Manawatu students in New Zealand are being encouraged to use alternative forestry species for furniture and not just relying on pine in a competition to produce the best woodwork. Source: Stuff.co.nz
The project would add value to wood grown by many smaller foresters, said Bulls farm forester and farmer Denis Hocking.
He said people seemed to agree that New Zealand was good at growing trees, but not at adding value to them.
“Witness all the logs on the wharf. And many people say we have the most narrowly based forest industry in the world, with about 90% of timber grown, radiata pine,” said Mr Hocking.
He said one of the best ways of adding value, was to convert suitable wood into good quality furniture. Some eucalyptus varieties and macrocarpa were examples of alternatives.
In the past pupils had made drawers, piano stools, chests and guitars from alternative timbers.
The Manawatu–Whanganui secondary schools wood working competition is an attempt to support just such an approach. This competition, now in its sixth year, has revealed some wonderful talent and helped create some superb furniture pieces.
Mr Hocking said the competition had been organised by the local farm forestry association and the furniture design and construction department at UCOL polytechnic. Two schools were taking part this year.
“It has been supported by some local businesses. But it is the enthusiasm and the skill of the students given the chance to enter that has been the most notable feature of the competition,” he said.
The works by students will be at the Palmerston North library for two weeks after October 29.
