$1 house, big lesson: Pacific students build trades experience at Auckland high school

A three-bedroom house from Māngere has arrived at One Tree Hill College and students are turning it into a learning project and gaining real-world trades experience along the way.

Purchased for just $1, the 1970s-era home is part of the school’s Trade Academy, where students gain hands-on construction experience while earning credits towards a National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3.

The academy started in 2021 and currently has 45 students in apprenticeships, with an average of eight to 14 students entering new apprenticeships each year. The programme focuses on helping students start a career, not just short-term labour work.

The 80-square-metre house was uplifted from Yates Road and arrived at the Auckland high school on Monday night, ready to be stripped back and rebuilt by students.

Charlotte McKeon, Head of the Trade Academy, says the programme gives students experience using construction tools alongside certified tradespeople.

“Our projects that we were doing within the school curriculum just weren't challenging enough,” she told PMN News. “The students were advancing too much, and we just couldn't keep making more picnic tables.”

Quiziah Puletama, a student who has Niuean heritage, says he is looking forward to the demolition stage, which “looked pretty fun last year” and sees the project as a pathway towards his future goals. “It's good to go and get experience working on the house, especially with the upcoming jobs I'm wanting to do, such as civil engineering.”

The first house upgraded through the programme was sold in May 2025 to a family in South Auckland. This time, the plan is to retrofit the home to achieve zero power bills and earn a Homestar rating, which measures a home’s health, efficiency, and sustainability.

Year 13 student Quiziah Puletama is looking forward to working on the house this year. Photo/PMN News

A viable career pathway

The Trade Academy has 24 places available and has received more than 100 applicants in previous years.

McKeon says the programme is not just about training students now - it’s also about preparing for the future. She adds it continues to open doors especially for Pacific and Māori students.

“It means when things pick up, we will have people trained and ready to go, not with only 6 months experience,” she says.

“We have a really high percentage of Pacific and Māori students at our school, which we’re so fortunate to have, and here they are now going into trades.”

Elijah Lindsay, a former student with Cook Islands heritage, says the academy helped him find a way of learning that suited him.

“All the skills I learned, I’m able to utilise in the job now. It’s helped me grow my career and pathway, I reckon it’s better than school.”

Dani Parker (Sāmoa), another former student, started her apprenticeship with Savory two weeks ago. She says she discovered her interest through the programme.

Dani Parker (19) says the Trade Academy experience helped her towards an apprenticeship. Photo/PMN News

“I didn’t really know which job I wanted for the future and so I got my hands on tools and that’s when my passion for trading became a thing,” Parker says.

She is gaining experience across construction, joinery, and interiors as part of an apprenticeship that can take up to four years.

In an industry where women remain under-represented, Parker says her family were initially hesitant.

“They were pretty hesitant, considering how dangerous it was, but with the amount of progress I've been making, they've started to grow into it,” she says. “Just go for it. It’s not too late to start something that you’re interested in.”

The school plans to document the costs of upgrading the house to show other Keith Hay homeowners how similar 1970s and 80s homes can be warmer and more efficient, including utilising zero per cent green loan schemes.

The Māngere house is moved to One Tree Hill College for students to retrofit. Photo/PMN News/Candice Ama

The New Zealand Green Building Council recommends retrofitting as a sustainable option that reduces waste, improves health by cutting dampness and mould, and lowers household power and water bills.

McKeon says the project is about more than just one house.“Everyone wants our students to go into meaningful employment, a career that is going to grow them. We are going to make our society better through training… and that's what grounds this project together.”