New horizons for TV's Kiri Danielle

You may remember her as the face of TV Rotorua's City News - now Kiri Danielle is moving into the world of national television.

Ms Danielle recently left TV Rotorua and is pursuing a diploma in bi-cultural journalism at Waiariki Institute of Technology.

She is set to host the new show called The Garden Pantry, scheduled to hit television screens in October. "I'll be going around the country talking to the older generation about how they provided for their families from their own gardens so we can equip people to do the same from their own gardens."

She said the programme would feature tips and secrets from old hands in the garden, from preparing and planting a garden, maintaining your crops, harvesting and preserving and a bit of cooking. "I'm no master chef but I think people will relate to me as it's a show about everyday people. In this day and age people are struggling to put good food on the table and we'll be showing people how they can do it themselves."

Ms Danielle, who also spear-headed a "Clean Up For the Cup" campaign during the Rugby World Cup, said she got the job after an audition, and was extremely excited. "TV Rotorua was a great place to start and I learnt a lot there. Now I have a chance to spread my wings ... my goal is to read the national news on television," she told The Daily Post.

Executive producer Heather Carston said she was still in negotiation with major television channels which had expressed interest in screening the show.

Mrs Carston said the show was scheduled to hit New Zealand television screens in October, nearer the start of the spring planting season. "We like to see it as bridging the gap between the new generation and the older generation by bringing back some of the skills that used to get passed down from mother to daughter and that many of us have lost."