Kawerau Woodfest & National Woodskills Competition

Kawerau Woodfest in the Bay of Plenty is an A&P show for wood – a showcase of passionate, grassroots New Zealanders showing and sharing with you their consummate skills and techniques in working with wood.

The cornerstone of Kawerau Woodfest is the National Woodskills Competition, a huge crowd-puller for over 20 years. Here, with events such as the wood chopping competition, you’ll be transported back to an era when the axe was king.

The sweet sound of a dozen or so axemen wielding axe to wood is unforgettable, as is the sight of these quintessential black singlet wearing Kiwis sweating it out with unswerving skill, strength, grit and passion. Chainsaw racing and The Big Dig chip shovelling competition are a further display of brawn and aerobic fitness, while chainsaw carving is a demonstration of unbelievable deftness.

Alongside these events is the artistic (and quieter) side of working with wood, with competition events covering a broad spectrum of wood craftsmanship and wood art including carving, sculpture, woodturning, furniture, marquetry and intarsia, toys, models and games, and wearable wood.

Kawerau Woodfest is a unique event that will give you an insight into down to earth Kiwi life in a provincial sawmilling town and how an occupational role has grown into an awe-inspiring sport and art.

Event listed by bartonlee

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