Palmerston North named the Valentine"s Day capital of New Zealand

Palmerston North has beaten out the likes of Wellington and Hamilton to be named Google’s Valentine’s Day capital of New Zealand.

Google New Zealand statistics since 2010 have revealed that Palmerston North residents have searched for Valentine’s Day more than people in any other city in the country.

The Manawatu-Whanganui also topped the table for the regional searches, ahead of Waikato and Wellington.

Accent On Flowers owner Trish Lee-Brown in the lead up to Valentines Day.

Some of the top search terms included “Valentine’s Day NZ”, “Valentine’s Day ideas”, “Valentine’s Day cards” and “Valentine’s Day poems”.

Palmerston North’s florists, restaurants and cake-makers have experienced a rush of romantic activity ahead of the big day.

Specially-made cupcakes and cakes had been a popular choice this year, said Chelsea Green, the owner of cupcake cafe Petit Four.

She said her business was always busy coming up to Valentine’s Day but this year they had been promoting heart-shaped cupcakes.

“Cupcakes are a popular way of expressing your love with something sweet.”

Green said introducing the new cakes was a real win, but the old favourites were still flying out the door.

“We’re still very traditional at heart. Everybody wants chocolate, and everybody chooses red icing.”

Accent on Flowers owner Trish Lee-Brown said it was only her second Valentine’s Day as a florist, but she had been told to expect business to be a little slower than usual this year.

“We’re hoping it’ll be really busy [but] other florists have warned me that we’ll get 30 per cent less business because it’s on a Sunday.”

She said their website had been getting more hits as the big day approached.

“It could be a bit better. People don’t tend to order things until the last minute though,” she said.

Red roses were definitely the most popular, although some people liked to add a few other flowers into a mixed bouquet, Lee-Brown said.

“People will order easily a $100 worth of flowers, they tend to go for a dozen long-stem roses.”

Lee-Brown said fresh roses lasted about a week, but if you wanted them to look their best when you gave them to your Valentine you should give them two days for the bloom to fully open.

Palmerston North restaurants Nero and Table 188 were both fully booked for Valentine’s Day, with Table 188 being booked out since the start of the year.

Nero co-owner Yvette Kennedy said it was a bit different this year, as instead of just having tables for two couples, people were dining together in groups of six or eight.

“It filled up quicker this year, which is great because Sunday’s not normally a day we’re open.”

Table 188 owner Ryan Marshall said: “A couple of very romantic guys organised things with us, one dude even brought in a guy with a violin.”

New Zealands top Valentine’s Day Google searchs 2010-2015

1. Valentine’s Day NZ

2. Valentine’s Day ideas

3. Valentine’s Day Auckland

4. Valentine’s Day cards

5. Valentine’s Day gifts

6. Happy Valentine’s

7. Valentine’s Day poem

8. Valentine’s

9. Valentine’s Day quote

10. Valentine’s Day 2014

11. Valentine’s Day movie

12. Valentine’s Day funny

 – Stuff

 

Palmerston North named the Valentine"s Day capital of New Zealand