Whangarei teacher Jill Hartles is celebrating her 60th in an unusual fashion - building a house in Nepal.
The Tikipunga high school teacher is spending a week in Nepal with Habitat for Humanity next month, building homes for the locals, alongside 11 other Northland volunteers and 350 from around the world.
"It's sort of a little bit bucket list and 60th birthday celebration," Ms Hartles said of her impending trip.
"I've been a supporter of Habitat for Humanity for a long time, so I knew about the builds. I thought when the opportunity comes it would be something I would like to do."
She said the group would be building a house out of local materials, alongside the family that would be moving into the home.