75,000 visit flower show

More than 75,000 people visited the Ellerslie International Flower show this year in Christchurch. The city won rights to the show in 2007 after a bidding war with Hamilton and Auckland.

Show managing director Dave Mee said the quality of the exhibitions had been outstanding, with four gardens winning gold medals. Despite the recession, he said, sales had far outstripped previous Auckland shows, with many retailers having to courier in extra stock.

- NZPA