Episode: New Zealand? Bay of Plenty
Presenter: Melissa King

When you travel it is almost a prerequisite to take home a little piece of local treasure. It is at the little roadside galleries that you will often get the most original finds and in the Bay of Plenty it is all about the national beauty.

The Silver Tree Fern (cyathea dealbata) grows naturally in New Zealand and the real giveaway is the fantastic silvery white underside to the leaf. You will often see the leaf or frond represented in a lot of local artworks or sculptures and it means new life.

Another local treasure is the paua shell, it is a species of abalone and the shell is the most iridescent colour. It looks fabulous made into jewellery or as ornaments for the home. Each shell has different colour tones and patterns so that every piece is unique.

There is nothing more iconic that the kiwi, that famous flightless bird, but make sure you look out for pukeko, which the New Zealand swamp hen. They make the quirkiest little sculptures.

New Zealand artists are fantastically creative and it is not unusual to innovative ideas such as a garden kebab that pop up in the old backyard shed. It is really worth seeking out these quaint little galleries.

EdenGarden ArtGallery
Cnr State Highway 2 & Clarke Road
Te Puna, Yauranga
Ph: +64 7 552 6061
http://www.gardenandartfest.co.nz/

www.bayofplentynz.com

www.newzealand.com