Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
New Zealand Parliament Buildings
New Zealand Parliament Buildings are situated on a 45,000 square metre site in and around the northern end of Lambton Quay, Wellington. They consist of Parliament House, the Executive wing, the Parliamentary library, Bowen House, and the old Government Buildings.
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Parliament House
The main building of the complex is Parliament House. It was built in 1912 following the destruction of the earlier wooden Parliament House by fire in 1907. Only the northern two thirds of the current building were completed - plans for a southern wing were abandoned in 1922. The Beehive sits where the southern wing was planned to go.
The building contains the Debating Chamber, Speaker's Office, Visitors' Centre, and committee rooms.
"The Beehive"
The executive wing's shape has given it the nickname of "The Beehive". The building was designed by British architect, Sir Basil Spence in 1964, and completed in 1981.
The building is ten storeys high and is 72 metres in height. The top floor is occupied by the cabinet offices, with the Prime Minister's offices on the floor immediately below. Other floors contain the offices of individual cabinet ministers, and function rooms.
The Paliamentary Library
Completed in 1899, this is the oldest of the New Zealand Parliament Buildings.
Bowen House
A multistorey office building next to the beehive, Bowen House houses MPs offices and support staff. Bowen House is connected to the rest of the parliamentary complex by a large underground tunnel.
Government Buildings
No longer used by New Zealand's Parliament, the old four-storey Government Building sits opposite Parliament House. It is now part of the campus of Victoria University.
External links
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