NMIT ‘Scholarship Houses’ boost students, buyers

News Release November 11, 2010

For Immediate Release

NMIT ‘Scholarship Houses’ boost students and buyers

The sale of two houses built by Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology trades students on campus has boosted funds for the pre-trade scholarship, and given the students a unique learning experience.

It’s the second year the 44 square metre relocatable homes have been created by the students as part of their hands-on learning for the Certificate of Carpentry. The two buildings were advertised on Trade Me and recently bought by two local families.

One of the purchasers is the King family from Blenheim. They have had a section in Collingwood for over 30 years and have recently decided to put a house onto it so that the family of four children and mum and dad Clive and Nona King can stay there.

Daughter Venice Robb has been helping her parents search for a suitable dwelling.

“I stumbled across the NMIT Unit on Trade me it seemed possible for the Collingwood section. After contacting the TDC regarding building consents and resource consents, I soon realised that the NMIT price was very realistic. NMIT was just fantastic with the information they provided. They had all the answers to the questions I threw at them.”

Venice says her father is a retired electrician and he enjoyed going over the unit and seeing how things were done these days.

“The standard of the unit was very high and both mum and dad were impressed. They thought the idea of getting apprentices to build on the NMIT site was a fantastic idea. They also said that the kids must be proud of what they achieve.”

The proceeds, after costs, of the sales go towards pre-trade scholarships for school leavers. Those eligible are school-leavers across the Top of the South who want to study full-time on the Certificate in Carpentry (Pre-Trade) at NMIT.

The local business community and industry has supported this learning initiative with donated time and discounted products and services. NMIT and the students wish to particularly thank Roberts Kitchens, ITM, Newstalk ZB, Classic Hits, Aotea Electric, Tim Miller Plumbing, Dave DeGray Design and Absolute Energy.

NMIT Trades Programme Leader Kevin Roughton says this is the second year they’ve undertaken the ‘real building’ projects and they’ve been successful in every way.

“The buyers are fully aware of the pride and passion that has gone into these buildings and are keen to support our young people, and the students themselves find it invaluable and highly motivational to build something that will be used.”

Carpentry student Ben Payne, says it was good to learn how to build a house from scratch.

“It allowed us to take control and feel like we had achieved something. The best bit was being able to look back and feel proud that we had built it by ourselves. It was a very good experience and gave us all confidence for when we go out to the worksite,” says Ben Payne.

Fellow student Nik Donker agrees.

“We got to build a house ourselves and saw the fundamentals of how a building goes together from start to finish. With tutor supervision we owned the project, everything was done by students,”says Nik Donker.

Tutor Derrick Goodall says he’s noticed a huge change in the way the students work since the relocatables buildings were introduced as a two years ago.

“Since we started building real houses, I’ve never had to motivate them. You can see the difference and how they want to learn and to build to the best of their ability.”

Most of the students have already got jobs to go once they complete the course and Derrick says being able to show employers the real buildings they worked on has been a big help in showcasing their skills.

ENDS

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