The Terrace School will soon have a new addition to its playground - a whare.
A whare playhouse being built by members of the Alexandra Men's Shed should be completed soon.
Technology teacher Isabel Radka, who initiated the project, said the playhouse would eventually have painted panels inside, brush fencing for the roof, and kowhaiwhai patterns.
While it is based on the design of an authentic whare or ''big house'', it would be ''really basic'' for children to play in.
The ''playhouse wharenui'' is different in that the front is opened up more but it still had a small veranda for pupils to put their shoes on when going in.
It was a permanent structure but designed to be shifted if necessary.
The idea was just one of a few project ideas she submitted to the school early this year, including term huis, and a new bilingual coffee and play group.
The school decided they were good ideas and paid for the materials for the playhouse.
''I'm quite pleased to have got this far,'' she said.
Mrs Radka was studying for a masters degree part-time at the University of Otago, and was focusing on the revitalisation of Te Reo Maori for her thesis.
Men's shed member Les Beer said the school approached the group about taking on the project.
Working Tuesdays and Thursdays, the group had spent four weeks on the project and hoped to finish it up this week.
