Below is listed news items from February 2005.
THE HSNO ACT
How are you getting on with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act,
which came into effect on 1 January 2005?
It does affect many in the nursery industry because it covers agrichemicals,
sprays, pesticides etc, how they’re bought, transported, used, stored, and
disposed of and carries big penalties.
We ran a detailed article in Comm Hort magazine in November 2004 on the new Act,
its provisions, and where to go for help with it.
If you missed that article, you’ll find it at www.nursery.net.nz. Click on
Commercial Horticulture Magazine, then Articles.
Nursery trade looking up
Things started to look up for the NZ garden trade in January after an abrupt
change of weather at New Year. For most companies, Spring and early Summer
trading was not good. The landscape sector, however, continues to operate
at a high level and plant brokers have begun reporting shortages of many lines,
especially NZ natives.
Positive but nervous
In Feb issue of Comm Hort Magazine, NZ nurseries, garden centres and suppliers
say what they think are the prospects for 2005.
Most are positive, but nervous, are concerned about cost increases stemming from
the rising costs of oil, and feel their prospects will largely depend on what
happens in the economy generally.
More cost pressures on the way
Feb 16 was the day the Kyoto Protocol, to which NZ is a signatory, took effect
officially. Cost flow-ons will filter through with time and some are to be
spelled out in the Budget. Two already foreshadowed are a 4c per litre increase
in petrol costs and 4 percent extra on household power bills, probably more for
businesses. Just what we need. Australia and the US have not signed the
Protocol.
Warehouse sends out a shock
There was a nasty shock for many companies in late January when the Warehouse
announced it was cutting its 3000 supplier numbers by half.
Furthermore, those remaining were summoned to meetings, reported the NZ Herald,
and asked to drop their prices by 10 percent, improve quality and delivery. The
policy is also to be implemented in Australia.
One supplier said: “It’s been put down as non-negotiable. We’ve been told
we have to reply by March 1.”
There is a lot of garden-related product sold through the Warehouse, greenlife
included, so presumably many companies in our trade will be hurt. Said one
commentator: “There’s no way the nursery industry can sustain a 10 per cent
price cut – margins are just too tight already.”
Will the other mass-marketers follow the Warehouse lead with their suppliers?
One to do so almost immediately was stationery retailer Paper Plus, but another,
Farmers said it would not. It seems unlikely however that any mass-marketer
would be happy long-term with its suppliers selling to rivals at 10 percent
less.
So, at a time when the nursery trade should be pushing for higher prices for its
products, the price pressures look to be moving the other way.
Tell us what you think – flick a message through to comhort@nursery.net.nz.
Auckland Autumn Trade Day
Exhibitors: There are still good stand sites available at the big
Auckland Autumn Trade Day, 2nd March. Give us a call today on (09) 358-2749.
Fantastic exposure for your company and products. Affordable, easy to do, doesn’t
take too much time. It could be your best investment for 2005.
Visitors: If you’re in or associated with the nursery or garden
industry, you’re welcome to attend Trade Day. No charge for admission,
although the Showgrounds charge $5 if you use their carparks. Show hours are 9am
to 4pm and you can buy off most of the stands after 3pm. You’ll see the latest
and best from the NZ nursery industry in one place at one time.
Venue: Auckland Showgrounds, Greenlane Rd, Epsom, Auckland.
Aussie Conference
The Australian NGIA conference is this year in Fremantle, WA, from 14-17 March.
At Reference Publishing’s request, the organising committee through chairman
Geoff Richards agreed to extend their Early Bird registration discounts for
Kiwis wishing to attend until the end of February (was end of Jan) – so what
are you waiting for -- let’s go!
The Aussie conferences are great, and what better excuse for a visit to Western
Australia, a place most Kiwis say they would like visit but never get around to.
Unfortunately it’s not cheap. Air NZ runs direct flights to Perth but the
return fare is over $700 and taxes are another $140 or so. There might be
economies if you get a good package deal to Sydney or Melbourne then hook into a
cheap internal flight but that adds hassle unless you’re staying a day or two
in those cities.
Have a look at www.ngia.com.au for what the conference has to offer and for what’s
on in WA see www.freofocus.com.au and www.westernaustralia.com
We will report from the WA Conference in due course in Comm Hort Magazine
NZ CONFERENCE IN JUNE
Speaking of conferences, plans are well advanced for the NZ NGIA Conference, to
run from 29 June to 1 July at the Novotel Hotel in Hamilton. The theme is “Growing
Together”, looking at ways of building businesses through collaboration and
networking and through following proven, “gold winning recipes for success.”
There are heaps of workshops as well, plus nursery and GC visits. More details
in Feb Comm Hort, or contact the NGIA (04) 918-3511 if you’d like to attend.
COMMHORT THIS MONTH
Our February Commercial Horticulture Magazine features:
Piggabeen Valley Nursery (NSW), recently taken over by innovative people
from the IT industry;
Harrison’s Country Gardenworld garden centre (near Waikanae), which
shows how to run a successful “destination” garden centre in splendid
isolation out in the country;
Transportect and its Bottom Up irrigation system which it says combines
the best of capillary and ebb-and-flow watering and is rapidly catching on in
NZ, Australia and North America;
The Wild Rose Café at Mission View garden centre (Napier) which is
brimming with clever display ideas;
A report on the latest and best plants from trials in Holland;
The Banks Memorial Lecture in which nurseryman Peter Cave argues against
new controls on plant imports
An update on Duncan & Davies Nursery (New Plymouth) and its decision
to swap totally to exports;
The EFS award-winning art-in-the-garden display by Jan Hart.
Personality of the month is Kevin Glucina, of Glucina’s Tropical Plants
which now has nurseries in both NZ and Australia. Kevin was a chiropractor
before swapping to plants.
If you’d like to subscribe to Comm Hort, just click www.nursery.net.nz
NURSERY DEVELOPMENT
SEMINARS
Organised by the NGIA’s Ornamental Growers Sector, these are to be held in
Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch on 19,20 and 21 April respectively.
They’re open to both NGIA and non-NGIA members and aimed at providing
practical hands-on help for growers. More on this in Feb Comm Hort or Ph
Kimberly at the NGIA, (04) 918-3511 if you’d like to attend
COMINGS AND GOINGS
Bulb and flower growers John and Irma Hughes of Blue Mountain Gardens, Tapanui,
are retiring; succulent and cacti growers, Waltraud & Uli Mittmann of Mt
Tiger Gardens, Onerahi, have put their business on the market after being badly
injured in a car accident; Charles & Betty Harrison are retiring and
handling over Midland Horticulture, Palmerston North, to son and daughter-in-law
Joel & Josie; Colin McPherson is putting his Palmerston North GC on the
market; ex-NGIA president David Goudie is retiring (second time) and selling his
Hunua Gardens and begonia nursery. More on all these stories, plus others about
people on the move, in Feb Comm Hort.
POHUTS LATE THIS YEAR
You may have noticed – NZ’s Christmas Tree was a bit late for the Xmas
parties this year, in most places not bursting into full flower until the end of
January. Pohutukawa expert, Graeme Platt, says it’s the latest he has ever
seen the trees flower. Most made up for their lateness by putting on a glorious
show. More on this in Feb Comm Hort
Above is a synopsis of articles printed in one issue of Commercial Horticulture - Magazine of the Nursery Industry.
For information on Commercial Horticulture, including subscribing, please visit the Comm Hort Feature Page.