Student-built home up for grabs

Makoura College senior technology students, from left, Jahrome Graham, Jahna Kawana-Hutton, Te Puia Karaitiana, Toha Babbington, Leith Ferguson, Connor Trueman, and Montel Kelly. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

The latest house built by senior students at Makoura College is up for grabs.

Technology teacher Bill Taylor said eight Year 13 students had started construction of the 98sqm house at the beginning of the school year. The structure was almost complete and would be sold as a closed-in shell.

The house featured aluminium doors and windows and he was expecting to get about $65,000 for the structure, which would suit a hobbyist builder who would be able to complete the interior (wiring, plumbing, interior walls and doors) for about $50,000.

Mr Taylor said Tumu ITM Building Centre in Masterton had been "bloody good to us" and had agreed to carry the cost of the materials until the home was sold.

"It would be perfect for the beach and will be a really inexpensive home for somebody. We're hoping to get enough to pay for the materials that Tumu had supplied, and a little on top for the college as well," Mr Taylor said.

It was the fourth year students had built a home with similar specifications, he said, with the first house sold and shifted to a site in Manaia Rd in Masterton;, the second used as the camp manager's home at the Castlepoint Holiday Park and Motels; and the third shifted to a property on Lees-Pakaraka Rd.

The students were accumulating first year apprenticeship units on the project as part of the senior student Gateway vocational scheme.

Mr Taylor said if there was a lack of outright buyers, the house will be put up for tender before the end of the year.

Other projects include the building of a less than 10sq m sewing room by Level 1 students and an adventure playground structure being built by Level 2 students.