Wellington City Council says steady progress is being made on the fit-out of its new headquarters, located at the corner of Harris St and Jervois Quay.
The building, which will be home to 1,200 staff, provides the Council, Mayor’s Office and elected members, with a long-term location adjacent to Te Ngākau Civic Precinct.
The new central site consolidates Council staff, currently dispersed across multiple temporary locations, back in the creative and civic heart of the city – Te Ngākau.
The Council’s Chief Māori Officer, Karepa Wall, is leading the project and says the commercial deal sees the Council saving between $140-$160 million over the life of the lease, with a favourable rate of $488/square metre in comparison to other CBD lease options, presented to elected members, which had square metre rates between $1000-$1102 (at that time).
The landlord of 68 Jervois Quay, Cornerstone Partners Ltd, has renovated the 17,000-square metre, 5 Greenstar rated building and strengthened it to 100% of New Building Standard (NBS). The interior fit-out is now underway and has been designed to meet the needs of the Council and Wellingtonians, now and well into the future.
Mr Wall says the purpose-built public spaces, Hearing Room, Council Chambers and customised office space for the Mayor and elected members, along with the reinstatement of a ground floor reception, all work to empower stronger public connection and engagement.
Following the 2013 Seddon and 2016 Kaikoura earthquakes in early 2026, the Council was required to shift and lease buildings on Boulcott Street and The Terrace to temporarily house corporate staff. The Central Library was also subsequently closed, with library storage and distribution moved to Johnsonville. With the leases on these properties, and the City Archives building on Barker Street – totalling over 15,400 square metres – near expiry, the Council has the opportunity to consolidate and optimise rental costs, while supporting the revitalisation of Wellington’s city centre.
The phased shift to the new site starts in early 2026 and will align with the reopening of Te Matapihi ki Te Ao Nui (Central Library), City Gallery and Te Ngākau Civic Square to the public, with the Town Hall to follow.
