The house that chippie students built

Waiariki Institute of Technology carpentry students (left to right) William Day Ihaia, Snowden Hovind, Andrew Flett and Tawhiti Christie in front of a near complete Charity House. Photo / Ben Fraser

The roof is on, walls are up and in a few weeks' time the Waiariki Institute of Technology Charity House will soon be ready for new owners.

Building started in March and the house is on track to be completed by next month. A 'roof shout' was held yesterday to celebrate the progress made by the Waiariki pre-trade carpentry students.

Based at PlaceMakers on Te Ngae Rd, this is the second Charity House of five to be built by students to give them valuable hands-on experience. It will be sold by auction after completion with funds going to the Sunrise Rotary Club to be distributed to charity groups.

Those in attendance yesterday included Waiariki staff, industry partners, Rotorua deputy mayor Dave Donaldson and Waiariki MP Te Ururoa Flavell.

Level 4 carpentry student Snowden Hovind said he was enjoying being part of the project.

"It's been really good, we've learnt a lot. We've been putting up the gib boards and battens in," he said.

"I'm really enjoying it. It's preparing us for work and we prefer being here than in the classroom but the paperwork isn't too bad either."

Dean of the Faculty of Applied Technology and Primary Industries Kevin Uncles said Waiariki was an integral part of the community and they were proud to be able to help the community.

"The money will be used to benefit many community organisations across the rohe (territory) and we will continue to do so over the next coming years."

He told students they were studying an important contributor to the New Zealand economy.

"Construction supports a lot of industries in the country and without construction we wouldn't be so well off," Mr Uncles said.

PlaceMakers Rotorua have announced they will be closing their doors at the end of next month.

"It's a real shame they're closing, we have been well supported by them as a building supply merchants. But we're committed to the process, there will be another three [houses] to come as we've committed to building five," he said.