Allan Soon: Craftsman Woodturner 

Allan Soon

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Allan is from Malaysia and is of Chinese descent. He came to New Zealand as a student in 1971 and is a graduate of Otago University.

He worked in the outdoor pusuits field in the Central Plateau of the North Island, enjoying the indigenous forests, and came to love the timber of trees native to the King Country.

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In particular, he appreciates the mighty highly figured Rimu, red-hued Totara, the golden timbered Matai, the glowing rich colours of the Miro, and the marble-like smoothness of Maire.

In 1982 he became a professional woodturner, working on both functional and freeform pieces. His love is with the feel, texture, and grain of wood, its subtle beauty and glowing colours.

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Allan maintains that the turning is only as good as the wood that you start with, so he spends a lot of time selecting "wood from the wildside".

Allan also produces an extensive range of Punga turned pots, planters and garden accessories.

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Allan now lives and works in Owhango where he has his workshop and attached gallery.

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Julie Fletcher

Julie Fletcher teaches part-time at the local Primary School. She loves the rural setting in which she lives, and spends much of her spare time maintaining and improving the garden.

Although also known for her works of art, including paintings, batiks, screen prints, and drawings, she now prefers to direct these talents to organising the garden. 
 
 

Other Features:

Accommodation

Our homestay is a fully self-contained unit with beautiful wood carved furniture and views of the mountains. The building is a colonial jailhouse, once used in the settlement of Tokaanu.

Fully renovated, the unit incorporates native wood paneling and stairwell, while still retaining much of its original character and some of its original features such as a heavy wooden door complete with lock. The unit offers views of the mountains, and provides a warm and relaxing setting after a day of skiing or tramping.

Garden

Our garden has many surprises and secret grottos. We both have a passion for gardening, and welcome visitors.