Otago Polytechnic Media Release

For immediate release: 10 November 2007

Brand-new equipped house - $80,000?

Here’s a brain teaser. What kind of educational project both starts and ends with a hammer?

Otago Polytechnic students will find that question easy. Carpentry students typically build three complete houses every year as part of their training to enter the New Zealand building industry. The construction project is a vital part of ensuring that they have relevant, up-to date skills.

This year, for the first time, one of those houses will be fitted out with furnishings and appliances and will go under the auctioneer’s hammer with proceeds going to local charities. And with bidding starting at $80,000, it looks like it’s going to be some charity’s very lucky day!

“We value hands-on learning so that our students are best-prepared for life in the workforce,” explains Mike Waddell, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Otago Polytechnic. “Projects such as these not only enable our students to develop up-to-date workplace skills, but also provide them with the invaluable opportunity to see their projects develop to a finished product that is highly regarded in the marketplace.
“The proceeds of this sale will be given to United Way to allocate to local charities. This will ensure community groups receive the funding and support they desperately need.”

United Way Charity is an independent, non-religious, non-political, volunteer based organisation. The donations will be distributed within United Way – an independent, volunteer organisation that provides support and guidance for the often unheralded charities that provide such important services in the community.

Already many Dunedin businesses have leapt at the chance to contribute to such a worthy cause including furniture, heat-pump, floor coverings, whiteware; it even includes a full kitchen. The house is now certain to be the ‘complete package’ – a fantastic option for a buyer looking for an easy, stylish home for their piece of land. The house will be fully transportable within; the cost of transport has already been donated.

“The house auction project will run for the next three years, each year benefiting a different local charity,” says Metro Realty Managing Partner Mark Stevens, who is undertaking marketing and auction of the house at no cost. “This is a fantastic and worthy venture that benefits our young students and local organisations alike. We are extremely pleased to be part of it.”

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