Sustainable Floristry in Christchurch: A Long-Standing Harakeke Philosophy

At Harakeke Florist, sustainability is not a trend we have recently adopted. It has been part of our thinking for many years.
Long before sustainable floristry became a wider conversation within the flower industry, Harakeke founder Laura McGuire was already exploring how florists could work differently and reduce unnecessary waste.
In 2009, Laura was named New Zealand Young Florist of the Year and went on to represent the floristry industry at the national Young Horticulturist of the Year competition. As part of that competition, Laura developed a project focused on recyclable florist materials.
The project was awarded second place in the AGMARDT Market Innovation Project, recognising an approach to floristry that considered not only how flowers looked, but also the materials used to create, wrap and present them.
Sustainability Before It Became a Buzzword
Floristry is a beautiful industry, but traditionally it has also relied heavily on single-use materials, plastics, floral foam and packaging.
For Laura, the challenge was always to think about how florists could create beautiful work while being more conscious of what was left behind.
That early project on recyclable florist materials helped shape an approach that remains important at Harakeke today: use thoughtfully, waste less and work with nature rather than against it.
More than fifteen years later, sustainability has become an increasingly important part of the global floristry conversation, but for Harakeke it has always felt like a natural extension of good floristry.
A More Considered Approach to Flowers
Our approach to sustainable floristry in Christchurch is practical rather than perfect.
Flowers are a natural product, and every week is different. Availability changes with the seasons, growers, weather and the flower market. We embrace that variation rather than trying to make every bouquet look exactly the same all year round.
Where possible, we choose flowers for their seasonality, quality and longevity. We also look for opportunities to use locally grown flowers and foliage and to incorporate beautiful seasonal materials that reflect what is growing around Canterbury.
Working seasonally allows us to create bouquets that feel fresh and connected to the time of year, while often reducing the need to rely solely on flowers that have travelled long distances.
Making the Most of Every Stem
Reducing flower waste is also an important part of how we work.
As florists, we are constantly assessing flowers at different stages of their life. A stem that may no longer be suitable for a premium bouquet can still have another purpose.
Flowers and foliage may be reused in smaller arrangements, dried, repurposed for creative work or incorporated into displays where appropriate.
That mindset — finding value in what we already have — is something that has remained with Harakeke since Laura's early work around recyclable florist materials.
Thoughtful Packaging
Packaging is another area where small changes can make a meaningful difference.
We aim to keep our flower presentation beautiful while avoiding unnecessary layers of packaging. Wherever practical, we favour materials that can be reused, recycled or disposed of more thoughtfully.
For us, sustainable floristry does not mean compromising on how a bouquet feels when it arrives at someone's door. It means asking whether every material we use genuinely adds something to the flowers.
Seasonal Flowers in Christchurch
One of the greatest advantages of being a Christchurch florist is the abundance of incredible seasonal material available throughout Canterbury.
From spring bulbs and flowering branches to summer garden flowers, autumn foliage and beautiful winter textures, each season brings something completely different.
We love allowing those seasonal changes to influence our work.
Rather than forcing flowers into a fixed recipe, our florist-choice bouquets are designed around what is looking best at the market and from our growers that week.
The result is a bouquet that feels individual, seasonal and distinctly Harakeke.
Sustainability Is an Ongoing Process
We would never claim that floristry can be completely waste-free.
Flowers need to be transported, cooled, conditioned, wrapped and delivered, and there will always be practical challenges involved in working with such a delicate, perishable product.
For us, sustainability is about continually asking better questions.
Can we use less packaging?
Can this material be reused?
Can we choose something seasonal?
Can we make better use of what we already have?
Can we create something beautiful without adding something unnecessary?
Those small decisions, repeated every day, are what create meaningful change.
Award-Winning Floristry With a Sustainable Foundation
Laura's second-place AGMARDT Market Innovation Project award for her work on recyclable florist materials remains an important part of the Harakeke story.
It represents something we still believe strongly today: innovation in floristry is not only about creating something beautiful. It is also about thinking carefully about how we create it.
From our Christchurch flower shop, we continue to create seasonal bouquets, arrangements and gifts with that philosophy in mind.
Beautiful flowers, thoughtfully made.
And wherever we can, a little less waste along the way.