Daffodil delivery saves the day

Many hands and a helicopter made sure Daffodil Day went ahead in Kaikoura this year.

A daffodil shortage in the area had organisers worried for the annual Cancer Society fundraiser on Friday.

Organisers of the Daffodil Day stall in Kaikoura, Alison Lilley and Joy Woodgate, even put a call out for extra daffodils last week as they nervously waited for the flowers to bloom.

Lilley said with the road closures and some of their normal suppliers no longer in business they were short of daffodils to sell. A cold winter meant many of the flowers were still in bud and there was difficulty getting them from Clarence to Kaikoura with State Highway 1, north of the town, closed for earthquake repairs.

The day was at risk of being cancelled, but with the help of the North Canterbury Transport Infrastructure Recovery (NCTIR) alliance, currently working on the road and rail networks between Picton and Christchurch, daffodils from Clarence and Kekerengu were flown in by helicopter.

NCTIR logistics manager Kevin McGrath said the organisation was only too happy to help out, flying in 900 daffodils on Friday morning.

‘‘We’re proud to be able to support the Kaikoura district and play our small part in making sure Daffodil Day continues as normal.’’

He said the helicopter was already dropping off abseilers and other workers repairing SH1 and the Main North Line, so it made sense to pick up the daffodils on the way back.

Lilley said it was absolutely wonderful the alliance could help.

‘‘It was a saviour, and they are really beautiful flowers up that way ... I was worried we wouldn’t have any daffodils to sell, this annual collection is so important ... They’re doing a great job on the roads and we really appreciate this extra help,’’ Lilley said.