Thank You!

The 2009 Taranaki Rhododendron & Garden Festival has been a brilliant success. We are very grateful that it has been possible with the funding and support of our sponsors. It is with their partnership that we have been able to present this Festival and we ask you to support them in return.

Special thanks also to our Festival Gardeners who have worked so hard all year and during the Festival to deliver gardens of excellence and interest.

Dates for 2010 are 29 October - 7 November.

What makes this internationally famous event so unique? The warm and hospitable garden owners of the Taranaki region. In its 22nd year, the Festival presents for your pleasure over 50 of the most beautiful gardens in New Zealand and encourages you to take the time to wander through them all and meet the garden owners who are knowledgeable, helpful and welcoming.

Building on the excitement this year, we are embracing over 10 new gardens in the Festival and adding another new, boutique category - Special Interest Gardens.

The gardens reflect an enormous amount of care, dedication and hard-work exemplified by only those who love growing things can possibly achieve. This year the Festival has 14 Gardens of Significance, of which one is of international significance. The most of any region in New Zealand and, of which, we are extremely proud!

The 2009 events programme is sure to have something to interest everyone. From the high-tech and innovative Landscape Design Project to the beloved Garden Speaker Series, the hugely popular Jazz & Wine in gardens and many more events.

There is a small but happy change to our team as our Festival Manager, Lisa Haskell, is taking maternity leave and will be back in 2010. Lisa Ekdahl will be stepping in as Acting Festival Manager for this year.

We know you will enjoy our fabulous Festival in an incomparable Taranaki environment. So come and have a wonderful time and celebrate spring between the mountain and the sea!

The Festival Team
Chief Executive - Suzanne Porter
Festival Manager - Lisa Haskell (till June 09)
Acting Festival Manager - Lisa Ekdahl (till June 10)
Business Manager - Chris Herlihy
Festival Publicist - Bruce Gatward-Cook
Graphic Designer - Ché Rogers
Advertising Co-ordinator - Helen Ivess
Projects Manager - Doug Bird

Garden Liaison Team
Erica Jago, Jenny Oakley & Tony Barnes

The Trustees
Elaine Gill (Chairperson), Bruce Richards, Lynn Bublitz, Glenn Brebner, Charles Wilkinson, Alison Rumball, Dion Tuuta

Patron
Peter Tennent

Festival Office
PO Box 4251, New Plymouth
P: 0064 06 759 8412
F: 0064 06 759 8458
E: enquiries@rhodo.co.nz