It was built in a day under the heat of competition, now it will provide years of fun for tiny tots in Pāpāmoa.

New Zealand Certified Builders held their annual apprentice challenge in April to find out the best apprentice carpenter in New Zealand.

This year’s Apprentice Challenge Build tasked competitors to create a playhouse in eight hours, putting their carpentry skills to the test.

Four apprentices from Tauranga Districts competed, with Tauranga apprentice Jared Menzies placing second nationally. With winners crowned, three of the playhouses were sold with proceeds being donated to Kids Can Charity.

Pāpāmoa Playcentre was the lucky recipient of the fourth playhouse built locally. NZCB’s Central North Island territory manager Brad Mitchell says NZCB’s Tauranga Districts wanted to give the playcentre one of the playhouses built as it is a community-run organisation.

“Instead of giving it to a business that makes a profit, they wanted to give it to someone they thought was more deserving of a free playhouse.”

Made from timber donated by ITM, the playhouse will make a welcome addition to Pāpāmoa Playcentre’s play area. “It’s very generous,” says Pāpāmoa Playcentre’s session support Sian Kelly.

“We’re a not-for-profit organisation so any little bit of help we can get is amazing. Anything like this is amazing for the kids. They’re here every morning playing so it’s another area for them to explore!”