Owhata Central Kids Kindergarten in Rotorua has been named the winner of the Daltons Late Bloomers Awards today.

This marked the final phase of the much-loved Daltons Sunflowers in Kindergartens Project which saw 13,795 kindy children across the country turn their hands to gardening.

The Late Bloomers Awards ran from December 2023 to February 2024 and recognise those kindergartens or regions that struggled with lower temperatures or were impacted by weather or other issues, ensuring everyone had a fair chance for their sunflowers to bloom and be recognised.

First-time winners Owhata Central Kids Kindergarten from Central Kids Kindergarten Association won both the Late Bloomers Widest Sunflower Head Award and Tallest Sunflower Awards.

Their sunflower was 210cm high and the sunflower head measured in at a whopping 40cm wide, the widest grown in the Project’s history!

Late Bloomers Tallest Sunflower Award: Kawakawa Mikaere 5yrs and Arapeta-Ray Bishop 5yrs, admiring their sunflower. Photo supplied.

“At Owhata Kindergarten Whaea Moepera and the tamariki enjoyed growing Dalton’s Raputiputi,” says Teacher, Moepera Akuhata-Brown.

“Watching as Ranginui waters from above, Tama nui te Ra shining glow, and Papatūanuku nurturing from below to help grow our Raputiputi to be big and tall.

“Our tamariki have become kaitiaki of their whenua or natural environment.

“A big mihi to Dalton’s for providing us with this amazing learning opportunity.”

Senna Joe 5yrs and Matilda Phelps-Snodgrass 4yrs hold up the widest sunflower head. Photo supplied.

“Congratulations to our Late Bloomers Award winner Owhata Kindergarten, who have grown some seriously impressive sunflowers,” says Daltons General Manager, Colin Parker.

“These awards allow all tamariki to have their hard work recognised.

“A big thank you to all the kindergartens and teachers that bring the Project to life, it is an absolute delight to watch the pride and joy on everyone’s faces as their sunflowers bloom.”

Anzio Mason 4yrs, Bonnie Hickey 5yrs, and Robbie Thompson in the garden with their sunflower. Photo supplied.

The winning kindergarten will receive a prize pack from Daltons, The Warehouse and GARDENA for the Late Bloomers Tallest Sunflower and Widest Sunflower Head Awards.