Newsletter April 2008

Planning well underway for Christchurch’s first Ellerslie International Flower Show

It is now just a little over 10 months until Christchurch hosts its first Ellerslie International Flower Show. Since last month’s successful Ellerslie Experience – a taste of next year’s event in the Botanic Gardens enjoyed by several thousand visitors – there has been a flurry of activity as preparations for the five-day show get underway.

The first prospective exhibitors’ evenings were held last month and there were high levels of interest and enthusiasm from a wide variety of potential exhibitors. This is fantastic and signals the Show will provide plenty of fresh ideas and inspiration for visitors. More evenings are planned in coming weeks, along with a series of discussions with potential designers who will ensure the 14th Ellerslie International Flower Show continues to build on past successes and the event begins to develop into one of the top five garden shows in the world.

Discussions have also been held with local nurseries to ensure the more than 100,000 plants needed for the event will be blooming and ready on time for the 11 to 15 March show. Conceptual site plans are currently being finalised and work has begun on the resource consent application.

To put a show of this magnitude on in the city takes many months of planning and preparation. While work continues on the actual show, there is also much being done city-wide to support the Ellerslie International Flower Show. An inner city beautification programme is being developed, along with an entertainment programme, supporting floral exhibitions and floral installations which will create a floral avenue leading from the Square to Hagley Park – the venue for the Show.

For six weeks leading up to the Ellerslie International Flower Show, Christchurch will be emblazoned with colourful floral displays. Visitors to the city will be treated to a floral extravaganza which celebrates both our heritage and Christchurch’s status as the Garden City of New Zealand.

There is city-wide excitement about the event and this is never more evident than in the strong support from the whole community. Ellerslie has tapped into our passion for gardening and ideas for the Show, related activities and event programmes are beginning to be developed which will make Christchurch the place to be in March 2009.

I am excited about the planned events and activities and look forward to being able to reveal these to you over the coming months as the city looks to put on a floral display that is unequalled in the world.

There is much to do but with the outstanding support from our community, the business sector and industry, I am confident the event will be a huge success. We have the innovation, the design talent and a city which is proud to be hosting what is already recognised as one of the world’s most prestigious garden shows.

Regards

BOB PARKER
MAYOR OF CHRISTCHURCH