Something Is Better Than Nothing

Moa Gardens grew from a simple family belief:

Something is better than nothing.

You don't need to know everything before you begin. You don't need lots of money, perfect plans or perfect timing.

Sometimes the most extraordinary things start when someone simply decides to give something a go.

That idea helped turn a handful of dahlia plants into a flower farm, family projects into businesses, and dreams into real places that people can visit.

That simple idea still guides every decision we make at Moa Gardens today.

What Grows Here

  • CURIOSITY

    Every question is the beginning of a new story. We hope visitors leave noticing a little more than they did when they arrived.

  • NATURE

    Flowers, butterflies and changing seasons gently remind us to slow down, look closer and reconnect with the natural world.

  • CONNECTION

    The best conversations often happen unexpectedly. We believe nature has a wonderful way of bringing people together.

  • NZ native plant art print by Milly – hand-drawn in Aotearoa

    CREATIVITY

    Art, photography, writing and making are part of everyday life at Moa Gardens. Creativity isn't something we display—it's something we encourage.

  • STORIES

    Every visitor brings their own experiences, ideas and memories. We hope new stories begin here and continue long after people return home.

  • GROWTH

    We believe extraordinary things often grow from small beginnings. Every season, every project and every person has room to grow.

Why We Built Moa Gardens

I wanted my daughters to learn by doing, not simply by reading about it.

I wanted to create a place where generations naturally share stories, curiosity is encouraged, and visitors leave feeling happier than when they arrived.

Most of all, I wanted to build something that reminds people to slow down, reconnect with nature and one another, and perhaps leave inspired to take the next step in their own story.

From Small Beginnings

Moa Gardens didn't begin with a business plan.

It began with three curious girls, a handful of dahlia plants, a camera, and a lot of learning by doing.

What started as small family projects gradually grew into a flower farm, photography, art, butterflies, books, and eventually Moa Gardens itself.

Today, those same stories continue through the projects Milly, Gracie and Lexi create and share with visitors.

Read Milly and Gracie-Mae's Stories

Where the Moa Gardens Story Began

Long before Moa Gardens, there was Green Footed Kiwi and a simple idea: to learn by doing.

The Dahlia Kids: Our Journey into Growing Dahlias from Seed in NZ follows our family's adventure as we discovered the joy of growing thousands of unique dahlias from seed, learning together, making mistakes, and building something we never imagined.

More than a gardening book, it's a story about curiosity, creativity and believing that doing something is better than doing nothing. We hope it inspires others to begin their own projects, embrace the unexpected, and discover just how much can grow from taking that first small step.

The philosophy that inspired this book continues to guide everything we create at Moa Gardens today.

Coming Soon to Our Shop

Why "Moa Gardens"?

The name Moa Gardens comes from the history hidden beneath this land.

Archaeological investigations on our property uncovered evidence of an early Māori cooking site beside the creek, including moa bones and the remains of an ancient earth oven.

A stone marker now stands near the discovery site.

For us, the moa represents more than a bird. It connects Moa Gardens to the stories, people and history of this special place. We hope our gardens become a place where new stories continue to grow.