Flowers might look innocent enough, and as beautiful as they are, but behind the scenes the global floristry industry can carry a hefty carbon footprint. Many cut flowers are grown in countries like Colombia, Ecuador and Kenya, then flown thousands of kilometres in refrigerated cargo before reaching New Zealand. Flowers from Colombia alone travel around 12,200 kilometres before landing here.
In Matakana though, two local women are quietly showing there’s another way.
By sourcing blooms grown just 4.9 kilometres away in Point Wells, Twig & Bloom has reduced its flower miles from thousands of kilometres to a short drive down the road. During the warmer months, owner Tara Southgate buys around 90 percent of her flowers from local grower Flora Flowers, run by Lisa Bindon.
Lisa, a former florist with a horticultural degree, has spent the past eight years growing flowers across a thousand square metres of land in Point Wells, alongside her lifestyle block in Warkworth. Her biggest crops include dahlias, zinnias and sunflowers, with peak supply running from November to March, plus tulips in September.
“Tara probably buys 50% of my flowers. She’s really supportive and from November through to the end of March I can supply most of what she needs,” says Lisa.
“I like dealing with Tara because I know she appreciates the fact that the flowers are locally grown. Not all florists are aware of where the flowers come from or care so much. It’s really nice to do business with her.”
For Tara, the partnership is part of a much bigger shift. After a career in graphic design and time living in Japan, where she was introduced to Ikebana, she returned to floristry and bought Twig & Bloom four years ago. What she found was an industry built on natural beauty, but often disconnected from sustainability.
“I could get roses from Columbia that are bigger and cheaper than buying them in New Zealand, which is a bummer,” says Tara. “The more I learned about floristry the more horrified I became and then I discovered the Sustainable Floristry Network.”
In 2024, Tara completed the ‘Foundation in Sustainable Floristry’ course and became a Sustainable Floristry Network Member Florist, committing to better sourcing, reducing waste, and lowering her business’s environmental impact. That includes buying locally whenever possible, switching to sustainable wrapping, investing in an electric van and working to move away from traditional floral foam.
“Switching to a sustainable wrap and investing in an electric van was an easy and natural step,” says Tara. “One of the biggest hurdles remains finding a high-performing alternative to traditional floral foam. We sometimes use AgraWool, which is a step in the right direction, but it doesn’t yet match the performance of conventional foam. I’ve also reached out to one of my wholesalers about importing Oshun pouches – a promising and popular sustainable option used overseas. While we’re not yet fully sustainable, we’re committed to continuous improvement and doing the hard work to get there. At Twig & Bloom, sustainability isn’t a trend – it’s a commitment. Every stem, wrap and choice we make is guided by a deep respect for nature and a desire to tread lightly on the earth.”
Twig & Bloom also diverts green waste to the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market composting system, supporting the village’s long-standing sustainability ethos.
“We’re so proud to have a store like Twig & Bloom here in the Village,” says Richard Didsbury. “Since the early days of the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market, regenerative and sustainable practices have been woven into everything we do. It’s heartening to see owner-operators like Tara continuing that kaupapa in such a thoughtful and inspiring way.”