Roses given to mark uni’s anniversary

It was coming up roses for the University of Otago yesterday.

Twenty heritage roses were donated by Heritage Roses Otago to mark the 150th anniversary of the university.

Heritage Roses New Zealand president Maria Church unveiled a plaque at the new garden on the Dunedin campus, where roses were starting to bloom after being planted in October.

Heritage Roses Otago convener Fran Rawling said it had ensured many of the plants donated originated in the 1800s, as a nod to the university being founded in 1869.

When Heritage Roses Otago identified heritage events that would suit plantings, it donated bushes to raise awareness of heritage roses, she said.

The organisation cares for heritage roses at the Dunedin Railway Station and the Northern Cemetery.

A celebration of the replacement of more than 400 heritage roses that were poisoned was held at the cemetery on Saturday and Sunday.

Heritage Roses Otago invited members of the public to enjoy a guided tour of "these beautiful roses in our treasured Victorian cemetery".