Students create a fairytale for toddlers

Tiaki Harrison, 18, Tarzan Smith, 17, Bruce Mabagos, 17, and Isaiah Leach, 17, at work on the playhouse. Photo / Ben Fraser

A preschool is one step closer to getting its new playhouse as Rotorua Boys' High School students put the finishing touches on the fairytale-inspired castle.

Year 13 students Tarzan Smith, 17, Tiaki Harrison, 18, Bruce Mabagos, 17, and Isaiah Leach, 17, are putting the final lick of paint on the playhouse which will be given to Kidz Rock Early Learning Centre.

The project was undertaken as part of this year's BCITO Build-Ability challenge and Rotorua Boys' High School is the only local school taking part.

Each of the 28 schools to have entered is tasked with building, painting and decorating a playhouse to defined specifications.

The playhouses must have a distinctive theme and showcase the construction skills of the team.

Earlier this year the students reached out to six early childhood centres asking them to draw plans for a playhouse.

From there, the students chose the best design, Rapunzel's Castle by Kidz Rock , and developed a plan of how to build it within the challenge's timeframe.

Tarzan said there had been some "hiccups" along the way but the group was pleased with how the playhouse was looking.

"We have run into trouble a couple of times like running out of supplies so needing to find more funding and falling behind schedule but we are feeling confident now the end is in sight.

"The kids at the early childhood centre came a couple of weeks ago and tested out the playhouse. It was awesome watching them have so much fun on it - they all looked super-stoked with it."

Head of technology Roz Wallis was pleased with the way the playhouse was coming together.

"There are so many different elements, from the blackboard wall to the dungeon and ropeswing, it's obvious a lot of thought and consideration has gone into the design and construction." She said the competition had been a "huge learning experience" for the students who had taken control of the project from day one.

"This is the first time Rotorua Boys' High School has taken part in this competition but I will definitely be encouraging students in the years to come to take part as it has been an invaluable experience for the boys."

The winning team will take home $1000 for their school technology department.