Tauranga Primary School's Lego Show helps with new playgrounds

Sofi Blythe, 11, and Caitie McAra, 11, having fun as volunteers at the Lego Show. Photo / Andrew Warner

It would be a big job figuring out exactly how many individual pieces made up the displays at Tauranga Primary School's Lego Show on Saturday.

There were huge Star Wars ships made up of more than 7000 pieces, castles, pirate ships and dragons to name a few.

Hundreds of people enjoyed the range of displays put on by 11 exhibitors of local families, groups and individuals.

Caitie McAra, 11, helped her parents create the huge amusement park exhibit which took six weeks to construct.

Tauranga Primary School's Lego show.

The display featured a moving roller coaster, Ferris wheel and merry-go-round.

Caitie said the family decided to build the theme park because it was something everyone would enjoy.

"Lego is not all about boys or just all about girls, everyone can enjoy it," she said.

Lego is an activity the whole McAra family enjoyed, although this was the first time they had made a display for an exhibition.

"My mum and dad use us [children] as an excuse to buy Lego," Caitie laughed.

Tauranga Intermediate student Sofi Blythe was helping her uncle by being a volunteer at the show.

The 11-year-old said her favourite display was the theme park and she enjoyed getting to help out.

Vehicles draw attention at the Lego show.

Organisers Jesse Ingham and Claire Wilde were pleased with the hundreds of people who had been through the show by 12pm.

Proceeds from the entry would go towards upgrading the school's playgrounds, something that was enjoyed by the wider community.

Ingham first thought of the idea to hold the show while visiting a similar one put on by a Te Puke school.

After approaching the school and getting a team together the idea came to fruition.

Both Ingham and Wilde said Lego was beneficial for their children to play with and something they enjoyed themselves.

"It teaches them things like problem-solving and number crunching," Ingham said.

"And things like creativity," Wilde added.

The organisers wanted to say a big thank you to the community for supporting the show and the school.