The Kawerau Woodfest and National Woodskills Competition promises a jam packed weekend of events and entertainment says event co-ordinator Lee Barton.

The highly popular event runs from Friday September 7 to Sunday September 8 in the mill town of Kawerau.

First Big Dig World Championship title will be contested at Kawerau Woodfest in the AIE Pacific Toyota sponsored event.

'Last year's Woodfest attracted around 12,000 people during the three day, Rugby World Cup themed event which provided all ages with a weekend of entertainment and attractions,” says Lee.

'There are new attractions for this year's Woodfest and these will most definitely amuse and amaze the public. There will be an incredible demonstration of skill with a trial bike demonstration and competition and teams are being looked for to enter the Woodfest Truck Pull, which incorporates eight people pulling a 16 tonne logging truck over 40 metres. There will be a live arborist demonstration from ALFA Contracts and the big family entertainment will be the Dog Star Show.” The National Woodskills Competition in the Ron Hardie Recreation Centre will demonstrate the finer side of wood crafting with displays of artistic skill and creativity.

'This year a new category has been included with the introduction of Raranga (weaving in wearable, traditional, contemporary and sculptural formats).

'The stock favourites of Chainsaw Carving and the Woodchopping will see teams demonstrating their skills in the Bull Ring, while the Dig Zone is the only place in New Zealand you will witness children and adults shovelling woodchip, at speed- in a race format.”

Last year the inaugural Pacific Toyota Diddy Dig competition entertained the crowds with 64 students (8-10 years) from local primary schools shovelling half a cubic metre of woodchip into a bin. 'This was an incredible success with a team from Kawerau South School taking out the trophy and this year it is sure to be another crowd pleaser. 'The men compete in the Big Dig on Sunday, where the task is somewhat more challenging with three cubic metres to move. The team from Riteway Riggerz are the undisputed champions and they will be hotly contesting the chance to win the AIE Pacific Toyota First Big Dig World Championship title this year.”

On Prideaux Park there will be the KFL Pro Logger Chainsaw Races, specifically aimed at professional loggers working in the industry with the challenge to make 10 cuts on a log as quick as they can. Penalty time is added when cuts are considered to be not straight. With $3500 in prize money this will be a hotly contested competition. Any pro loggers interested in entering this event can get entry forms from the official website.

'There will be plenty of sideshows, attractions for the young and heaps of food vendors to keep the energy levels up. The Rotary Club of Kawerauis running their craft market in the CBD along with the Kawerau Arts Society which will display in the Concert Chambers.” Lee says Kawerau Woodfest is a great family day out in the heart of the Bay of Plenty and celebrates the forestry industry on whole.

To find out more and to enter events go to www.kaweraudc.govt.nz/Woodfest