Media release: Monday 7 September 2015
Local high school are the kings of national building challenge
Rotorua Boys’ High School has been named the Supreme Winner of the Building and Construction Industry Training
Organisation (BCITO) Build-Ability Challenge, winning all three of the national awards, including the People’s Choice
award and the Best Video award.
Twenty four schools went head-to-head in the nationwide competition. The teams had to not only design and build a
playhouse to be gifted to a local community group, but also had to maintain a video diary and blog about their progress
throughout the challenge at www.buildability.co.nz.
Rotorua Boys’ High School built an impressive castle-themed playhouse for Kidz Rock Early Learning Centre. The castle
not only won over the judges, but was also a crowd favourite in the People’s Choice category. The school embraced the technology aspect of the competition, successfully documenting their progress, and
also took out the Best Video award.
The Judges were extremely impressed with the quality of all of the projects this year, and particularly the winning
entry.
“Rotorua Boys’ High School ticked all the boxes in the 2015 challenge. We were blown away by their project. Not only
were research, design and build executed impeccably, but the story of their journey was clear for all to see on their
blog.
“Their use of video and technology to present their story was very well done, and this was an important element of the
challenge given the high rate of technology adoption in the construction sector today.
“Although Build-Ability is a competition, the real purpose behind the challenge is to get young people working together,
whilst generating interest in the construction industry.”
Rotorua Boys’ High School has been awarded a $1,000 voucher for their Technology Department, a GoPro camera for the
school and individual prize packs for each team member. They were also awarded a “team shout” to the value of $300.
Tamatea High School in Napier won the Best Decorated Playhouse Award, sponsored by Dulux who have donated the school
various paint products to the value of $1,000.
BCITO Chief Executive Ruma Karaitiana says that entries into the competition had more than tripled since last year, and
that’s a real demonstration of secondary-schools’ commitment to the construction industry.
“The industry is calling out for more apprentices and so it’s fantastic to see so many schools participate in this
competition giving students the opportunity to gain experience in building and construction,” he says.
Build-Ability is aimed to challenge students, and required teams to have solid teamwork, skills on the tools and good
record keeping on blogs. With an emphasis on inquiry learning, the challenge provided students with an opportunity to
take ownership of their project and their learning.
Each team was mentored by teachers and supported by BCITO Skills Brokers. BCITO will be running the Build-Ability
Challenge again in 2016.
For photos of the winning playhouse, or to interview the schools please contact:
ENDS