Flower show aficionados will have to wait
until March 2009 to see the first Ellerslie Flower Show
in its new home of Christchurch.
The date was announced by Christchurch mayor Bob Parker
this afternoon, during the unveiling of a new floral garden
in Cathedral Square.
Parker said the traditional November date clashed with Christchurch's
popular New Zealand Cup and Show Week.
Transferring the timing of the flower show to March would
allow the city to accommodate the thousands of visitors
the event would attract, he said.
"March is a spectacular time in Christchurch; the city
is starting to show its autumn plumage, the weather is settled
and being a shoulder tourism season we can create another
reason for visitors to come to Christchurch and experience
the breathtaking landscape and world-class tourism on offer
in our wonderful city," Parker said.
The five-day extravaganza will run from March 11 - 15, 2009
and is expected to attract similar numbers to the 65,000
visitors attending previous shows held in Auckland.
It is also hoped it will generate more than $14 million
for the local economy.
"Planning is well underway for this first icon event
in March 2009. I urge everyone to mark the date in your
diary now; it is guaranteed to stimulate the senses with
plenty of fresh and exciting ideas," Parker said.
The Cathedral Square garden unveiled this morning was designed
by Darren Tillett from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens,
who also designed Christchurch's award-winning entry at
last year's Ellerslie International Flower Show.
Christchurch and Canterbury Tourism chief executive Christine
Prince has welcomed the new timing for the show.
"Autumn is traditionally a shoulder season for tourism
so it's great we now have such a prestigious and internationally
popular event to draw people to the city and region,"
she said.
"Christchurch is often pictured in the spring when
the blossom is out but the city is equally stunning in the
autumn."
Christchurch won the "battle of the roses" last
November when organisers of the show accepted the Christchurch
City Council's bid ahead of competition from Auckland and
Hamilton.
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