Trans-Tasman plant trade to be discussed

Press, 11 February 1983, Page 24

Trans-Tasman plant trade to be discussed

New Zealand’s plant trade with Australia is likely to be the subject of a full discussion at the annual conference of the New Zealand Nurserymen’s Association in Auckland this month. The conference will run from February 21 to 24 and will bring together representatives from the 350member association which comprises owners of retail garden centres and plant nurseries. The president of -the

association, Mr Don Liddle, said Australian quarantine regulations for plant importation were very strict. “While vye can import a reasonable quantity of new plants the Australians are limited to as little has half a dozen,” he said. “The situation is complicated by the fact that each State has different regulations.” t Mr Liddle said New Zealand nurserymen did not want to take over the Australian market, but it was felt there was room for more liberal trade. “We believe the plants we have to offer are complemetary to those sold in Australia.” “It would be quite feasible for us to partly, or even fully grow certain varieties here which could be finished off in Australia.” He said two plants developed in New Zealand which would do well in Australia were virus-free daphne and virus-free nandina. Looking at the New Zealand market, Mr Liddle said it appeared to be holding up and the garden centre trade was maintaining its position. There was a tendency for more people to grow their own vegetables and plants from seed. “Marketing is likely to be discussed. There is a general belief that New Zealand growers have a big capacity for more production and one .way or another we have got .to improve our marketing,” he said.

“I feel that in the past this has been one of our weak areas and we might be lagging behind in the field of marketing. The association will probably now give it more emphasis.” Mr Liddle said one of the

promotion activities this year would be the “Shrub of the Year.” This is Gravillia Gaudi Chaudi, which he described as one of the outstanding plants to become commercially available this decade. “It is a prostrate oak-leaf like Gravillia which is extremely good for tub work on patios and in rockeries,” he said.

“It has bright red flowers and brilliant leaf colouring. It can withstand up to eight degrees of frost, so it is very hardy.”

The conference will be opened by the Prime Minister, Mr, Muldoon, and the conference address will be given by Mr Phillip Yates of the Yates Corporation.