Waikato Rose Society

27/08/2026

Greetings, fellow rose lovers! While we may be known for our passion for roses, we love celebrating all the beauty that the gardening world has to offer.

We are excited to share details for a truly historic event happening right here in the Waikato: the 2026 Centenary National Daffodil Show, hosted by the Northern Daffodil Club.

This is a centenary event, so it promises to be a spectacular display of blooms you won't want to miss!

📅 Date: September 19-20, 2026
📍 Location: Hamilton Gardens (Pavilion)

Whether you're a daffodil enthusiast or just appreciate a stunning flower display, this is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the finest blooms in the country and support our fellow gardeners.

For more information about the Northern Daffodil Club and the show, keep contact Lisa Watkins, [email protected].

We hope to see some of our members there!

22/07/2026

We are very saddened to hear of the passing of David J.C Austin, Chairman of David Austin Roses.

David J. C. Austin
Chairman, David Austin Roses
1958-2026

It is with great sadness that we announce that David J. C. Austin has died at his Shropshire home, surrounded by his family. He had been diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare and incurable neurological condition.

David joined the family business in Albrighton, Shropshire, in 1990, as his father, the late David C. H. Austin, was gaining wider recognition for his work in breeding English Roses. He went on to lead the business for more than three decades, driving its growth and transformation from a specialist nursery into a globally recognised name among rose lovers. Throughout his leadership, the creation of beautiful, fragrant roses was always central to the business he built.

David’s children, Richard, James and Olivia, said:

“First and foremost, Dad was a gardener. That was at the heart of who he was. He carried our grandfather’s vision with humility and an unwavering sense of responsibility, always putting the roses, the family business and its people before himself. He was kind and modest, with a playful spirit, a sense of adventure and a real enjoyment of life. He faced his illness with the same courage and dignity that he brought to life. Above all, he was our Dad, and words cannot express how much we will miss him. We couldn’t be more proud of him.”

The Austin family would like to thank everyone who cared for David and supported them during his illness.

David Austin Roses continues under its experienced leadership team, working closely with the next generation of the Austin family, and we are as committed as ever to serving our partners and rose lovers around the world.

18/07/2026

What a stunning day for our second public rose pruning demonstration at Wairere Nurseries! The sun was shining, the secateurs were snipping, and our wonderful members and visitors came ready to learn 🌿✨

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us—your enthusiasm for rose care is what makes our community so special!

FINAL DEMONSTRATION AT WAIRERE NURSERIES:

📅 Sunday 26 July · 11:00am – 1:00pm

14/07/2026

Pruning video from NZRS. https://youtu.be/uWnKCEeOQ3c?si=P3wb15OnOwPso-9Z
Our next demonstration is on 18 July 1-3pm at Wairere Nursery

Hayden Foulds from the New Zealand Rose Society demonstrates how to...

28/06/2026

In this episode of Flower Farming in NZ, Jo Robinson is joined by Samantha Matthews of Matthews Nurseries, ⁠a third-generation family business that has been growing roses since 1947. Samantha takes us behind the scenes of modern rose breeding, sharing the science, patience, and passion required to develop new rose varieties that are beautiful, healthy, and suitable for New Zealand gardens and flower farms.
From planting 50,000 seeds and selecting just a few hundred seedlings, to years of spray-free trials and evaluation, Samantha explains why developing a new rose can take more than a decade.

In this episode of Flower Farming in NZ, Jo Robinson is joined by S...

24/06/2026

Some pro tips for planting your bareroot roses 🌹

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19A8jyBgj6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

14/06/2026

Mid-winter Christmas done right! 🎄🌹
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us at the WRS lunch — great food, even better company, and so much rose talk.

Special thanks to the team for organising, and to the Hamilton Working Men's Club for having us.

Now… bring on the 2026 rose season!
Hamilton Workingmen's Dart Club

12/06/2026

Are you ready for the rose season?

12/06/2026

For all your FIFA fans 😆
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CDbmK3DRe/?mibextid=wwXIfr

30/05/2026

I know you want to prune your rose bushes, but you should really wait until July. Join us on one of our pruning demonstrations in July to get all the pro tips you need.

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