Not In Our Backyards: Why New Zealand's flower growing legacy matters more than ever.

Photo: Unsplash

When someone says "NIMBY," they're usually talking about opposing new developments in their neighborhood. But for New Zealand's seasonal flower growers, protecting our backyards isn't just about resistance to change – it's about preserving something extraordinary that most of the world has already lost.

New Zealand’s floral industry doesn’t depend heavily on imported flowers, unlike the UK that imports 90% of their cut flowers, the USA 80%, with Australia increasingly dependent on over 50% of imports.  New Zealand stands as a rare example of a developed nation with almost self-sufficiency when it comes to cut flowers and foliage with only around 25% of flowers sold in New Zealand from imports. 

Our population, geographical isolation and strong biosecurity measures haven't just protected us from pests – they've nurtured  our ability to grow flowers sustainably and locally that matches the scale of the floral industry in-country. 

Yet, new proposals to allow more cut flowers and foliage to be important to New Zealand raise questions about  economic, environmental and cultural impacts worthy of greater discussion.

Proposals from the New Zealand’s Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) include: 

• Allow cut flower imports from 12 new countries

• Remove safety requirements for imported flowers

• Open new potential pathways for dangerous pests
  

Whilst some people would love a wider range of exotic flowers available for sale, there’s a real danger of potentially pushing us toward a more import-dependent model that has diminished local growing in other nations. While this might seem like progress, it risks undermining the very factors that make New Zealand's flower industry unique.

What's really at stake?

Beyond the 11 high-risk pests identified in the proposal, we're facing:

• Pressure on our sustainable growing practices that have evolved in our protected environment

• Threats to our biosecurity advantage that other nations have lost

• Risks to our food security, as many flower pests also affect crops

• Challenges to our ability to maintain genetic diversity in local varieties

• Fundamental shifts in the sustainability of the floral industry here in New Zealand.
  

Let’s be honest about what real progress in the floral industry looks like. 

 Expanding imports might seem like growth and opportunity, yet true innovation and creativity lies in what’s natural, local and seasonal. Why import flowers that are freely available from New Zealand growers in season?

The current global flower trade model - flying flowers thousands of miles, heavy use of cold storage and preservatives, chemical-intensive growing practices - is a relic of an era when we didn't fully understand the environmental costs. New Zealand has the opportunity to champion a different path.

What real progress in the floral industry looks like:

• Celebrating seasonal blooms rather than demanding year-round availability

• Supporting local growers who build soil health and biodiversity

• Creating resilient local supply chains that strengthen our communities

• Developing flower varieties adapted to our climate and conditions

• Building an industry that regenerates rather than depletes our environment.
  
  

When you grow flowers seasonally and sustainably, there’s a complex ecosystem that regenerates through:

• Natural pest management strategies suited to our ecosystems

• Seasonal growing patterns aligned with our climate

• Local plant varieties adapted to our conditions

• Integrated growing systems that support biodiversity
  
  

Supporting this approach means New Zealand can:

• Nurture the sustainability of the commercial growers domestically

• Protect native plants and biosecurity 

• Keep pest management less chemical-intensive

• Increase sustainable resources we use.
  
  

New Zealand also exports flowers elsewhere in the world so there’s a balance to be struck to protect our unique position and engage constructively with the realities of global trade. 

Hence the new standards under consideration to manage risks,  including:

• Commercial production standards

• Basic pest management measures

• Targeted controls for high-risk pests

• Verification and pathway monitoring.

We’re calling on all Floral Upstarts to be part of the discussion and contribute to the future shape of New Zealand’s flower industry.


Here's how you can help:

1. Make a submission to MPI - it’s important that policy makers are aware of the diversity and resilience of the floriculture sector (all the documentation is here)

2. Spread the word about the proposed changes so your customers and the public know what’s at stake (or just share Christy Ralphs social media post to your followers)

3. Contribute to a fundraiser to cover the costs of the professional to write a submission representing the industry's views (donating the proceeds of one bunch of flowers could make the difference).

This isn’t just about saying “not in our own backyards’, it’s about presenting the perils and the opportunity to protect the precious position of New Zealand as a leader in the world of seasonal and local flowers. 

Written by: Julie Treanor - Owner of The Pickery and co-creator of The Floral Business Activator who wants more than anything for New Zealand to stand up for a floral industry that’s more sustainable and local because it’s the right thing to do! 🇳🇿

Follow Julie on Instagram @thepickery