Home built by students sells for $176k (+video)

After a lively auction the Waiariki Institute of Technology Charity House went under the hammer on Saturday.

The property was built by Waiariki carpentry students with support from Mitre 10 and was purchased by a Lake Tarawera couple for $176,000.

It's the third house to be built by the institute's carpentry students, and this year's home was a mono-pitch, Dutch coastal-style house.

Waiariki's head of marketing and communications and Rotorua Sunrise Rotary Club member, Sue Gunn, said the auction generated a high level of interest from buyers in the central North Island, north of Auckland and locally.

Last year eight community groups benefited from the auction.

"It was a very wet day for the auction which meant bidders, students, staff, Rotarians, partners and locals crowded into the open plan lounge and dining area, with lots of people outside huddled under umbrellas," Mrs Gunn said.

"A big thank you to all the carpentry, electrical and interior design students, and the tutors who worked on this build to create an energy-efficient family home for the Tarawera couple who purchased the house.

"Also, a big thank you to all of you - our local businesses and organisations who have generously supported the project with expertise, supplies, guidance and advertising.

"We really appreciate your support in training our young people," she said.