Previously held in the city of Auckland, the show moved to Christchurch at Hagley Park in 2008.
Attendance is several tens of thousands of people at each event during the five days in which it is open to the public.
The members of The Rotary Club of Auckland wanted to establish a unique fundraiser to raise money for local charities, so they decided to host an event modelled on the famous Chelsea Flower Show in England.
In 2004, the Rotary Club of Auckland sold the business to EFS Charitable Trust and SMC Group Ltd which now operates the event, with the intention of providing support at a community level and to the horticultural industry.
On 19 November 2007, the organisers sold the name and their services to the Christchurch City Council for NZ$3 million.