Parliament building in Wellington, New Zealand
The parliament buildings in New Zealand's capital Wellington captivate with their extraordinary architecture of modern and classic. The striking round administrative wing is one of the most famous buildings in all of New Zealand.
The Wellington Parliament Buildings complex consists of the Parliament of New Zealand, the distinctive administrative wing called the Bee Hive and the Parliament Library. Bowen House, across Bowen Street, is also part of the complex. It houses the Prime Minister's office and serves as accommodation for Parliament staff. It is connected to the main building by a tunnel.
The main building is, of course, the parliament itself. It contains the debating chamber, the office of the party leader, the visitors' centre and the committee rooms.
Emergence of the Parliament in Wellington
The current parliament buildings date from 1907, after the previous wooden buildings from 1876 fell victim to a major fire. Only the library, made of fireproof masonry, remained, saved mainly by the fire door between the entrance gate and the library.
The subsequent design competition for the design of the complete new government complex was won by government architect John Campbell. In addition to the winning design, he had submitted a second, which came fourth out of 33 applicants, and so today's design is a combination of the two.
In elegant neoclassical style, the Parliament with the seat of the two chambers was built, while the library from 1899 shines in richly ornamented Gothic design.
Construction began as early as 1914, but financial problems and supply difficulties during the First World War delayed completion. However, the New Zealand government moved into the buildings in 1918, four years before the completion of the first phase of construction. The second phase of construction was never completed and so the land earmarked for it was made available for the Executive Wing.
Government premises in the hive
The British architect Sir Basil Spence opted for an unusual cylindrical design, which, together with the honeycomb-like structures in the upper part, earned the building the nickname "Beehive". The 72-metre-high government building was opened in 1977 after only 13 years of construction.
In the 1990s, there was still brief consideration of moving the Bee Hive behind Parliament and completing the 1911 designs as originally planned.
However, this idea was not well received by the population or the party members and was soon discarded. The final official opening of the entire complex was not held until 1995 and was solemnly performed by Queen Elizabeth II, who is also Queen of New Zealand.
Discover Wellington's Parliament Buildings
Due to security measures, direct access to Wellington's parliament buildings is permitted solely through guided safaris. The benefit is, these explorative journeys won't cost you a penny as they are conducted without a fee each day. These journeys provide knowledge on a wide array of subjects, including the rich history and unique architectural styles of the buildings, as well the evolution of New Zealand's democracy.
Information about Wellington's parliament buildings was sourced from:
Official Wellington's New Zealand Parliament website.
Accommodation and hotels in New Zealand
Interesting articles for holidays in New Zealand:
Penguins of Oamaru
Church of the Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
Albatros Centre on the Otago Peninsula
Mount John Observatory at Lake Tekapo
Queenstown
Te Puia Thermal Zone
Pancake Rocks
Moeraki Boulders near Oamaru