The focus is on flowers

6 May 2008

News release from the Auckland Flower Show

The focus is on flowers

This year's Auckland Flower Show at Alexandra Park Raceway will be a tribute to the floral tradition.

The Flower Show organiser, Paul McLuckie, says 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!"

The Flower Show takes place at Alexandra Park from November 20 to 23. Mr McLuckie says the site offers a central and easy-to-access location for Aucklanders and those from out of town. But in unveiling the site plan today, he notes that it also creates the opportunity to hold an "all weather" and "all day" event. Much-loved features of the flower show can be housed indoors, enabling the event to be open in the evenings as well as day time.

"We've integrated the function rooms into the plan to provide an airconditioned, indoor environment, which is what the floral designers require to protect and maintain their displays over a four-day period."

Floral Art Society Auckland chairperson Lorraine Usher says floral designers from the Auckland area will stage the Designer of the Year competition in association with the flower show. Under the title 'Dancing with the Flowers', a huge room will be decorate with 40 or more fabulous designs with subtitles including 'Jungle Beat', 'Let's do the Twist, 'Masquerade Ball' and 'Mardi Gras'.

"Floral demonstrations will be held three times a day and for the first time we will be holding an Imposed Design competition where floral artists and florists create designs as the public watch," Lorraine says.

The Alexandra Park venue also offers covered areas for retail stalls, indoor hospitality areas, an exhibition garden avenue on the inner part of the raceway, and plenty of parking.

Mr McLuckie believes that on the Alexandra Park site, the flower show will become a sustainable event for the Auckland region, and one that showcases the best New Zealand has to offer in gardens and floral art.

ENDS

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