens to the public tomorrow, and gardening personality Lynda Hallinan says it will be well received by gardening and floral fans alike. To have launched a show of this standard is a credit to the industry, comments Hallinan, who edits NZ Gardener magazine. “The Auckland Flower Show has well and truly met the standard as a showcase of creativity, and new and interesting plants,” she says.
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A fusion of flowers - 18 November 2008
The grow-your-own trend is one of the counter-cyclical outcomes of a flat economy. But the boom in edible gardens is being fuelled by more than cash-starved households, according to landscape designer Jules Moore. “People are looking for alternative health remedies. The edible garden satisfies this need on two levels: in the fruit and vegetables that it produces, and also in the act of gardening itself, which releases endorphins that make you feel good.”
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Experts share their passion for flowers and gardens - 18 November 2008
Internationally acclaimed landscape designer Andrew Pfeiffer arrives in New Zealand this week to headline the Auckland Flower Show Speaker Series. Andrew has designed gardens in places as diverse as Uruguay, Australia, France and the United States. From waterfalls and artificial lakes, to deserts and jungles, Andrew will share his philosophy of how to create gardens that are “related to reality”.
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Auckland Flower Show celebrates leisure - 11 November 2008
This year’s Auckland Flower Show, taking place at the centrally located Alexandra Park, promises to be a multi-faceted celebration of all the naturally good things in life, according to exhibitions coordinator Jenny Pullar. The wow factor for many is likely to be flowers, she says. Amassed in two comfortably cool floral design halls, will be thousands of blooms, displayed in wonderful and unusual combinations.
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The growing appetite for edible gardens - 3 November 2008
The grow-your-own trend is one of the counter-cyclical outcomes of a flat economy. But the boom in edible gardens is being fuelled by more than cash-starved households, according to landscape designer Jules Moore. “People are looking for alternative health remedies. The edible garden satisfies this need on two levels: in the fruit and vegetables that it produces, and also in the act of gardening itself, which releases endorphins that make you feel good.”
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Cleopatra in cabbage – a vegetal fashion statement - 28 October 2008
Popular vegetable artists the Vege People are busy preparing for their 14th flower show, and this year draw their inspiration from the Egyptian Nile.
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Pride of Lions on the landscape - 23 October 2008
Fearing their roar hasn't been heard in a while, the Lions Club will get in behind this year's Auckland Flower Show in a big way.

More than 300 Lions volunteers will take part in the show as hosts and helpers. Members of the Lion's northern district, they will descend on Alexandra Park for the 20-23 November event from as far afield as the Far North and the Coromandel.
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Living outside the ordinary - 20 October 2008
We have outdoor living rooms, and outdoor kitchens. So why not an outdoor bathroom? Caroline Wesseling has been commissioned by Inovo and Ecosmart Real Fires, to design just that for this year’s Auckland Flower Show.
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Drawing wellbeing from the wetland - 14 October 2008
Who could not warm to the idea of complete and utter wellbeing? It’s a concept that designer Clyde Tukaiora Connell is guided by in ‘Waiora’ the Exhibition Garden he will create for the Auckland Flower Show. Waiora takes its name from the Maori goddess of health, who promoted total wellbeing with her calming waters...
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Love in the garden - 7 October 2008
What is it about a garden that makes it a perfect place to get married? Auckland Flower Show exhibitor Carolyn Melling believes it’s about the plants. “It’s like being in a church, when you’re among plants, you can feel a spiritual presence.”
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'Armagarden' - a not so serious sustainability message - 30 September 2008
Sustainable gardens are the way of the future, and serving as inspiration for a fresh approach in landscaping. But what might happen if we don't start to build planet-saving principles into our way of living? It's a question on the minds of landscapers Tim Friday and Adrian Fry, and they will provide some tongue-in-cheek answers in their garden design for this year's Auckland Flower Show.
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Schools encouraged to plant a box that rocks - 25 September 2008
Just what can kids do with a humble planter box? To stimulate their creativity, Cool Kids Grow and the Auckland Flower Show are calling on kids and schools to take part in their ‘Plant a box that rocks!’ competition. Read more...

A garden loves bad stuff - 23 September 2008
We think of the rain as cleansing, but as it hits roofs and other hard surfaces it becomes a medium for a whole range of nasty pollutants that end up in our oceans. Award-winning landscape designer Kirsten Sach has come up with a solution and she wants every Kiwi backyard to have it.
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Artist adds a transparent touch to sweet pea presentation - 15 September 2008
A stunning new collection of sweet peas from New Zealand plant breeder Dr Keith Hammett has inspired artist Murray Grimsdale to achieve a long-held ambition.
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Go green with your blue bin - 12 September 2008
Wondering what to do with your small blue recycling bin now it's been replaced by the big green wheelie one? How about growing your own unique garden in it, and be in to win a chance to exhibit at the Auckland Flower Show?
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Urban landscape provides a sensory garden extravanganza - 8 September 2008
This year's Auckland Flower Show at Alexandra Park has inspired civic landscapers on the North Shore into a whole new way of looking at their urban environment and the way it can appeal to people with physical challenges.
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Flower Show exhibits new direction in landscape design> - 1st August 2008
At this year's Auckland Flower Show, landscape designer Alex Schanzer makes a long-awaited return to the exhibition garden arena. Alex achieved widespread recognition through his work at past flower shows, becoming well known as "the guy who does the stone stacks". After four years in hibernation, he says the time had come to reveal his new direction in landscape design.
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The Gardening industry takes a significant stake in the Auckland Flower Show - 9th July 2008
Auckland Flower Show Ltd is pleased to announce that the Nursery & Garden Industry Association (NGIA), the voice of the industry, has acquired an ownership stake in the Auckland Flower Show.
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Auckland Flower Show receives major backing - 20th May 2008
The Auckland Flower Show, taking place at Alexandra Park November 20-23, has received major backing from public and industry bodies.

Auckland City Council, the Newmarket Business Association, and the gardening industry's representative body, have all signalled their commitment to the success of the flower show at Alexandra Park.
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The focus is on flowers - 6th May 2008
This year's Auckland Flower Show at Alexandra Park Raceway will be a tribute to the floral tradition. Flower Show organisers say feedback from flower show visitors and exhibitors was deafening in its demand for a stronger focus on floral art. "When you put on an event like this, you have to make sure you give people what they want. It's clear to us the people want more flowers!" says Linda Parkinson, one of the organisers
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Councils make decision on flower show - 6th May 200
The Auckland Regional Council (ARC) and Manukau City Council have agreed to continue to work together to promote a series of horticultural, musical and other cultural events at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. The two Councils have decided not to go into a head to head competition with the Auckland Flower Show.
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New Venue confirmed for Auckland Flower Show - 15th March 2008
Auckland Flower Show Ltd is pleased to announce that the venue for this years Auckland Flower Show is now confirmed as the comprehensively developed venue at Alexandra Park in Epsom, just 2.1km from the Ellerslie Racecourse where flower shows in Auckland began in 1994.
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After Ellerslie, the show must go on - NZ Herald editorial, 24th November 2007
The good ratepayers of Christchurch will have to wait a while to see whether they get value for the money they have spent buying the Ellerslie Flower Show.
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This year's Auckland Flower Show was held at Alexandra Park from 20th - 23rd November 2008 and we hope that you were one of the lucky ones who were there.

Indeed when one of our esteemed international judges from Australiae says that the Melbourne Flower Show could learn from us then we know that we have achieved the standard that we set out to achieve.

If you missed it then make sure that you click here to register so that you get all the early offers for next year.

Alternatively if you want to exhibit next year then please Click here to enter your details (and you will then be directed to the appropriate exhibitor's guide) or Email us.

Make sure that you register now, and check back regularly for updates!