Waikato Bay of Plenty Daffodil Day co-ordinator Denise Carroll said volunteers spent two weeks ringing around Tauranga businesses to take orders for daffodils, as they have done for more than 20 years.
"When we started, the ladies were doing it on foot. Then it grew from there, and just grew and grew and now we use the phones."
Cancer Society spokeswoman Rachael Mounsey said all money raised would stay local.
"The Cancer Society receives no direct Government funding, so relies on the generosity of New Zealanders to operate."
Last year more than $600,000 was raised in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty region.