Charity House looks set to exceed $500,000 for charity

Now in its sixth year, Otago Polytechnic’s celebrated Charity House project looks set to have raised more than $500,000 for Otago charities once the latest house is auctioned this weekend.

The award-winning, community-minded initiative sees the Polytechnic’s carpentry students build a house for auction. Not only does the Polytechnic work closely with more than 20 local businesses to finish and market the house, but it donates all profits to more than 30 local charities annually through the fundraising distributor, United Way. Because of this initiative, Otago Polytechnic is by far Otago’s largest source of funding to United Way, donating about $465,000 from the Charity Houses over the past five years. This year’s auction will almost certainly bring that total to more than half a million dollars.

The house is constructed on campus in Dunedin to maximise learning opportunities for the students, two-thirds of whom have no prior building experience when they start the task.

“It’s a real credit to the students and staff involved,” says Graham Burgess, the Polytechnic’s Carpentry Programme Manager. “There’s a real sense of achievement and satisfaction for the students, especially when they attend the open homes and hear people comment on the exceptional standard of the properties.”

Partnerships with local businesses are key to the project’s ongoing success. “These relationships mean a larger profit from the sale of the house which, in turn, means more money for donation across Otago,” explains Graham. “Without the input of these businesses, the amount of funding available for distribution would be reduced by about 50 per cent.”

The Polytechnic’s Business Relationship Manager, Bevan Rickerby agrees. “The support of our sponsors is critical – we couldn’t do it without them. It’s telling that most of these businesses have been involved since the very first charity house, which is just fantastic.”

Dunedin Mayor, Dave Cull, says raising more than $500,000 for local charities is an achievement “that can be attributed not only to the commitment of the students and staff at this excellent Dunedin institution but also to the support and dedication of a large number of local businesses.

“Thank you to everyone who has participated. Endeavours such as these are worthy of our support, and we can all celebrate its ongoing success.”

It was just recognition when the Charity House initiative won this year’s Excellence in Community Engagement award from the Australasian Association for Tertiary Education Management.

“There’s a lot of pride involved for the organisation, and there’s a lot of pride in it for students,” says Graham Burgess. “They are not only building their first home, but they’re also making a significant contribution to their local community. Our students come from all over Otago, and one of the things I particularly like about this project is that the money raised benefits the whole region.”

The charity house also offers potential buyers more bang for their buck. Because it is designed with a raft of training opportunities in mind, it has more features than would ordinarily be found in similar types of houses.

This year’s spacious and tastefully appointed four-bedroom home comes complete with an en suite and walk-in wardrobe for the master bedroom. Fitted and furnished with state-of-the-art appliances and fixtures, the home is impeccably modern and stylish.

This year’s sponsors are: Metro Realty; RadioWorks; Aotea Electric; Philips Lighting; Schneider Electric; Ideal South; Dulux; InsulPro; The Dunedin Training Centre; Kitchens for Less; Active Furnishers; Fulton Hogan; Bedpost; Fisher & Paykel; Placemakers; Oakleys; Barry Dell Plumbing; Carpet Court; Warwick Grimmer; Makeovers; Barlow Justice.

ends

© Scoop Media

Gordon Campbell: On The 2013 Budget

Among Thursday’s main talking points:

We are apparently on track for a margin-of-error $75 million surplus, now in sight for 2014/15. But this sickly creature is hobbling out of the lab on the basis of all kinds of facilitative conjuring: such as trimming by $200 million the amount of new spending next time around.

With this strictly nominal surplus in sight, the 1984-ish justification for eternal austerity will have a news talisman: namely, getting Crown debt down to 20% of GDP by 2020. More>>

Budget Report, Lockup Audio & Images: Budget Day 2013 As always and especially after the managerial mishaps of the past few weeks and months, (e.g. Aaron Gilmore, the Mighty River Power share float, the GCSB mishaps) Budget Day 2013 was always going to be a pageant of reassurance... More>>

Budget 2013 Comment: Plain Sailing, But It's No America's Cup Pattrick Smellie: Compared to the last four budgets, this year's reflects an economy moving out of recession and into calmer waters... Yet if the fastest annual growth rate we can expect over the next two years is 3 percent - with the Christchurch rebuild in full swing - then you'd have to say New Zealand's underlying low-growth problem is far from fixed. More>>

Auckland Discord: Govt’s Power Hungry Housing Approach A Threat - Labour

Last week the Government said this, ‘The Government commits not to use any proposed or existing powers ... to override the council's planning and consenting processes’. But its housing Bill says this; ‘If an accord cannot be reached in an area of severe housing unaffordability, the Government can intervene by establishing special housing areas and issuing consents for developers’. More>>

ALSO:

• NZ Govt - Housing accords legislation passes first reading - Legislation For Housing Accords, Land Supply - Housing package improves affordability, access
• Greens - Budget numbers show National’s failure on home affordability
• Auckland Chamber of Commerce - Budget 2013: Housing intervention needed
• Out-Link - Gareth Morgan: Response to housing problem limp-wristed
• Earlier, Pre-Budget - Auckland Accord announced

Extending Protest Ban, Relaxing Permit Rules: Govt Abuses Urgency To Extend Anadarko Amendment

The Government is trying to pass legislation under urgency which would make the Anadarko Amendment – which limits protest at sea – apply to an additional 1.7 million square kilometres, the Green Party said today. More>>

ALSO:

• Parliament Today - Parliament Resumes To Pass Budget Bills
• Labour - Government to extend protest ban
• Greenpeace NZ - Oil Companies Lacking ‘Expertise’ and ‘Financial Ability’ Set to Be Handed Drilling Permits
• 2010 image via: Pacific.Scoop - Media watcher gives NZ press nil score card for China oil spill coverage