Students raise roof on charity house (+ video)

OUR SHOUT: Waiariki Institute of Technology's Charity House roof is now on with carpentry students Adam Woods, (left) Matthew Bennett, Andrew Flett, Matthew Stephens and Farrin Wihopi. STEPHEN PARKER

Celebrations went through the roof at Waiariki Institute of Technology with the latest development at the Charity House.

It is the third house to be built by the institute's carpentry students and will be auctioned after its completion in early November.

Proceeds will be distributed by Rotary Rotorua Sunrise to community groups. This year Mitre 10 have partnered with Waiariki for the project.

A roof shout was held at the Mokoia campus this week which was combined with a cheque presentation to recipients of last year's auction. Students, staff and community groups attended.

Eight local community organisations were given cheques, with further funds still to be distributed.

Rotary Rotorua Sunrise president Mike Bannister said it was always good to work with Waiariki for the benefit of the community.

"It is good to have the roof shout and this year's ceremony for the beneficiaries together at one time so both sides can appreciate and respect their involvement in a more meaningful way."

Carpentry tutor Tony Perks said the students were working hard on this year's mono-pitch, Dutch coastal-style house.

"It's been going really well, we have the roof on and are just getting ready to clad. It's hard to put a time frame on things, painters and plasterers all have to go in but it's still on schedule," Mr Perks said.

"The guys are working well. They've never done this before and when you look around some of the work is a lot better than some professional builders out there."

Recipients of the 2014 Charity House proceeds
• Bay Trust Rescue Helicopter: $3135
• Big Brothers Big Sisters Rotorua: $2000
• Love Soup Rotorua: $700
• Mokoia Community Association: $2018
• Myalgic Encephalopathy/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: $489
• Rotorua Children's Art House: $1639
• Rotorua Community Menz Shed: $1010
• Te Roopu a Iwi o Te Arawa: $900
A further $500 is still to be distributed.