Newsletter August 2008

Ellerslie International Flower Show to be televised

All New Zealanders will be able to share in the trials and tribulations of
their favourite garden designers as they prepare for the first Christchurch-
hosted Ellerslie International Flower Show.

Ellerslie will be the subject of a 13-week television series to be screened
Saturday mornings on TV1 from 10 January to 4 April 2009.

This is fantastic news for the Ellerslie International Flower Show and
Christchurch. A television show is something the organisers have been
looking to secure for some years and Christchurch is fortunate it will be
able to share the limelight.

This is such a wonderful opportunity to promote our region and ensure all
New Zealanders are able to share in the excitement of Ellerslie as the city
prepares to host the internationally recognised event. The television
show will serve to only help the city realise its vision of making Ellerslie
one of the top five garden shows in the world, growing the profile of this
annual event.

The television show will follow designers as they prepare to take part in
the Christchurch show, showcasing the venue for Ellerslie – Christchurch
Botanic Gardens and North Hagley Park, Canterbury’s award-winning
and nationally significant gardens, promote sustainability – a key feature
of the Show, offer gardening tips and feature new products.

It will cover the build-up to the Show and then the Show itself, these
episodes being screened during the three weeks following Ellerslie.

Tickets for Ellerslie went on sale last month and sales have been good
during the first few weeks. Check out the website for details
www.ellerslieflowershow.co.nz Those who purchase their tickets before
15 February 2009 will make a 20% savings on the full ticket price. The
Early Bird Special is $28, with ticket prices after 15 February 2009 being
$35. There are special senior citizens prices of $24 and group discounts
for 20 or more of $22 before 15 February.

Christchurch residents/ratepayers are reminded they are being offered a
special ticket price of $22 next month. Tickets will be available exclusively
through Council’s Service Centres or by phoning the Customer Call
Centre on 941 8999. There is a limit of four tickets per person.

Throughout August, much of the team’s efforts focussed on securing key
features for the Show. Details of these will be released in coming months.
At this stage of our planning, the top 10 attractions at Ellerslie will be:

• International feature gardens - award-winning exhibition
gardens by top international designers.

• Starlight marquee - where day turns into night and you'll find
the latest in outdoor lighting design.

• Floral art - a perennial favourite at the Show featuring
innovative floral displays.

• Taste of the South - indulge in the finest food and wine from
throughout the South Island, prepared by Canterbury’s best chefs.

• Hort Galore - where garden clubs and specialist horticultural
societies show-off their rare and attractive plants.

• Garden art sculpture exhibition – view and purchase artworks
by some of New Zealand’s most talented artists displayed in a
lakeside setting.

• NZ Gardener speaker series - learn the secrets to better
gardening shared by local gardening gurus.

• Floral costume design - view the latest and exclusive range of
floral artwear by Christchurch designer Jenny Gillies.

• Shop till you drop - new garden products and other specialty
shops.

• Innovative landscape designs - cutting-edge landscaped gardens
created by some of the country's leading designers.

Regards

BOB PARKER

MAYOR OF CHRISTCHURCH