Garden conference sprouts ideas at Te Papa

MEDIA RELEASE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Garden conference sprouts ideas at Te Papa

Gardening practitioners and the next generation of green thumbs will be inspired by experts from Australia and New Zealand at the ‘Up the Garden Path’ conference in Wellington next week.

The three-day event, hosted at Te Papa from 2-4 March, is expected to attract a crowd of more than 100 professionals interested in botanical gardens, visitor gardens and amenity horticulture, along with a speaker line-up made up of some of the industry’s leading lights.

The event combines major conferences of the New Zealand Recreation Association (NZRA), Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH) and Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ), with New Zealand Gardens Trust (NZGT) as an event partner.

NZRA Chief Executive Andrew Leslie says the combined event provides a unique opportunity to tackle issues across the horticulture and amenity garden industries in New Zealand.

“The conference aims to explore pathways for future collaboration across the industry. We need to be able to better share knowledge, speak with one voice, and not just allow, but actively encourage the development of careers and organisations relevant to New Zealand”.

People Powered, a 2014 report released by the Ministry for Primary Industries, projects an additional 15,000 qualified horticulturists will be needed in the industry by 2025. Mr Leslie said it was important that industry professionals understood the big picture.

“We’re looking to tackle industry issues such as implementing effective training regimes and attracting and retaining skilled employees.

“Bringing horticulture and gardens professionals together to discuss the major issues and trends affecting the industry is vital to maximise the relevance and value of our green spaces”.

Key speakers at the conference include Kim Ellis, who has brought Sydney’s parks and gardens together as Executive Director of Botanic Gardens & Centennial Parklands, and Dr James Renwick, a member of the World Climate Research Programme Joint Scientific Committee, and chair of the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Climate Expert Panel.

Mr Ellis will discuss the balanced approach that has led to the success of Sydney’s Centennial Parklands, while Dr Renwick will discuss how the global climate is changing, and the impacts this will have on New Zealand.

Other high profile topics being discussed include balancing scientific, recreational and economic concerns, techniques for combating lifestyle diseases, conservation of New Zealand flora, education and the importance of parks and gardens for urban design.

The conference will also feature a field trip to some of Wellington and the Wairarapa’s best known gardens, the annual Banks Memorial Lecture commemorating the role of botanists in New Zealand, and the launch of the New Zealand Plant Collection Register database.

ENDS

© Scoop Media