The nine carvers from Te Puia the New Zealand Maori Arts & Crafts Institute have until 9 July to finish the carving of a canoe before it is ceremoniously gifted to the Chinese people as part of New Zealand's "Expo National Day." The young carvers come from all over New Zealand to train at Te Puia in the time honoured practices of Maori wood carving and are part of an unbroken tradition reaching back hundreds of years. James Rickard, the Master Carver for this project, is overseeing the two teams over this period.

Video: Huang Lan & Christie Lee