National Woodskills Festival
	Kawerau, New Zealand

History

In 1953 the Tasman Pulp & Paper Mill and Saw Mill was built, and the town of Kawerau developed in order to support and accommodate the personnel required to work at the Mill. In the beginning the Mill was the major employer in the town, but the town has fostered and matured since then,  encouraging other businesses to expand and open branches in Kawerau.

Because timber has ruled the lives of the people in Kawerau., it was decided to start a local competition to reflect this and give a sense of pride to the people of Kawerau. It was anticipated that the competition would encourage local people to realise that working with wood could be a viable business.

The Woodskills Festival was first held in Kawerau in 1989 as a local competition. In 1991 the event had become such a popular annual competition that it was developed into a National event, attracting exhibitors  from throughout New Zealand

Objectives

The objectives of the Woodskills Festival are:

• To promote the use of a natural resource
• To create opportunities for new business and employment
• To encourage development and excellence in the medium
• To provide a showcase for talent
• To give artists and crafts people the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas