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Defence House

Coordinates: 41°16′53″S 174°46′37″E / 41.28130°S 174.77695°E / -41.28130; 174.77695
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Defence House
Departmental Building, c. 1952
Map
General information
Architectural styleArt Deco
Location15–21 Stout Street, Wellington
Coordinates41°16′53″S 174°46′37″E / 41.28130°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
Design and construction
Architect(s)John Mair
Main contractorFletcher Construction
Designated10 September 1981
Reference no.1356

The Departmental Building, long known as Defence House, is a 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 (MBIE).

The building is classified as a Category 2 Historic Place (places of "special or outstanding historical or cultural heritage significance or value") by Heritage New Zealand.[1]

History

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The foundation stone
MBIE head office, 2023

Departmental Building

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The Departmental Building was designed by Government Architect John Mair in 1935. Work started in late 1935 but was suspended in 1936 while additional land was bought[2] and new plans drawn up.[3] The foundations were completed in 1938. The main contractor was Fletcher Construction, with the steel framework erected by William Cable & Company. Construction was largely finished by 1940,[2] although fitting-out was still being done in March 1942.[4]

Defence House

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In 2007, the New Zealand Defence Force moved out of the building after tenanting the building since its construction. 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 the building.[5]

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.[6]

MBIE head office

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In late 2014, about 2,000 Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment employees moved from five Wellington buildings into the 15 Stout Street building.[7] The relocation had a capital budget of over $18 million, but ultimately $16 million was spent. Operational expenditure on the move was $688,000.[7] 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 ($1,800 per staff member).[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Departmental Building". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Departmental Building". Wellington Heritage. Wellington City Council. 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ^ "New government building". Dominion. 19 August 1936. Retrieved 21 July 2025 – via Papers Past.
  4. ^ "Now in use". Evening Post. 6 March 1942. Retrieved 21 July 2025 – via Papers Past.
  5. ^ New Zealand Defence Force (23 February 2007). "End of Era for Defence House". Scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  6. ^ "Former defence building purchase unconditional". Radio New Zealand News. 30 July 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  7. ^ a b MBIE. "Background of MBIE move" (PDF). MBIE. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  8. ^ 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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Media related to Defence House, Wellington at Wikimedia Commons