One for Lego fans

Te Puke’s ‘brick kids’ – Aiden, 8, Dan, 8, and Levi, 4, Lints are looking forward to the Lego Fan Display on September 16. Photo: Bruce Barnard.

If you're a Lego buff, then Fairhaven School in Te Puke is going to be the place to be on September 16.

Elaborate Lego creations and collections will be on display as the school hosts the Hamilton Lego Users Group for the first time in the Bay of Plenty.

Te Puke's own Brick Kids Lego Club will also be exhibiting their creations and Auckland-based company Toyco will be selling Lego sets and books.

Students at the school will be taking part in a Lego building competition which will be judged on the day by HamLUG members.

Teacher Marianne Wilson says money raised from the show will go towards buying a Lego set for every class in the school.

'Most teachers have brought in their own kids' Lego but we need more. It's great for maths and problem-solving, among other things.”

Te Puke's Brick Kids Lego Club was set up by 7-year-old Aiden Lints. Aiden lost the use of his lower legs after a serious car accident when he was just two years old. His love of Lego began during the long and tedious hours spent in hospital during his recovery.

Together with his mum, Monique Lints, they run the club at the Te Puke Library on Friday afternoons after school. The Lego was funded from grants and donations from the community and about 25 kids aged from three to 15 years from local schools come along each week to create Lego masterpieces.

Monique says the club is about fostering creativity in a supportive environment.

'Our motto is ‘be awesome' and the kids encourage each other to succeed.” It's also a great motivation for good behaviour – kids who don't perform well at home or school during the week are stood down from the club for a week.

The club is making a theme park as part of the Lego Fan Display. 'We're making a train track with a tunnel,” says James. 'It's going to be like a huge space ship,” says Lucas. 'And it's going to have a roller coaster,” says Hamish.

The Lego Fan Display is at Fairhaven School, 120 Boucher Ave, Te Puke from 10am-5pm on Saturday, September 16. Entry is $5 per person and under-3s attend free.

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