John Key is continuing to follow in Helen Clark’s footsteps in the art world, with another creation being auctioned on Trade Me.

But there is no sign of ‘paintergate’ or police investigation – Mr Key carved the latest artwork on to a piece of Totara in front of an audience in Rotorua.

The item follows his silver fern theme, although a slightly less stylised version than the fern he drew earlier this month with a marker pen on TV One’s Breakfast show.

The A4 doodle passed the $10,000 mark on Trade Me, with the proceeds going to Cure Kids.

Helen Clark’s infamous doodle of the Beehive went for $4,600, which either says something for Key’s talent or the popularity of the silver fern as an iconic Kiwi image.

Key carved the latest fern after lending a hand on the waka maumahara (ceremonial canoe) project, Te Kakano (the original seed) he visited at the New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute, Te Puia.

While the kauri canoe is destined for Expo 2010 Shanghai in China, the fern carving is on Trade Me for a 10-day auction, with the proceeds again going to Cure Kids.

Last night, the current bid was at $2,050.

The listing describes it as “a fantastic opportunity to own a remarkable symbol of New Zealand, carved on native wood by the Prime Minister.

”Mr Key has signed and titled the carving in pencil, as can be seen in the gallery photos.”

Private Bin wonders how many new leaves the Prime Minister can draw?