Eight hours to build a dream home

Fourth-year building apprentice Jack Johnston hammers out the kinks in his winning children’s playhouse build. PHOTOS: GERARD O’BRIEN

After eight gruelling hours of building on Saturday, one Dunedin apprentice has shown they hit the nail on the head in a challenge to spot the best skills of this year’s cohort.

Building apprentices across Otago battled it out for the annual New Zealand Certified Builders (NZCB) Apprentice Challenge, and were tasked with constructing a children’s playhouse within eight allocated hours.

The hopeful apprentices went hammer-to-hammer for the spot at the national final.

Otago Certified Builders Association president Sacha Gray said it was great to see the eight young people competing for the top spot in the region.

Third-year building apprentice Cameron Lynch focuses on building the frame of his children’s playhouse.

"It’s really cool that these young guys put themselves out there. We’re trying to bring clever, well-educated guys through the industry and it’s working — we’re seeing a really high level of skill here," Mr Gray said.

The winner of the 2023 Otago title was Naylor Love apprentice Jack Johnston, who was judged by a panel of industry professionals on technical skills and technique, the quality of workmanship, precision of measuring and cutting, assembly and ability to work to a detailed plan.

Third-year building apprentice Grace Auckram has her eyes on the prize while cutting a piece of timber.

The completed playhouses, which had to meet industry standards and safety requirements, would be auctioned online and the proceeds donated to the Cancer Society.

Mr Johnston will go on to represent his region in the national NZCB Apprentice Challenge Final in Christchurch on May 26 and 27.

Second place went to Dominic Madden, of G L Stevenson Builders. Third was Roy Devereux, of Devereux Building. — Additional reporting Oscar Francis