The People Behind The Event

The Garden Marlborough festival is a wonderful celebration of our province, showcasing many legendary gardens and their dedicated owners who work tirelessly throughout the year to open their beautiful spaces for others to enjoy and draw inspiration from.

An event of this scale simply wouldn’t be possible without the incredible volunteers who help make it so iconic. These unsung heroes bring passion, energy and heart to every aspect of the festival – from the cheerful staff at registration, to the knowledgeable tour guides, friendly workshop hosts, helpful fete site assistants, and the generous teams preparing morning teas and lunches, among many others.

We are especially grateful to our volunteer committee – a passionate group who contribute countless hours throughout the year to plan, coordinate and deliver New Zealand’s premier garden festival. Their dedication and vision sit at the heart of Garden Marlborough’s ongoing success.

We also extend our sincere thanks to our valued sponsors and funding partners. Together, this incredible community of people makes Garden Marlborough a truly special celebration of place, people and the love of gardens.

Come and enjoy some of the good life with us this November.

A Word From Our Sponsor: Bayleys Marlborough 

Welcome to Garden Marlborough 2025.

We’re thrilled to return as principal sponsor for a second year, celebrating once again the creativity, connection and beauty that make this event such a standout. With this year’s theme gently inspired by the Pacific Rim, Garden Marlborough 2025 brings a fresh sense of energy and diversity to the weekend. We are especially proud to see Starsky, the stunning Waihopai Valley property of our very own Glenn and Carina Dick, featured in Garden Marlborough for the first time, as part of the Ultimate Escapes garden tour. 

Last year, we embraced the event with genuine enthusiasm – even transforming our auction room into a space for one of the hands-on workshops. This year, we’re back with even more excitement, ready to help this iconic weekend continue to flourish. Expect a colourful mix of cultural influence, garden inspiration and warm Marlborough hospitality across the tours, workshops and social events.

You’ll see many of our Bayleys Marlborough team members soaking it all in alongside you – as passionate locals and garden lovers, we’re right at home in this setting.

We can’t wait to share another unforgettable Garden Marlborough with you. Enjoy every moment!

Garden Marlborough In The Community

Garden Marlborough (2004) Inc. is a registered not-for-profit charity dedicated to supporting our local community. Through fundraising and charitable activities, we provide grants and financial assistance to local projects that align with our mission: to promote the joys and benefits of gardening while enhancing the Marlborough environment.

Over the years, we have contributed to a range of community initiatives, including improvements at Te Whānau Hou Grovetown Lagoon, developments at Selmes Garden Trust, and the creation of edible gardens and the planting of shade trees in local schools. We have also donated outdoor artwork and sculptures to Wairau Hospital and Pollard Park and supported the garden development at Hospice Marlborough. 

This year, Garden Marlborough is proud to support the inspiring Waitohi Picton Community Garden. Once a historic market garden, the site is being revitalised for community use through a collaborative local effort. We’re pleased to contribute towards a new shed – part of creating a space everyone can enjoy.

Each year, Garden Marlborough proudly supports the next generation of green thinkers through a landscape or horticultural scholarship. This year, the scholarship has been awarded to Jodi Choi, a dedicated and talented Bachelor of Landscape Architecture student at Lincoln University. Jodi is recognised for her enthusiasm and strong academic performance, and we’re delighted to contribute to her journey as she pursues a future in landscape design. If you know of a worthwhile local project that aligns with our values, please get in touch at admin@gardenmarlborough.co.nz.