A look back over 20 years

8 May

Twenty years of the NZ Gardens Trust

By LIZ MORROW
(Reproduced from Liz’s Conference Toast to 20 years of the NZ Gardens Trust)

So how and when did the NZ Gardens Trust start? Let’s take a brief look back and start at the beginning.

In 1998 I got a call from Bev McConnell to say she would sponsor my trip to Dunedin to attend the Rhododendron Conference. I was managing Eden Garden which was a sole charge job and i had never considered having time off to attend, but attend I did. Thankyou Bev! The keynote speaker at the Conference was Christopher Brickell from the UK, formally Director of the Royal Horticultural Society, UK. The Topic was THE BUSINESS OF GARDENS IN THE FUTURE. The Trust seed was sown that weekend.

Over the following 5 years a huge amount of work was undertaken in forming the Trust and we must salute the first Chair, Jayson Kelly of Dunedin for the enormous effort he put into its foundation which was set up under the umbrella and with the support of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture... a vital partnership.

The original aims and objectives were:

Develop a database and website of gardens endorsed by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture (RNZIH). Murray Dawson was our first webmaster creating www.gardens.org.nz, and is here tonight. Thankyou Murray.
Promote the interests and profile of member gardens, and the open garden sector in general
Develop a relationship with Tourism New Zealand, and the tourism industry in general
Promote excellence in the open garden sector through the setting of standards and provision of educational opportunities for members and non member gardens
Represent and advocate for the open garden sector
Maintain, and where possible enhance, the working and professional relationship with the RNZIH
Assist the RNZIH to fulfil its purpose where this aligns with the best interests of member gardens and the open garden sector in general.

Firstly there was funding to be sourced, assessment protocols to be written based on international standards, a website to be developed and an awareness campaign reaching all the public, private, Trust and Society gardens throughout the country. No mean feat! Over 200 letters were written to garden owners seeking support and financial backing. We established a one-off category of gardens named ”Founding Gardens” to recognise those garden owners/managers who were instrumental in the formation of NZ Gardens Trust. There were 28 in this category each donating $2,000 with a further six gardens donating a lesser amount. The Trust is indebted to these founding gardens.

The first official meeting together was held at Eden Garden on 4th August 2003 with founding Trustees, Jayson Kelly, Chair of the RNZIH Andrew Malloy, Bryan Gould, Margaret Barker and myself. Our first Minute secretary was Sue Davison and our Treasurer Neville Haydon who reported at that meeting that $46,588 was held in the Trust account thanks to the initial donations made by Foundation garden members – without their generous support then, we would not be here tonight. The first round of assessments took place in 2003 with assessors Bev McConnell and Gordon Collier travelling from Waitangi to Invercargill over a 3 month period. It was an immense undertaking. The Trustees were advised of the results on 20th January 2004.

So it was time to launch and celebrate this great initiative…. an initiative which took years to develop by a committed few. All volunteers.

Eden Garden where I worked is next to Government House in Auckland so I phoned the Governor General Dame Sylvia Cartwright and asked if she would not only agree to be our Patron but host and launch the Trust in Government House which she generously agreed to do on the 25th March 2004. Soon after, Alan Jellyman, Life member and member of the Board and Executive of the Pukeiti Rhododendron Trust, wrote inviting the Trust to stage the inaugural seminar at Pukeiti in New Plymouth. Yes please …big TICK. That was held on 23rd – 25TH April 2004 and it was titled NZ GARDENS – A WORLD CLASS EXPERIENCE. Alan Jellyman and Bryan Gould, Director of Pukekura Park opened the seminar followed by The Trust Chair Jayson Kelly who described the aims and objectives of the Trust. Keynote speakers were Maggie Barry and Jack Hobbs – Maggies topic was ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE IN GARDENS AS A TOURISM PRODUCT.

Jack’s address was titled WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOUR GARDEN VISITOR. I was talking to Jack the other day about that Conference… he said, “Liz I will never forget it, I sat with a lady I had never met before who told me she was my Mothers bridesmaid”. Jack has sent his apologies but ensured that many of his staff members from the Auckland Botanic Gardens are here tonight.

Our two assessors Bev McConnell and Gordon Collier spoke on WHAT MAKES A GOOD GARDEN GREAT.

CEO of Qualmark Fiona Luhrs spoke as did David Burt from NZ Tourism. It was a very impressive line up of industry leaders…resulting in a hugely successful inaugural conference setting the standard for future events. The following year in 2005 was “GOING FOR GOLD” in Dunedin. NZ had just won the Gold medal at Chelsea so of course we had the winner Trish Waugh present to us. It was a highlight and surprise being piped into dinner in the Ballroom at Larnach Castle. Thankyou Margaret Barker. The Trust was well and truly on a roll with conferences being held in all the major towns and cities every year… it’s important to mention our annual events and the benefits… where we meet the Trustees, the Assessors, the Friends, our Administrator, meet fellow garden owners, build relationships, learn from the speakers and from each other, share information and have the privilege of visiting private gardens and much more - making the annual conferences a calendar not to be missed highlight. So to name just a few events… In 2008 it was BLOWN AWAY BY GARDENS in Wellington, DIGGING DEEP in Paihia, THE RUGGED FRONTIER – A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE organised by team Pauline Murphy in Cromwell and who will ever forget that Conference…Jack Hobbs in the lineup doing the CanCan in a tutu! A CENTURY OF SUN in Gisborne, thankyou Prue Roberts, WAIKATO BOUQUET in Hamilton, MAINTAINING THE MAGIC in Auckland, in 2016 LES BEAUX JARDINS D’AKAROA organised by Jill Simpson…thankyou Jill and Richard. In 2011 DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES here in Blenheim and we return here for MOUNTAINS TO OCEAN to celebrate together an impressive 20 year milestone. Thank you Wendy and your team and the garden owners. The weather bomb presented challenges but never dampened our spirits. We can learn a lot from the weather….it pays no attention to criticism.

So it is time to bust out the champagne and celebrate this emerald anniversary and toast the people who have played such an important role. This organisation is only as good as the people who have been involved over the years, so credit for the Trusts success boils down to the important association with the Royal NZ Institute of Horticulture, the dedicated, hard working team of the management, leaders, Trustees, assessors, volunteers, garden owners, friends and supporters…for too many to name… in short, the individuals who have enabled the Trust’s success and this means you… all of you here tonight.

The Trust with the Institute has fostered a strong sense of belonging, has enriched our horticultural experiences, we are engaged in a positive and healthy culture and the Trust promotes special friendships and connections… not only that, but the business of gardening heals us, keeps dementia at bay (did you know that) it feeds our souls and raises our spirits so let us now stand, raise our glasses and toast the TRUST’S 20 SUCCESSFUL YEARS to date.

THE TRUST

Thankyou.

Victoria Read