Wellington City Council will soon move into the former Datacom building at 68 Jervois Quay, but not all are happy with their new offices. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Discontent is stirring at Wellington City Council over the allocation of office space in its new waterfront headquarters.
Some councillors are unhappy with their shared lounge space, while Mayor Andrew Little is understood to be troubled by his first floor office, but concedes it is too late to change, saying the design was a “lost opportunity”.
Meanwhile, the council’s senior officers will be based on the building’s top floor, with its panoramic views of the harbour.
In a recent site visit to the new Jervois Quay headquarters, councillors and the mayor were shown through the building, which has been undergoing fit-out and upgrade work in preparation for the move.
But when they were taken to the area designated to house the shared councillor lounge and mayor’s office, the size and location of the area “raised eyebrows”, those involved said.
Councillors spoken to by the Herald were unwilling to discuss on record their feelings about the new digs, but confirmed there is “discontent“ brewing behind the scenes over the new space.
Multiple councillors said the mayor’s office fell short of what is appropriate for the leader of the capital city, while the council’s executive leadership team is to be based on the top floor.
The mayor’s office is located on the building’s first floor, an area that will also house the councillors’ lounge and council chambers, which will be accessible to the general public.
It has a view of a neighbouring wall and the Frank Kitts carpark, according to those who attended the tour.
The mayor often hosts VIP visitors in his office, including members of the diplomatic corps and Government ministers.
Little said the situation was a “lost opportunity” but that it was ultimately too late to change things.
“The design of the new waterfront council offices was completed before I was elected, and I had no input into it,” he said.
“I’ve shared with councillors the design is a lost opportunity to give visitors a view of our wonderful harbour.
“It’s too late now, and I wouldn’t support spending ratepayers’ money on last-minute changes.”
Asked who decided to have the councillors and mayor on the first floor, a Wellington City Council spokesman said officers worked with the former mayor’s office on the layout, and the full council were given early briefings last term.
“Following recent elected member visits, feedback was received on layout and security arrangements, options are being investigated to action this feedback within the current project budget.”
The spokesman said improving the council’s “connection to the public” was a key priority in the design.
The new Jervois Quay HQ will house the council’s 1200 staff, as well as the council chambers, mayor’s office, hearing room, and a ground-floor reception.
Relocation to the former Datacom building on Jervois Quay was supposed to happen at the beginning of last year, but has been pushed back due to delays in preparing the building and will be completed in the coming weeks.
The Herald asked to visit the new site to see the office, but was told this wouldn’t be possible as installation work continues.
The current council chambers, alongside most staff, are in the former PricewaterhouseCoopers tower at 113 The Terrace.
The organisation was previously housed in Civic Square but had to move to the temporary Terrace site, as well as a Boulcott St lease, and the City Archives building on Barker St in 2018 after the Kaikōura earthquakes.
The old mayor’s office in the Wellington Town Hall was said to be much larger, with mustard-yellow walls, a chandelier, ornate drapes and an array of grand and traditional furnishings.
At the current site, the mayor’s office features a corner-room view of Lambton Quay from level eight, with modern office furnishings.
The Deputy Mayor gets a more humble office, next door to the mayoral office and also on level eight, alongside the councillor lounge, which has shared workspace with a view of The Terrace.
The Herald earlier revealed the lease for the new site would cost the council $207.4 million over its 25-year lease.
The council’s chief Māori officer, Karepa Wall, is leading the project and said the council secured 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″.
The Greenstar-rated building is 17,000sq m, equalling an $8.29m annual lease cost to the council, and $207.4m over 25 years.
Ethan Manera is a Wellington-based journalist covering Wellington issues, local politics and business in the capital. He can be emailed at ethan.manera@nzme.co.nz.