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With Mother’s Day coming up, Franklin Times talks with gerbera manager Erin Waterman of Blooming Hill Flowers at Puni, near Pukekohe.
How long have you been working here?
I started here part-time while at high school, moved to Australia where I lived for 11 years, and then I came back to Mauku because I love it so much.
When you first started, what were your tasks?
I did the picking of roses (we mainly had roses back then), bunching roses, grading (which
means separating the second grade from the first), disbudding, a lot of crop maintenance, this job has a lot of variety.
Where are the bulk of your flowers sold?
The bulk of our flowers go to the United Flower Growers Ltd (UFG) markets in Auckland,
although we send some down south. We do get a lot of local people coming to us to buy, like florists. We’re trying to push more of the online selling direct to customers. Our flowers are generally delivered 1-2 days after picking so they are fresh, unlike imported flowers. We launched a sales site www.buythebunch.co.nz – you can get flowers delivered, or do click and collect if you’re local.
What are you growing now?
Lots of gerberas! Bright, beautiful gerberas and roses.
Do you have a favourite variety?
To be biased, I’d say gerberas because I spend most of my time there. With regards to roses, I do like all of them, but I tend to love the bigger, brighter colours like shades of orange and yellow.
How busy are you in the lead-up to Mother’s Day?
Our busiest period would have to be Mother’s Day, followed by Valentine’s Day. But all
throughout summer, we’re busy preparing for those days. It’s not just one week, and it’s done. We have to make sure the crops are prepared months beforehand, so they flush in time.
How long have you been using paper sleeves for flowers?
It would be about two to three years now. They present the flowers really well, too – they stand out.
What else do you love about your job?
I love working outside, I love the multicultural aspect we have with our staff, I love washing a plant thrive that you’ve tended, it’s really rewarding. It can be an investigative job too, plants can’t tell you what’s wrong with them, you have to think outside the square.
You mentioned the multicultural aspect; how many different cultures are you working with?
Roughly four or five different cultures, but we also have backpackers from around the world
working with us short term.
How many staff work here?
About 15 staff, a mix of permanent and casual staff.
What else is so great about working here?
I live six minutes away, being so close [to work], I don’t get stuck in Auckland traffic, which is great. You have a very good work-life balance. I did an office job for about 11 years in Australia, where I was a client services officer for a big legal firm. Here, the job is physical, it’s good for your mind and your body actually. It’s a calming environment, and it can be quite therapeutic.
I chose this job because it was an interest I had. My parents were very much into gardening, and they had a big, landscaped area at their two-acre property at Mauku, so I guess it was in the genes.
Do you do anything special on-site for Mother’s Day?
We always get bunches of flowers to give to our mothers. It’s a bit like when you’re a child,
picking daisies for your mum, it brings back that memory when you give her a bunch of flowers.
Does your mum have a favourite that you bring her?
My mum is actually a part of a floral art group, so she loves any flowers.
- Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11.
