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Tiny houses find new homes

20 May, 2019

Going once, going twice – sold! Ara’s first tiny houses attracted a big crowd over the weekend when they were auctioned off by Ray White Ferrymead at the Christchurch Trades campus.

Both tiny houses sold with the buyer saying he bought the tiny houses because his son liked it.

“I came here for the open home and my son really liked the house. Even before the auction he spent a lot of time inside it.

“I bought the house mainly for the kids. They are growing up now and they need their own space. I have a big backyard so there is enough room to park it.”

Amongst the public were a few students who created these tiny masterpieces through the Dual Enrolment Programme.

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(from left to right) Ryley Kilkelly-Bourke, Creed Rickard-Robb and Scott Rance were involved with the tiny house project from the start.

In total, sixteen students worked on the tiny houses over the course of one year. Some of them had never picked up a tool before starting their course but have since signed up for the pre-trade programme that Ara offers and others have already found apprenticeships in the carpentry industry.

Scott Rance, who worked on the tiny houses from the start when there was nothing but a bare trailer, was happy to see the tiny houses sold.

“I’ve learnt a lot building the tiny houses and I am proud of how they turned out.”

As a result of the successful tiny house project, Rance and fellow student Creed Rickard-Robb are going to be part of a group of students who will put their newly learnt skills to the test and help out with a Habitat for Humanity project in Fiji in June.

During their time there, the students will work alongside a local community to help build homes for families that were affected by the cyclones.

Rickard-Robb, who has started a pre-trade programme since finishing the dual enrolment course, is looking forward to being part of this very first collaboration and lending a helping hand.

“I’ve been to Fiji before and seeing where people live was quite eye opening. Going over there with the other students to help with building houses will be good.”