Woodworker recognised for putting Nelson on the map

When Cable Bay woodworker David Haig found out that he had been made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit as part of the King’s Birthday honours, it was a complete shock.

“My first thought was ‘why me?’ I know plenty of other people who have done more and are better,” David says.

David has dedicated much of his life to the art of woodworking and has been instrumental in putting New Zealand on the map for fine furniture.

Having grown up and attended school in England, David was at boarding school when he got a letter from his father informing him that his parents were emigrating to New Zealand.

“I went out for six months between school and university and I just fell in love with New Zealand,” he recalls.

Having met his wife Clare at Oxford University, the couple got on the first flight back as soon as the final results came in.

“I had a very middle-class, English, private school education. I went to boarding school as a boy then got a place at Oxford University and studied history. So basically, I wanted to reinvent myself.”

He jokes that he has never used his history qualification but did work in a bank for six months to pay off a little debt after getting married.

“That was the only time I’ve been employed in a regular job. It gave me some clue about money which I otherwise had no clue about.”

David says while working for a conservation group a “kind of hippy carpenter” took him under his wing, teaching him what he knew about woodwork.

“I loved it. I found it was something I enjoyed doing, I was a pretty uptight, ex-boarding school person so in lots of ways it was a kinetic release,” David says.

“In no time at all we had three little boys, so we took them back to England to see their granny, Clare’s mum.”

During that time, David worked as an antique restorer in a busy store, which he describes as a ‘crash course’, giving him a huge amount of experience in a short amount of time.

In 1980, the couple purchased a run-down cottage in Cable Bay.

“It had four rooms, a semi-outside bathroom, three power points, and no insulation,” David remembers fondly.

The family has slowly done it up, adding workshops and sleepouts as the family and David’s trade grew.

“It’s a magical place, we’ve grown with it. It was very primitive when we first came but we’ve gradually done it up. Two of the boys were born there – we all have very fond memories. It’s a family centre.”

By 1987 David had become very interested in furniture making – realising he enjoyed making it rather than restoring it – so borrowed $20,000 to build a workshop.

“I had got together with a group of young guys starting out and we formed a collective and put on an alternative furniture show in Christchurch, Dunedin, and Wellington every year, which we did for 10 years.

“It got me going and to my utter amazement, people were willing to part with their hard-earned money for things I had made.”

He remembers the first piece he sold at the first show in Christchurch was a rocking chair to the MP of Fendalton.

“She said ‘how much is that,’ and I said ‘$750’, and she pulled out her chequebook. I thought ‘dammit, I’ve peaked early’, I couldn’t believe it, that was a lot of money.”

He recalls the first 20 years of his career being tough.

“They were hard - money was constantly a worry and an issue. But I had the manic energy of a 20/30-year-old. The problem was getting me out of the workshop, not in it.”

Even now, David averages five or six hours a day in his workshop.

His signature rocking chair has been sold in more than 15 countries around the world.

In 2006 David helped establish the Centre for Fine Woodworking in Nelson – a centre that is now internationally recognised for its quality.

In terms of his King’s Birthday honour, he says he has no idea who put forward the nomination.

“What I’m really so touched by is how amazingly sweet and positive people are. It means something to other people and the process is a lot of bother to go to.”

David says he has no plans to stop making furniture anytime soon.

“I’d like my pieces to become part of a family’s home and traditions, and maybe be passed down with a story. That’s a great thrill.”