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Build a Bridge students in the dog house for a job well done

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PUBLISHED: 5 JUN 2025
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A group of Taranaki teenagers are learning that construction work isn’t a dog’s life – it’s about making life better for the dogs.​

The seven high school students in the Build a Bridge training partnership of NPDC, WITT and the building industry have helped create a safer, cleaner and more comfortable isolation area for new arrivals at the NPDC Pound.​

The original 1990 building at the pound on Rifle Range Road is being refitted with new holding pens with outdoor runs and wooden kennels where new dogs can be held safely for processing and to limit the spread of contagious diseases like parvovirus.​

After that they are moved to the main pound building where they be held until their owners claim them or they are found new homes.​

“The old pound building, built in 1990, is now a much better habitat for the dogs and fully in line with animal welfare standards, with help from the Build a Bridge team who designed and built the kennels from scratch.  Our rangatahi are getting a career step-up with on-the-job training while ensuring the work is done to the highest standard and keeping the costs down for ratepayers,” said NPDC Manager Consents and Regulatory Damien Morresey.​

NZIHT School of Engineering, Energy and Infrastructure Programme Manager Jan Kivell said Build a Bridge continues to be a popular and enjoyable course in its fifth year.​

“We are very lucky to have an extremely experienced tutor who makes the course interesting and fun, along with fantastic support from NPDC staff .  This year we have also had the pleasure of working with Southcoast Construction for the first time.   WITT is proud to be a part of a course that provides students with practical skills for the construction and infrastructure industries,” said Mrs Kivell.  ​

This year the Build a Bridge students are also building ramps and handrails for the Hauranga headland swing bridge near Ōākura and replacing the jetty at Lake Rotomanu. ​

Fast Facts:

  • The NPDC Pound upgrade includes new drainage, insulation and improvements to the processing and exercise areas in line with Ministry for Primary Industry standards.​
  • Build a Bridge is a partnership of NPDC, NZIHT School of Engineering, Energy and Infrastructure at WITT, Fulton Hogan, Whitaker Civil Engineering, Downer Group, Southcoast Construction, and WSP.​
  • Eight students took part in the first Build a Bridge project in 2021, building a new Camden Street footbridge over the Huatoki River.​
  • In recent years students have replaced footbridges on the Mangati Walkway in Bell Block, the Waimea Stream Reserve and Pukekura Park in New Plymouth.​

Caption: New Plymouth Boys High student Vadam Lucas, 16, and Spotswood College student Chloe Swart, 15, at work on one of the new pound kennels.​

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Page last updated: 10:15am Thu 05 June 2025

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