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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.
- NZ HERALD STAFF, NZPA
