It’s the fort that counts

Youngsters Emerenziana Tuia (6, on top of playhouse), Aleiyah Gielen (6, left), Innocence Stevenson (9, centre) and Amaiyah Tanuvasa (7) welcome a castle-shaped playhouse given on Thursday  to the Te Kaika health and wellbeing hub, including the Mataora health clinic, Dunedin, while city apprentices Jeff Bell (standing) and Sam Paris look on.

This is one of six playhouses built by city apprentices recently during the Otago regional section of the New Zealand Certified Builders Apprentice Challenge, run by the New Zealand Certified Builders Association (NZCBA), and supported by the Industry Training Association Building (ITAB), the Otago Polytechnic, and building supplies firm ITM.

Mr Paris, who won the Otago regional section, said it was "cool" to see the playhouse being used for a "good cause".

Mataora clinic manager Rachel Miller said this was "fantastic" gift.

NZCBA Otago president Sacha Gray said it was "super-rewarding to see the kids play and see the smiles on their faces".

"How cool was that?" he asked.