Master carver Jeff Bryan says he's chuffed to see his latest works hanging at Lindisfarne College in Hastings.
Now working at the New Zealand Natural Clothing company base in Norsewood, Mr Bryan carved the pieces for the college from 4000-year-old kauri, sourced from a mill in Northland.
"The five-piece work includes the school crest and also the four house crests and I only used a chainsaw and jigsaw to get the basic shape," he said.
"The rest of the work is hand-chiselled.
"I also used a four-inch nail for embossing the shading and various chisel blades for paring and vee cutting the edges.
"I'm chuffed, pretty proud, but humble to see my work up there." Dannevirke's Stuart Curran, the head boy at Lindisfarne last year, approached Mr Bryan at the Hastings A&P Show in November last year to discuss a commission.
The work has been funded by the school leavers' committee as a gift to the school and the main crest now takes pride of place above the stage in the school hall.
"Jeff's work is amazing," Phil Grant owner of the Natural Clothing Company said. "He's done an incredible job and the hand carving brings the pieces to life. It's beautiful and it didn't even need a sanding."
Mr Grant said he and partner Julie Hedley were delighted Mr Bryan had come to work in Norsewood.
"Over the past months his art works and commissioned signs have been a hit at national events like the Fieldays.
"They are also a drawcard in our gallery and art garden," he said.
The management of Lindisfarne now plan to light Mr Bryan's work with spotlights and on Wednesday the master carver was in deep discussion with the school's deputy principal reflecting on the contemporary side of the designs which are a blend of Maori and Celtic roots.
"Jeff's work is a truly unique combination and is second to none," Mr Grant said.