UFG Auckland Trolleys, New Zealand Live Cam

Trolleys of cut flowers stand waiting in the hall of a growers' auction in south Auckland, in New Zealand. The camera looks down the rows before the sale.

Flowers are sold by descending auction: the price starts high and falls until somebody stops the clock, which is quick enough to move thousands of lots in a morning. The method was worked out in the Dutch markets and copied everywhere since.

New Zealand grows for the opposite season to the northern hemisphere, so the export trade runs when Europe cannot supply itself. Most of what is on these trolleys is going to florists in the country's own cities.