Parliament House

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• Not assessed

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• Not assessed

Not assessed

Parliament House is a substantial edifice designed in a somewhat spare Edwardian version of the Beaux-Arts Baroque style that was popular at the time for important civic buildings in the British Empire and which reflected both the strong ties of New Zealand to Great Britain and a desire to identify with English models of law and government. The work of the Government Architect John Campbell and his assistant Claude Patton, the building as it stands today is about half of that originally planned. The original 1911 design included a second wing symmetrical with the first, a grand dome surmounting the entrance lobby and lesser domes over the end pavilions.

As completed, the form of the building is distinctively asymmetric, an impression strongly enhanced by the adjacent Beehive, and is set out, on the main eastern elevation in the form of two pavilions linked with a loggia, with the bulk of the building contained in wings behind the eastern and northern façades. The larger southern pavilion is the main entrance and contains the main foyer of the building; the smaller northern pavilion is the architectural stop-end to the building. The exterior walls of both pavilions are rusticated in contrast to the plain ashlar work of the loggia between them.

The English influence is apparent in the detail work including the use of giant order columns, exaggerated rusticated stonework, quoins, voissoirs, keystones, broken and open-bedded pediments, and festoons. The principal architectural device of the building is the giant-order Ionic columns, which form the double-height open portico at the main entry, continue along the loggia and end attached to the northern pavilion, there set in pairs flanking deeply-recessed arched windows and elaborate wreathings.

The main floor of the building is elevated above the forecourt on a deeply-rusticated plinth; square-headed windows with prominent keystones tie in to the base moulding at the floor level. It is accessed from the forecourt by one of the best-known stairs in New Zealand which rises over a segmental-arched bridge. Above this are two principal floors capped by a heavy console-bracketed cornice and surmounted by a parapet and a minor level which is part of the composition of the two pavilions but is recessed back from the parapet line between the pavilions.

The fine materials used in the construction of Parliament House are characterised by the Coromandel granite and specially-quarried Kairuru marble on the exterior, the rich grey colours adding to the formal qualities of the building, and the vast quantity of the best native timbers on display in the interior.

Local stone was used to face Parliament Buildings. The base of the building is clad in granite from Coromandel; the upper two floors are faced with Kairuru marble from Nelson; heart rimu was used extensively in the interior.

The Parliament Buildings have been the physical and symbolic focus of the New Zealand Government since 1922. It is the central building of the parliamentary complex which is a precinct of outstanding townscape and landmark value. It is on a prominent site and contributes to a crucial node in the city centred around the Cenotaph, Parliament Grounds, and the commercial and financial sections of the city which meet at this point.

• Architectural

  Does the item have architectural or artistic value for characteristics that may include its design, style, era, form, scale, materials, colour, texture, patina of age, quality of space, craftsmanship, smells, and sounds?

  This building has significant architectural value due to its design, both externally and internally, for the execution in high quality and durable materials, and for the skills of the architect and tradesmen employed. It is a prominent Edwardian Baroque building that is the physical focus of the parliament grounds. The building plan, elevations and detailing reflect a high level of skill. The design is regarded as John Campbell’s finest.

• Group

  Is the item part of a group of buildings, structures, or sites that taken together have coherence because of their age, history, style, scale, materials, or use?

  This building is a part of a rare group of buildings that make up the Parliamentary Precinct Heritage Area. Alongside the modern Beehive and the Gothic General Assembly Library, this building provides an interesting counterpoint and helps to tell a story of architectural continuity on one site.

• Townscape

  Does the item have townscape value for the part it plays in defining a space or street; providing visual interest; its role as a landmark; or the contribution it makes to the character and sense of place of Wellington?

  This building has high townscape values as it is on a prominent site and is a landmark in Wellington City.

• Association

  Is the item associated with an important person, group, or organisation?

  This building has historical value through its association with the New Zealand Government. It has been the focus of a number of major celebrations, ceremonies and protests and was opened by Queen Elizabeth the Second. 
  
  
  
  It is also important as it is associated with well known Wellington architect John Campbell, who as the Government Architect is responsible for many well known buildings around Wellington.

• Archaeological

  Does the item have archaeological value for its ability to provide scientific information about past human activity?

  This building is built on the same site as a number of pre 1900 buildings. It is included in the NZAA R27/270 Central City archaeological area.

• Technological

  Does the item have technological value for its innovative or important construction methods or use of materials?

  There is technical value in the design of this building as it is a showcase of the best materials, particularly building stone and timber that were available in New Zealand at the time. The major structural upgrades of this building including the addition of base isolators also add a significant technological value to this building.

• Identity Sense Of Place Continuity

  Is the item a focus of community, regional, or national identity? Does the item contribute to sense of place or continuity?

  This building is a significant focus of national identity as it is where New Zealand legislation for almost a century has been debated and enacted.

• Public Esteem

  Is the item held in high public esteem?

  This building is regarded as John Campbell’s finest building in Wellington. It has high aesthetic value for its design and the quality of its finishing’s. It is sited in a prominent node of the city and has landmark status.

• Symbolic Commemorative Traditional Spiritual

  Does the item have symbolic, commemorative, traditional, spiritual or other cultural value for the community who has used and continues to use it?

  This building has considerable symbolic, commemorative, and traditional values. It has been the central focus of democracy in New Zealand almost 100 years. The building and grounds have played an important role in New Zealand politics having been the location of many celebrations and ceremonies, and the expression of political opinion and dissent.

• Authentic

  Does the item have authenticity or integrity because it retains significant fabric from the time of its construction or from later periods when important additions or modifications were carried out?

  Although there have been major structural upgrades of this building it maintains its authenticity and integrity of design. All modifications have been carried out in a way that is cohesive with the existing building and all spaces of high heritage value have been preserved. Although the interior has been refurbished it retains a high level of authenticity.

• Rare

  Is the item rare, unique, unusual, seminal, influential, or outstanding?

  This building is an outstanding example of its style and is regarded as John Campbell’s finest building in Wellington, the quality of the design and finishing’s set this building apart from others. As a part of the parliamentary group it also has rare value as an integral aspect of a set of buildings that help to tell the story of government in New Zealand.

• Representative

  Is the item a good example of the class it represents?

  This building is a good representative of Edwardian Baroque architecture, the choice of style reflecting the strong ties to Great Britain that existed at the time.

• Importance

  Is the item important for any of the above characteristics at a local, regional, national, or international level?

  This building is important at a local and national level. Locally it is a prominent landmark building situated on a major node of the city, it is also one of three buildings that make up the parliamentary complex, a rare collection of different but coherent architectural styles. As it is regarded as the best design of prominent architect John Campbell who was Government Architect and one of Wellington’s most influential architects.
  
  Nationally it is the house of New Zealand government and has been the physical and symbolic representation of government since its construction.

Not assessed

• Cook, R. Parliament: The Land and Buildings from 1840 (Wellington: Parliamentary Services, 1988)
• 'Doing up the House - Parliament Buildings', accessed March 2013, URL:
• NZHPT professional biography, John Campbell, accessed March 2013,
• Wellington City Council, “1 Molesworth Street-Parliament Building” Wellington Heritage Building Inventory 2001: Non-Residential Buildings. (Wellington City Council, 2001), MOLE 1

• Inventory Report

Not available