The dates are confirmed and planning is underway for this year’s Kawerau Woodfest & National Woodskills Competition.

Woodfest in Kawerau attracts around 12,000 people during the 3 day event, last year with the Rugby World Cup themed weekend thousands of the visiting public of all ages enjoyed a full weekend of entertainment and attractions.

This year the visiting public can expect another jam packed weekend of attractions at Kawerau Woodfest.

 

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Entry forms and details for the National Woodskills Competition are now available.

Kawerau is steeped in its history as a mill town and with the Woodskills Competition as the jewel in the crown of Woodfest, it is the ultimate event encompassing all things wood.

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The National Woodskills Competition held in the Ron Hardie Recreation Centre demonstrates the finer side of wood crafting with an incredible level of artistic skill and creativity always leaving the visiting public amazed. This year a new category has been included with the introduction of Raranga (Weaving in Wearable, Traditional, Contemporary and Sculptural formats).     

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During the weekend the outdoor activities are always present and offer the strolling public a full day of attractions with no shortage of entertainment. The stock favourites of Chainsaw Carving and the Woodchopping teams demonstrate their skills in the Bull Ring; whilst the Dig Zone is the only place in New Zealand you will witness children and adults shovelling woodchip, at speed in a race format.

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Last year the inaugural Diddy Dig competition entertained the crowds with 64 students (8-10 years) from local primary schools shovelling half a cubic metre of woodchip into a bin. This was an incredible success with a team from Kawerau South School taking out the trophy and this year it is sure to be another crowd pleaser.

Tradition now has the ‘grown up kids’ compete in the Big Dig on Sunday, where the task is somewhat more challenging with 3 cubic metres being the task. The team from Riteway Riggerz are the undisputed champions and this year being the 1^st Big Dig World Champs; you can bet it will be a hotly contested competition.

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On Prideaux Park there will be the KFL Pro Logger Chainsaw Races, these races are specifically aimed at professional loggers working in the forestry industry. Another fine demonstration of chainsaw skill is the Waiariki Polytechnic Chainsaw Skills Races with wave cuts, bore, up & down cuts and some log splitting thrown in, makes for an excellent demonstration.

There are new main attractions in the pipeline for this year’s Woodfest and these will most definitely amuse and amaze the public.

More details to follow!

There will be plenty of sideshows and attractions for the young and heaps of food vendors to keep the energy levels up. Don’t forget to check out the Rotary Club of Kawerau running the craft market in the CBD along with the Kawerau Arts Society who will display in the Concert Chambers.

Kawerau Woodfest is a great family day out in the heart of the Bay of Plenty.

Here are some snapshots from Woodfest 11.  Plenty more in store for 2012!

 

Last years attractions included:

ATTRACTIONS 2011

	When: Where: Times: Price:	NATIONAL WOODSKILLS COMPETITION 2, 3, 4 September (Fri,Sat,Sun) Prize Giving (Thurs) Ron Hardie Recreation Centre Sunday 9am - 3.30pm Friday/Saturday 9am - 4.30pm ADULTS-$10 CHILD-$3 FAMILY-$20 SENIORS-$5 (Fri. only) More
	When: Where: Times: Price :	CHAINSAW CARVING COMPETITION 3 September (Sat) The Bull Ring (Circus Paddock) 9am-3pm COMPETITORS-$35 SPECTATORS- FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	WOODCHOPPING COMPETITION 4 September (Sun) The Bull Ring (Circus Paddock) 10am-2.30pm SPECTATORS- FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	THE 'PACIFIC TOYOTA' BIG DIG 4 September (Sun) The Skate Park 9am-1pm (approx.) SPECTATORS- FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	THE 'PACIFIC TOYOTA' DIDDY DIG 3 September (Sat) The Skate Park 11am SPECTATORS- FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	'KFL' PRO LOGGER CHAINSAW RACES 3 September (Sat) Prideaux Park 8.30am-3pm (approx) COMPETITORS-$20 SPECTATORS- FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	'WAIARIKI POLYTECHNIC' CHAINSAW SKILLS COURSE 4 September (Sun) Prideaux Park 9am-1pm (approx) COMPETITORS-$10 per entry SPECTATORS- FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	CLASSIC TRUCK CONVOY 3, 4 September (Sat,Sun) Prideaux Park 9.30am FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	SIDESHOWS & ATTRACTIONS 3, 4 September (Sat,Sun) Prideaux Park All Day Various More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	ROTARY TOWN CRAFT MARKET 3, 4 September (Sat, Sun) Town centre All Day STALL HOLDERS-$30 per site (2 days) SHOP & SPEND More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	THE WOODFEST GYPSY FAIR 3,4 September (Sat,Sun) Prideaux Park All Day SHOP & SPEND More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	BIG REV TRIALS DEMO'S 3,4 September (Sat,Sun) Prideaux Park 11.30am, 1.30pm & 3.30pm (approx) SPECTATORS- FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	THE LUMBERJACK SHOW 3,4 September (Sat,Sun) Prideaux Park 11am, 1pm & 3pm (approx) SPECTATORS- FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price:	THE MIGHTY RIVER POWER KAWERAU WOODFEST VOLUNTEERS All week! Everwhere! All the time! PRICELESS!!! More
	When: Where: Times: Price	THE WATERWHEEL ZONE 3 & 4 September (Sat, Sun) Prideaux Park All day FREE More
	When: Where: Times: Price	INDUSTRIAL SITE TOURS 2,3 September (Fri, Sat) From Mighty River Power Info tent, Prideaux Park 11am,1pm $2 More
		COMPETITION'S INFO AND ENTRY FORMS More