Chelsea Flower Show Success

In May 2004, a very special slice of New Zealand was on display in the UK. It was the 200th anniversary of the London's Chelsea Flower Show, which is considered by many to be the Olympics of the gardening world.

The '100% Pure New Zealand Ora - Garden of Well-Being' mesmerised visitors with steaming silica terraces, living artworks sculpted from tree ferns and a hot mineral pool. It showcased a slice of Central North Island bush with silica terraces inspired by Orakei Korako Cave and Thermal Park, as well as original artwork by acclaimed Maori artist Lyonel Grant and technical input from the academy-award-winning WETA Workshops.

Designed to reflect Maori mythology and the distinctive geothermal geology of the Rotorua region, the garden was one of the more unique and memorable exhibits at Chelsea. It was so appreciated that it brought home the Gold Medal.

Following this success, the '100% Pure New Zealand Ora - Garden of Well-Being' came back to New Zealand and featured at the November 2004 Ellerslie Flower Show in Auckland. 

Afterwards, the plants were dispersed and sold and the hard elements of the garden including the geothermal terraces, artworks, paving etc were packed up and stored in a shed on the property of landscape designers Trish and Doug Waugh in Katikati.

In June 2006, the garden ‘hardware’ was transported to Taupo to its new site, alongside the Taupo Museum. The Taupo Museum (who we’d also like to thank very much for providing the photos for this page) is now the permanent home of this very special New Zealand garden.