Garden Pantry opens doors to applause

Rotorua's Kiri Danielle got her first taste of being part of main stream television on Friday with the launch of a  new Rotorua-produced gardening show.

The Garden Pantry was shown for the first time on Sky's Living Channel at 8pm on Friday.

The show is produced in Rotorua by Black Poppy Productions.

The Garden Pantry looks at how to establish a year-round garden, from great composting to companion planting, and highlights the dying arts of pre serving and many of the ways older generations used to provide for their families.

Black Poppy managing director and the show's producer Heather Carston said a launch party for the show's first screening was held at a private home in Okawa Bay, the night the show went to air. She said sponsors, guests, friends and family were invited to celebrate the first episode and it was a chance for the show's producers to say a big thank you to everyone who helped get the show on-air.

"A very good night was had by all.

"There's been a great build-up to the show, with more than 23,000 likes on our Facebook page, more than any other gardening show in New Zealand.''

Mrs Carston said Ms Danielle was a brilliant presenter and was the epitome of the show's target market _ young mothers creating their own gardens.

"She's hugely passionate about the environment. I'd met her once at a TV Rotorua function last year, before we were ready to cast, but that was enough for me to decide she was who I wanted to front the show,'' Mrs Carston said.

Ms Danielle said she was nervous the show would not live up to expectations.

"But it went well and we got some great feedback, our production team are amazing and it's been put together really well.

"I'm just trying to stay calm about it all  ... I can't walk around in Rotorua any more without people coming up to me.''

The Garden Pantry screens on Sky TV's Living Channel at 8pm on Tuesday and Friday nights.