Media release
7 September
Napier students’ playhouse wins paint award
Four Napier students have been awarded for their creative take on a children’s playhouse as part of this year’s BCITO
Build-Ability Challenge.
Tamatea High School students Josh Stoddart, Huata Puhara, Tomas Knight and Anita Samountry have won the ‘Best Decorated
Award’ from Dulux NZ for their themed playhouse.
Twenty-four schools went head-to-head in the nationwide competition led by BCITO and supported by Dulux NZ. The teams
were tasked with designing and building a playhouse to defined specifications which will be gifted to local community
groups.
Dulux NZ National Trade Stores Manager Murray Gray says the judging panel was impressed with Tamatea High School’s
attention to detail and creative use of colour. “The students showed the correct painting processes to create a
well-finished and beautiful playhouse.”
One side of the team’s playhouse is dedicated to a ‘drive-through store’ complete with a petrol pump, grocery store and
pay station. The front is themed as a magical castle with cut out dragon characters adding “an extra look and feel to
the final design”.
The school chose to donate its colourful creation to the children of Flaxmere-based kindergarten Morgan Edcare.
Head teacher Paula Mihaka, says the kiddies were thrilled to receive the playhouse. “The students listened to what we
wanted and managed to get so many other ideas in to their design,” she says. “The walls provide a great deal of play and
learning opportunities”.
Dulux NZ is rewarding each Tamatea High School team member with a $50 Rebel Sports voucher and the school with $1,000
worth of paint supplies.
Dulux Trade Brand Manager Lisa Maathuis says the company is thrilled to have been involved in the project.
“The construction industry is in need of more apprentices and the BCITO Build-Ability Challenge is a fantastic
opportunity for young people considering their future to gain skills and experience in the sector,” she says.
The other three categories judged by BCITO and the public (Supreme Award, People’s Choice and Best Video Entry) were won
by Rotorua Boys’ High School which created a fairytale-inspired castle. The school receives $1,000 for its technology
department, a Go-Pro Camera and a team shout to the value of $300.
For more information on the challenge visit www.buildability.co.nz.
About Dulux New Zealand
Dulux is New Zealand’s largest manufacturer of premium decorative paint products that protect, maintain and enhance the
spaces and places in which we live and work. Dulux has proudly been part of the New Zealand community since 1939.
Throughout our history we’ve led the way, creating products for New Zealand’s unique conditions and formulated using
only the highest quality materials.Our decorative paints enrich people's lives by bringing colour and lasting care to
their surroundings.
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