Visitor numbers for the first day of the Ellerslie International Flower Show are down slightly on projections, but organisers expect them to pick up over the weekend.
About 7000 went through the gate on the opening day of the show at Hagley Park in Christchurch on Wednesday.
Event director Dave Mee says he hoped up to 8000 would visit the show, but the hot weather may have put some off.
Mr Mee says they are still on track to meet the targeted number of 50,000 visitors over the five-day show.
Saturday and Sunday are typically the busiest days and he is expecting up to 30,000 people.
