NZ Landcare Trust will once again be sponsoring the Landcare Section of the Ag Art Wear Awards. This wearable art event is now in its fifteenth year and always attracts plenty of attention from the visitors at the NZ National Agricultural Fieldays, Mystery Creek.

There are 5 seperate categories, presenting a range of creative challenges. The ‘Landcare’ section focuses on native New Zealand flora and fauna. Garments should be made from naturally occurring plant and animal materials such as grass, flax, seeds etc. Conceptually ‘Landcare’ garments can also reflect environmental issues that affect New Zealand.

Previous winners have created new and unexpected designs, sometimes making use of widely used materials such as flax/harakeke. Last year the judges unanimously voted for “Papatuanuku and Ranginui” a design from Te Wananga O Aotearoa (Huntly campus). Not only did this creation win the Landcare Section but it also took the Supreme Award for the most outstanding design. What made this design so successful? It was conceptually very strong, beautifully made with a creative use of naturally occurring plant materials.

(Article submitted  15th April 09)