A New Zealand South Island invitation team is coming to St Helens to participate in next month's wood-chopping carnivals and East Coast axeman Michael Tucker said it is going to be a close tussle.

"We are very pleased to have an international team keen to come over to highlight our area to outside of Australia," Mr Tucker said.

"New Zealand is one of the best competitive teams in the world so it is not going to be a walk- over.

"I think we (North-East) have got a home advantage because we know the wood a little bit better than them, but they are so determined."

The champion team will be determined over three heats.

The first will be held at the St Helens Athletics Carnival, the second at Pyengana's annual St Giles Chop and the decider will be at the St Helens Regatta.

An Australian 300 millimetre combination championship tile will also be contested at the regatta for the third consecutive year.

"We have got the best carnivals in Australia in that week and predominately we have it here in St Helens," Mr Tucker said.