Built in the Christ’s College workshop, transported by tractor and trailer, and carefully lifted into position on a remote North Canterbury farm, an impressive four-person hut is the result of a year of planning, construction, and teamwork.

The project has given 19 Years 12–13 Building and Construction students the opportunity to take part in nearly every stage of a substantial build for a real client.

Guided by Building and Construction teacher Francois Guittenit, and assisted by Richard Papps, the students have worked on the hut from conception through to on-site installation.

Mr Guittenit has drawn on his industry experience to support the boys in achieving a high-quality product while developing their technical skills and understanding of professional building practices.

Constructed at Christ’s College, the main structure and deck sections have been designed to enable transportation to the McKenzie family farm near Culverden. An excavator has lifted the hut from the trailer and carefully positioned it on specially prepared foundations.

The students have stepped up to help install the deck pods, steps, and covered entranceway before completing the finishing work around the building, providing first-hand experience of the realities of working on a rural building site. Conditions have ranged from sunshine to cold, and rain, with the muddy ground an additional challenge.

The boys have worked alongside Jared Hazeldine and Dave McKenzie, who have generously shared their time, industry knowledge, and expertise on-site.

Being hosted by the McKenzie family has been a highlight, giving the boys an opportunity to follow the project through to fruition – from the College workshop to seeing the hut in its North Canterbury setting.

Designed for its rugged location, the hut has a corrugated exterior, a covered verandah, and a substantial timber deck. Large windows allow natural light into the plywood-lined interior and provide expansive views of the surrounding hills. The features include four bunks, seating, a table, and a wood-burning stove. Outdoor timber seating extends the living area and provides a place to enjoy the landscape.

Christ’s College Head of Workshop Technology Carey Prebble says “the build has taken the students beyond the workshop, enabling responsibility for producing a product for a genuine client”.

“This project has given the boys an opportunity to see how their workshop learning applies to a complete building,” Ms Prebble points out. “They have grown in confidence, strengthened their teamwork, and taken responsibility for the quality of the finished hut. The industry knowledge and guidance provided by Mr Guittenit have been central to achieving an outcome everyone can be proud of.”

Mr Guittenit adds that “the scale of the project has challenged the boys to work accurately, manage their time, and understand how each task contributes to the finished structure”.

“The boys have had to solve problems, work together, and understand how all the separate parts fit into the overall build,” he says. “Seeing the hut completed on-site has given them a much deeper understanding of the construction process.”

For Year 12 student Richie Hazeldine, “building the deck pods and seeing them come together with the rest of the hut” has been a personal highlight.

“The project has helped me understand more about how a building is constructed, and it has been great working with my mates on something of this scale. It’s rewarding to know that what we have built will be used and appreciated by the McKenzie family.”

For 19 boys, the hut is much more than the result of a year’s work. Standing in its North Canterbury setting, it showcases their developing trade skills, perseverance, and teamwork – and their ability to transform a plan into a practical, valuable building.