Manukau responds to Ellerslie flower show decision

Manukau Mayor Len Brown says it is disappointing the decision has been made to move the Ellerslie International Flower Show out of the Auckland region.

“Manukau City Council will be working with the Auckland Regional Council to explore event opportunities that make the best use of the fantastic site at the Auckland Botanic Gardens.

“The region is united in the belief that it is the best site for a flower show. It will be hard to match it anywhere else.”

Mr Brown says the Auckland Botanic Gardens is a high profile site, has excellent access to transport with both State Highway One and Twenty close and is only 10 minutes drive from the international airport.

“With the region’s large population and good transport links there is huge potential. With more than 50 per cent of visitors to the show coming from the Auckland region there is obviously strong demand for something to be held there.”

Manukau City Council sponsored and hosted the flower show in the city for the last 10 years. The council’s sponsorship, which included $90,000 a year and free use of the Manukau Sports Bowl for flower show parking, finishes with the show moving out of the city.