Charles checks out Wool Shed at Tawa College

Prince Charles and Campaign for Wool New Zealand New Zealand trust chairwoman Philippa Wright joined students at Tawa College to extol the benefits of wool. Photo / Supplied

Getting an appointment with a royal on tour is a hard ask, but Waipukurau wool merchant and Campaign for Wool New Zealand trust chairwoman Philippa Wright locked in some time with Prince Charles while he was in Wellington.

Earlier, the Prince of Wales, who is the patron for the international Campaign for Wool (CFW), had requested some time to check out a CFW event while he was here, and after some negotiations, a 20-minute window was found last Thursday while he was visiting Tawa College, Ms Wright said.

The Wool Shed contains interactive displays where children can have fun finding out about wool.

There he was given a sneak preview of The Wool Shed, a converted shipping container containing interactive wool displays that is part of the Wool in Schools project - an initiative designed to spur the curiosity of the next generation and link their woolly discoveries to the curriculum.

The New Zealand CFW has partnered with PGG Wrightson Wool for the project focused on providing a fun and engaging discovery for students.

"The Prince of Wales, who himself is one of the UK's most significant wool growers, was joined by students who shared with him their in-class wool discoveries - from the fire retardant qualities of wool to the connection between wool and sport," said Ms Wright.

"Few people know that tennis balls used at Wimbledon are covered in wool felt made from New Zealand wool or that the 1905 All Blacks Originals rugby jersey was constructed in 2x28 worsted wool.

"The aim is to have the children come away saying 'wow, I never knew that'!"

In the face of the rising use of synthetic fibres, she said, The Wool Shed was one way to illustrate the benefits of wool to the younger generation. "Wool is a natural choice for many applications, from fire resistance to humidity regulation, sound proofing - and it is making a comeback with the latest GQ magazine describing wool as 'the next black'."

PGG Wrightson Wool helped make the project possible and general manager Cedric Bayley said that because New Zealand is a country built on sheep farming, supporting the CFW and Wool In Schools project was as natural as the fibre itself. "The students' knowledge and appreciation of the fibre directly impacts the growers of tomorrow - we want consumers to read the label and to choose wool at point of purchase."