View from back of side garden area down to back fence.

You have an excellent canvas to work with don't you!
Am I right to think that you're in the Hawkes Bay region?
Clearly a Clianthus would do well, but I have a couple of ideas if you can find them.
Erythrina Christa galli..................

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/171760-erythrina-crista-galli/member/meanie

Tibouchina might be a bit of a stretch, but if successful would make a spectacular shrub...........

http://www.growsonyou.com/photo/slideshow/184530-still-going-strong/member/meanie

Sollya is hardy in Tasmania I believe, certainly NSW..........

http://www.growsonyou.com/meanie/photos/sollya

The perennial Lobelias should be hardy for you, but you may have to provide a little extra water if the summer is dry...............

http://www.growsonyou.com/meanie/photos/lobelia

Just found the link that I was after for NZ native Fuchsia...........

http://nfsnz.orconhosting.net.nz/nzspecies.htm

Hello Meanie & thankyou for all those links. Sadly, I don't live in the beautiful Hawkes Bay region, though I was actually raised there from the age of 5 & lived there whenever I returned to NZ for a spell ... my parents lived in Napier Hawkes Bay for over forty years, which is how I had the luck of being raised there. I lived there until 8 years ago, when I sold up & moved to a little rural town called Marton (population of 5000), which is in the middle of nowhere. It's situated in the Rangitikei district which is not well-known at all ... I had never even heard of Rangitikei until I moved here lol. But we are just 40 mins drive from the Manawatu region, where I work, & 30 mins drive from the Wanganui region, which puts on a wonderful floral display over spring & summer .... the city of Wanganui itself is very Victorian & they have hanging baskets full of gorgeous coloured annuals all along the main shopping street. Will take pics when we are further into spring in a few weeks. will visit those link. I have just ordered some perennials online this week, which will be delivered via courier next week. And I know of a great online nursery which specialises in daylilies, so off to browse through that again shortly.

Welcome to GoY. I look forward to seeing the development pics of your garden. Note you joined on Joy's birthday, so will remember you in future.

Day lilies are superb and come in many colours.

Yes, I love daylilies Scotsgran, though have only ever had the more common yellow ones in my gardens. However, I have found an online NZ nursery that specialises in them, so on Monday, my day off work, I am going to browse around it & see what they have to offer.

Have a look atthe Hebe Society website too. I put the address on for you somewhere.