Defence House

The former Defence House is historic office building in Wellington, New Zealand. For many decades the building housed the New Zealand Defence Force, and after a period of vacancy and subsequent extensive refurbishment, it is now occupied by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

Defence House
Defence House in 1939
General information
Architectural styleArt Deco
Location15–21 Stout Street, Wellington
Coordinates41.28130°S 174.77695°E / -41.28130; 174.77695
Current tenantsMinistry of Business, Innovation and Employment
OwnerArgosy Property Management
Technical details
Floor count8
Floor area21,000 square metres
Designated10 September 1981
Reference no.1356
Defence House's foundation stone

The building is classified as a Category 2 historic building by Heritage New Zealand.[1]

History

In 2007, the New Zealand Defence Force moved out of the building after tenanting the building since its construction in the 1940s. The building was no longer fit-for-purpose, and according to the Defence Force: "Despite refurbishments the décor remained dull and dated and the building’s services were inefficient." The Defence Force flags were taken down on 23 February 2007 in a ceremony to close of the building.[2]

In December 2012, it was announced that the building would be bought by Argosy Property Management for $33.2 million. A 12-year tenancy agreement was signed between Argosy and the New Zealand Government in January 2013.[3]

Occupation by MBIE

In late 2014, about 2,000 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment employees moved from five Wellington buildings into the 15 Stout Street building.[4]

The relocation had a capital budget of over $18 million, but ultimately $16 million was spent. Operational expenditure on the move was $688,000.[4] The costs involved with the refurbishment were controversial, including the almost $70,000 cost of the MBIE sign outside the building, and the $360,000 cost of office furniture ($1800 per staff member).[5]

References
  1. "Defence House". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  2. New Zealand Defence Force (23 February 2007). "End of Era for Defence House". Scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  3. "Former defence building purchase unconditional". Radio New Zealand News. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  4. MBIE. "Background of MBIE move" (PDF). MBIE. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  5. Rutherford, Hamish (3 June 2015). "MBIE admits stone sign cost $24,000 more than it originally claimed". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 4 May 2016.

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