A gypsy caravan-maker is among people in Manawatū who are beavering away in their garages and farm sheds turning rusting iron tools, fencing wire and other bits and pieces into works of art for the annual Kimbolton Sculpture Festival.
The directions to get to Lez Carter's place were a bit like something out of Winnie the Pooh.
"Pass the woods on the left, find the big stump, go through gate 'til you see a London double decker bus."
And down a rumpity track, between some large trees, hung with chimes tinkling in the breeze, was exactly that.
Lez Carter, gypsy caravan-maker, psychiatric nurse and budding sculptor was in the doorway.
He's a first-time entrant in next year's Kimbolton Sculpture Festival which aims to put the small Manawatū town on the map as well as encourage locals to get creative and improve wellbeing and mental health.
Lez decided to join in to meet "like-minded people" and "because I'm a bit of a show-off and I love making things."
He's collecting bits and pieces for his kinetic sculpture from a scrap merchant and is looking for piano parts.
"It's going to be rather noisy and it's going to move around."
"I'm going to arrive with a bang and a clatter," he laughs, although he won't give too much away.
"I've always been interested in things that roll. There's a hint."
Lez and his wife Dee are, as it happens, psychiatric nurses, so know all too well the joys that making art can bring especially for people living rurally who may be isolated and suffering mental health problems.
"A large proportion of our clients are from rural areas, especially the young people."
Les is looking forward to spending many hours in his shed creating.
"Art is fantastic. Art's just brilliant," he says.
Entries are still open for the Kimbolton Sculpture Festival which takes place on 4 April next year.
