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Rebecka Keeling
Matakana flower grower Rebecka Keeling has helped organise a national campaign to draw attention to the plight of flower growers, who say they are fed up that their harvest is the only perishable crop not allowed to be sold under Covid rules.
As part of their protest, growers in Wellington are delivering flowers to relevant politicians in the Beehive at 11.30am today – including to the Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
The campaign is expected to go viral, with flower growers and flower lovers nationwide posting pictures of their flowers online under the campaign hashtag #petalsforparliament.
Ms Keeling, the owner of Slow Blooms, says while other sectors have been allowed to keep selling their products under strict safety protocols, flowers have been overlooked.
“The definition of essential seems arbitrary when supermarkets can keep selling beer, and liquor stores can home-deliver whiskey, but we’re not allowed to sell or distribute flowers at all,” she says
Flower Growers Aotearoa says many flower farmers are on the brink of ruin with their most expensive spring crops going straight to the compost.
