Challenge puts women's DIY skills to the test

HANDY: Female DIYers are being encouraged to enter the Mitre 10 NZ Women's DIY Challenge. PHOTO: FILE

By KARLA KARAITIANA

More women are choosing the do-it-yourself route when it comes to matters of home maintenance and Mitre 10 are ready to show off their skills.

The Mitre 10 NZ Women's DIY Challenge is calling for contestants to take part in a two-day event hosted at this year's Hilux New Zealand Rural Games in Palmerston North.

Three of the best will be chosen to compete in a series of DIY tasks, with the winner taking home a $1000 Mitre 10 voucher.

The finalists will have a female assistant to help them construct and decorate a playhouse which will then be donated to a local school or charity.

The top two scoring finalists will go head-to-head in a fence building exercise to determine the overall winner.

DIYer Katie Wallace says having the ability to do home maintenance and other projects is important as she's a single mother and low income earner.

Ms Wallace has built shelters for her animals and as her confidence grew, she began making them to sell as a way of earning extra income.

"Sometimes I learn the hard way when things don't work but, I get it right in the end."

Inheriting the family home when her mother passed away, Helen Kitching says the house was run-down and in need of repair but, she couldn't afford to hire tradesmen to do the work.

"I have pulled out the toilet, fixed it and reinstalled.

"I have changed the bathroom, hardware and plastered and painted throughout the house."

She has used the Mitre 10 website and staff in store to get advice.

Ms Kitching says, "If I can do it, anyone can!"

Last year Mitre 10 conducted research which showed an increase in the number of female DIYers over the past decade.

"Our research shows a huge number of Kiwi women are running the show when it comes to DIY and this challenge is an awesome showcase of their skills," Mitre 10 general manager marketing Dave Elliott says.

He believes the success of Mitre 10's Ladies Nights show women are a growing force in the industry with up to 500 women attracted to each store's event.

To register to become a finalist for the womens' challenge complete the survey at mitre10.co.nz/ruralgames. Applications close on February 6.