Building Careers Week 2007

Media release
September 3

Building Careers Week 2007

Kiwi high school students no bunnies when it comes to helping SPCAs

High school technology students across New Zealand have been beavering away this term constructing specially designed rabbit hutches as part of the Building and Construction Industry Training Organisation’s (BCITO) Building Careers Week.

Building Careers Week is held from September 10-16 and involves various events throughout the country aimed at raising awareness of the career choices for young people in the building and construction industry.

The rabbit hutches have been constructed as part of the Build-Ability Challenge, which sees students involved in the BCITO’s school-based Elementary Construction Skills programme forming teams to complete a building project which will benefit a local community group. The challenge this year was to build a rabbit hutch for a local SPCA shelter.

The competition attracted 18 entries from 16 secondary schools throughout New Zealand, from Rutherford College in Auckland to St Peter’s College in Gore

The rabbit hutches will be judged by local BCITO training advisors during the week of September 3-7, with the national winner announced on Monday, September 10.

BCITO marketing manager Rachel Winter says the competition is an excellent opportunity for the students to get an experience similar to what an apprentice in training undergoes and be able to make a positive contribution to their local community at the same time.

“The Build-Ability Challenge is a great exercise for the students because they have to tailor the rabbit hutch to the specific needs of their local SPCA. It’s almost like working for a ‘real’ client and gives them a taste of what it means to work in the building and construction sector.”

Schools in participating in the 2007 Build-Ability Challenge are:
Rutherford College, Auckland; Fraser High School, Hamilton; Taumarunui High School; Hauraki Plains College, Ngatea; Ngaruawahia High School; Cambridge High School; Mt Maunganui College, Tauranga Boys College; Trident High School, Whakatane; Karamu High School, Hastings; Hawera High School; Palmerston North Boys High School; Nelson College; Dunstan High School, Alexandra; Taieri College, Mosgiel; St Peter’s College, Gore.

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