A group of Central Otago high school students has been trading classroom lessons for construction sites, completing a full-scale cottage build through a partnership between Breen Construction and Otago Polytechnic. 

Pupils from Dunstan High School and Roxburgh Area School, alongside peers from Wakatipu High School and Te Kura, took part in the Level 3 Building, Construction and Allied Trades (BCATs) programme. 

The initiative allowed students to apply their learning by constructing an 82m², two-bedroom transportable cottage. 

Under the guidance of project managers and subcontractors, and polytechnic tutors, the students gained practical experience across all stages of a real build, from framing and cladding to finishing.

Five of the 14 students involved have since secured apprenticeships. 

Breen people and culture manager Karyn Buttar said the programme has been rewarding for everyone involved. 

“We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the collaboration, valued the support of our polytechnic partners, and seen the benefits it has brought to students, staff and the wider community,” she said.

The cottage completed by the 2025 student cohort is currently under offer.

While Otago Polytechnic has confirmed the Level 3 course will pause in Cromwell next year due to lower student numbers, two Level 2 carpentry cohorts will continue across Central Otago in 2026.

Despite changes ahead, Karyn said it remains committed to fostering local talent. 

“A large part of our decision to partner on BCATS’s with local schools and the polytechnic was the opportunity to support the next generation and help raise the profile of construction as a viable and real vocation for youth in this region,” Karyn said. 

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