When the staff at Matua School decided to advertise the school's old playground on Trade Me, they had no idea what they had started.
By this morning, the school's 11m x 7m child's playground had received more than
32,000 page views since it went up on the online auction site a
week ago.
Bids to buy the set up had reached $1070, and there were multiple pages filled with comment, questions and memories.
Matua School sports co-ordinator Fleur Bos said the school initially advertised the playground online to see whether they could get anything for it.
"We put it on just hoping that someone might just bid $1000," she said.
The response since, has left her and principal Tracy Lloyd flabbergasted.
"It's gone viral. It's just amazing," Ms Bos said.
The playground was removed to make way for new classrooms, which were unable to be sited anywhere else. The rooms were completed in February last year.
The dismantled slide, tunnels, swing bridge and other parts of the playground were left sitting at the school, collecting dust.
New restrictions surrounding the safety of the playground meant it was infeasible to set it up elsewhere in the school.
The playground as it was originally constructed was not considered unsafe, but changes would have to be made, were it to be set up at another educational facility.
Online comments posted on the playground's Trade Me posting have gained plenty of chuckles at the school as some former students recollect their playground experiences and others send messages of support.
There is plenty of banter, including a question asking if the playground comes with the children.
The answer joked "425 kids - all yours. School will be much quieter ... whoops better check with parents."
Mr Lloyd said he was pleased the playground had received so much interest, considering the memories it was already part of.
The money raised from the sale of the playground will go towards resurfacing the school's outdoor basketball courts and developing the sandpit.
The auction closes midday tomorrow.
