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Story: Rural recreation

Wood-chopping competition, 1958

Video file

In the late 19th century wood-chopping competitions became popular with both participants and spectators. The high point (literally) of any chopping competition was the jigger event. Watch competitors at Trentham, near Wellington, competing in this spectacular event in 1958.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: Pictorial Parade 73. National Film Unit, 1958

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Jock Phillips, Rural recreation – Work as play – rural competitions, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/17696/wood-chopping-competition-1958 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Jock Phillips, published 1 March 2009.