Showing it with flowers
BY MICHAEL BERRY
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Aroha Hebberd is excited.
The 19-year-old Blenheim florist will compete for the first time in the Flonzi (Florists New Zealand Incorporated) competition at the Ellerslie International Flower Show in Christchurch from today through to Sunday.
"I'm really looking forward to it," she said.
The competition is limited to 10 apprentice florists aged under 21, selected from throughout the country. They will battle it out with their creativity on the centre stage in the main marquee for the five days of the show.
The contestants will be given flowers and 15 briefs, which they have to design and execute the day before they have to present them.
The winner will travel to the London Worldskills International Floristry competition in 2011 as New Zealand's representative. Forty countries will be competing there.
Miss Hebberd said winning was "definitely the top thing", but she also wanted to meet other young florists and enjoy the event. "It's nice to see what you can make at the end of it, and meeting other young florists is really cool."
Miss Hebberd has been a florist for 3 1/2 years. She started with an after-school and Saturday job at Pink Poppie Designer Florist, but three years ago owner Nina Stanley offered her fulltime work.
"She was reluctant at first, but since then she's been just excellent," Miss Stanley said.
She said Miss Hebberd had a good chance of impressing the judges.
"She's very creative, she's got a real natural flair, but she has a great attitude as well – a great Kiwi attitude."
Miss Hebberd said she loved her job. "Just getting the chance to get creative and making all sorts of things for our clients is great."
- The Marlborough Express
