Valentine’s Day makes February a peak month for flower imports to Auckland Airport with most coming from Colombia and India.
Unsure what to buy your loved one? Flowers are always a safe bet. In cities worldwide, you’ll see at least a few people wandering the city with bouquets or single roses.
February is the biggest month for rose imports at Auckland Airport, a spokesperson told the Herald. Last February the airport received 30 tonnes of roses alone (30,000kg), with imports almost entirely hailing from Colombia and India.
“You can’t go past the classic bouquet of roses for Valentine’s Day, and looking at the data, that’s what was winning the hearts of Kiwis last year,” said Auckland Airport chief customer officer Scott Tasker.
“These are time-sensitive products, that arrive in New Zealand in the belly hold of aircraft, supporting florists all around the region to fill orders during the month of February.”
Tasker added that the most popular imported flowers in February were roses and chrysanthemums. Using the average weight of a rose, the 30 tonnes imported in 2024 equate to almost half a million flowers.
Exporters send NZ’s finest blooms
Aotearoa won’t just receive blooms but send them too. In February 2024, New Zealand’s most popular export flower was hydrangeas, sending 11 tonnes.
Auckland International Airport’s top export destinations for flowers that month were the US, Japan and Hong Kong.
While February is a big month to import, it’s not the biggest month for exports.
“For local growers it’s really a story of seasonality,” Tasker explained. “The peak month for flower exports last year was August when 91 tonnes, mostly orchids (88%), flew to international markets.”
NZ Bloom, flower exporter and importer, managing director David Ballard said New Zealand has a good position globally as a Southern Hemisphere producer of quality flowers.
“There are a number of talented growers in New Zealand and we connect them to the whole world. In addition, New Zealand florists need a range of flowers, more than what’s produced in New Zealand. So, flowers are imported to broaden out that range for New Zealand consumers”…
