Grown with love,
from the soil up
Kat Rodger founded Duncan Rd in 2019, but her story starts on Duncan Road in Kaingaroa (Northland, NZ), where she grew up barefoot and busy, playing in the dirt, crossing the creek, and picking flowers from the roadside (and, occasionally, other people’s gardens). As the youngest of three with two older brothers, she spent a lot of time on her own, following her curiosity.
Her love for flowers runs in the family, and her grandmother filled her home with weekly arrangements (also often picked from the neighbours' gardens). Her mum’s wild garden was where she first started cutting bunches to give to friends, usually for birthdays, sometimes just because.
When a friend asked her to bring fresh flowers regularly, that was the beginning. She planted three small beds, just five metres long, and started growing. Now, she farms just under a quarter acre of flowers on her family property in Waipapakauri, cultivating them with the seasons and nourishing the soil as if it’s sacred; still finding that same joy every time she picks a bunch.
It’s not just about flowers. It never was. It’s about building something with your hands, sharing beauty with others, and creating a life that feels rooted.
The Gardens
Kat lives on her family's 12-hectare avocado orchard, originally planted by her Dad. With a weirdly wonderful microclimate with no frosts, Duncan Rd Gardens experiences an unusually long flowering season. Beneath the surface lie ancient Kauri forests, and the soil has been lovingly nurtured and transformed from sandy loam to create a richer, more diverse ecosystem.
Because everything is grown outdoors (no greenhouses here), every bouquet reflects the true rhythm of the season - fresh, unexpected, and often ahead of the curve.
Floral Arrangement Workshop at Duncan Rd Flowers.
Location: Duncan Rd Flower Farm, 61 Imms Road, Waipapakauri.
Date & Time: Saturday 21st February, 4-6.30pm
We would love to welcome you to our summer on-farm floral experience.
A hands-on floral arrangement workshop set among the blooms.
Join us on the farm for a relaxed and inspiring workshop that blends seasonality, craft, and story. You’ll be guided through a table centrepiece arrangement from start to finish, using sustainably grown flowers freshly picked from the gardens here at Duncan Rd.
Together, we will explore:
A guided walk through the flower farm – see what’s in bloom and learn how we grow with care and intention.
A conversation about our journey – the ethos behind Duncan Rd and our commitment to sustainability, soil health and producing beautiful flowers for our community.
A floral arranging tutorial – discover our approach to natural, unstructured design.
Time to create your own table centrepiece to take home – using fresh and seasonal summer blooms. All materials will be provided, including a NZ-made Poppy vase from Flora & Thread to take home with you. These vases are purpose made for foam-free arranging, with a built-in flower frog and removable mesh top to give extra support.
Nibbles and light refreshments will be provided. Please let us know any allergies or dietary requirements. There is a form at checkout.
No previous experience is needed – just a love for flowers and a curiosity to create. You’ll leave with your own vase arrangement, a new appreciation for seasonal blooms, and a few tips and tricks to use at home.
Spaces are limited.
We keep these gatherings small so there’s time for hands-on learning and connection.