World Wood Day bid by Rotorua

International Wood Culture Society programme co-ordinator Charlotte Lee, and artist Iwi Le Comte. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER

Rotorua's rich carving legacy was on display in a bid for New Zealand to host World Wood Day.

Local carver and artist Iwi Le Comte hosted representatives from Taiwan last week, who were on a fact finding mission for the International Wood Culture Society who host the annual event.

Mr Le Comte joined sculptors, woodturners and carvers in China this year for the cultural event which aimed to raise awareness of wood and its role in the development of human civilisation and natural environment.

"There was a sculptor representing every different country and I was in a room with 120 others working. We spent three or four days in front of an audience working on a piece which we called 'Homeland'," he said.

"We used traditional carving and for me it was about the big picture, showing the skills our tipuna left for us."

Through his time spent at the Wood Day, he was asked to show the Taiwan delegates the potential New Zealand and Rotorua has to host the event in the future.

Previous host countries have seen thousands of people from around the world attend and take part in the day.

"We started at Tane Mahuta [Northland kauri tree] in Waipoua and went to see [master canoe carver] Heke Busby.

"They could have spent five days in the studio with me but I thought if you're going to come to New Zealand you need to see Tane Mahuta and the greatest canoe builder we have," Mr Le Comte.

The representatives were also given a tour of Te Puia New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute and watched students at the carving school at work.

International World Culture Society programme co-ordinator and researcher Charlotte Lee said they were amazed at the country's rich natural resources.

She said they hadn't visited the country before but had been recommended to many times.

"With such a wonderful experience here in Rotorua and all the way down here from Tane Mahuta we are very surprised and touched by the rich culture closely connected with wood, and the profound relationship between wood and the past and present life of the Maori people," she said.

"Through this journey with masters and outstanding artists has been precious and fantastic experience, we will surely present the best outcome of wood culture tour project in New Zealand and a best report for the Board of Trustees of the World Wood Day Foundation.

"There are many Maori artists here [in Rotorua], it's very concentrated here so we have been able to see all the different styles and talent in a very short time. Hopefully, the World Wood Day will have a grand event to welcome hundreds of participants and thousands of audience in Rotorua, or somewhere in New Zealand, in the near future."

Miss Lee said they would take their observations and findings to the trustees.