New Zealand Parliament Buildings facts for kids
The New Zealand Parliament Buildings (also known as Māori: Ngā whare Paremata) are where New Zealand's government makes its laws. These important buildings are located in Wellington, the capital city. They sit on a large piece of land at the top of Lambton Quay. The complex includes several key buildings: Parliament House, the Parliamentary Library, the executive wing known as "The Beehive", and Bowen House. Each building has its own unique look and history.
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Parliament House: Where Laws Are Made
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Parliament House is the main building in the complex. This is where the debating chamber is located. Here, Members of Parliament (MPs) discuss and vote on new laws. The building also holds the office of the Speaker, who is like the referee of the debates. There are also rooms for visitors and for different committees to meet.
A Fire and a New Start
Before the current Parliament House, there was an older wooden building. It was built in the 1870s and 1880s. Sadly, this building was completely destroyed by a fire in 1907. Almost all the other parliament buildings burned down too. Only the Parliamentary Library survived because it had a special iron fire-door. After the fire, Parliament had to use the nearby Government House for ten years.
Building the New Parliament House
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In 1911, a competition was held to find a design for the new Parliament House. Many designs were submitted. The winning design came from a government architect named John Campbell. His design was for a grand building in a style called Neoclassical.
Construction began in 1914. However, World War I made it hard to find workers and building materials. Even though it wasn't fully finished, MPs were eager to move in. They started using the building in 1918. The first part of Parliament House was completed in 1922. The original plan was to build a second part later, but this never happened.
From 1992 onwards, the building went through a big renovation. This work made the building stronger and safer. In 1995, Elizabeth II, the Queen of New Zealand, officially opened the refurbished Parliament House.
The Beehive: The Executive Wing
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The Beehive is the executive wing of the Parliament Buildings. This means it's where the government's leaders, like the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers, have their offices. The building was designed by a British architect, Sir Basil Spence, in 1964. It was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. Its unique shape makes it look like a traditional beehive, which is how it got its nickname.
The Beehive is ten stories tall. The very top floor holds the Cabinet room, where important government decisions are made. The Prime Minister's offices are on the floor just below. Other ministers have their offices on the lower floors. There are also rooms for events and a restaurant called Bellamy's.
Parliamentary Library: A Survivor
The Parliamentary Library is the oldest building in the complex, finished in 1899. It stands next to Parliament House. The library was built in a style called Gothic Revival. It was designed to be fire-resistant, using stone and brick. This design helped save it from the 1907 fire that destroyed the other wooden parliament buildings. A special iron door separated the library from the main building, protecting its valuable collections.
Like Parliament House, the library was also strengthened and updated in the 1990s. During this work, some of its original Gothic features, like ironwork and turrets on the roof, were put back. It still serves as Parliament's library today. This building is considered a very important heritage site in New Zealand.
Bowen House: Offices for MPs
Bowen House is a tall office building located across Bowen Street from the Beehive. It has 22 stories. This building provides offices for Members of Parliament (MPs) and their support staff. Parliament has been leasing Bowen House since 1991. It is connected to the main Parliament complex by an underground tunnel, making it easy for MPs to move between buildings.
Old Government Buildings: A Historic Landmark
The Old Government Buildings are not part of the current Parliament complex. They are located on the other side of Lambton Quay. This four-story wooden building was built in 1876. It was designed by William Clayton. Today, these historic buildings are home to Victoria University of Wellington's Law School. You can also visit some rooms inside that show the building's long history.
Images for kids
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The previous building (the left wing) in 1906
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