New Zealand, Wellington, Parliament Building Extension

Alternative Names The Executive Wing; The Beehive; Molesworth Street; Bowen Street; Museum Street; Lambton Quay; The Hill
Site type PARLIAMENT HOUSE (20TH CENTURY)
Canmore ID 284967
Site Number NON-UK 49
NGR NO
Latitude S 41 16.7167
Longitude E 174 46.7
Council NOT APPLICABLE
Parish NOT APPLICABLE
Former Region NOT APPLICABLE
Former District NOT APPLICABLE
Former County NOT APPLICABLE

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Sir Basil Spence

Building Notes
New Zealand's Parliament House was first occupied in 1918 but had become too small for modern government business by the 1960s. Prior to a visit to Wellington to lecture at the university, Sir Basil Spence was approached by the New Zealand Government to advise on the design of the Parliament extension. He proposed providing space for an extension by demolishing the timber vice regal residence known as Bellamys. Spence was at the height of his international fame at the time of his visit. He had recently completed Coventry Cathedral and received his knighthood.

His suggested form of building was circular in order to best withstand an earthquake. Spence's multi-storey design placed the service areas and parking within a rectangular podium. Above this the main reception rooms are contained within a circular drum linked to Parliament House. The upper floors are discs of diminishing size opening onto balconies on each level. These contain ministerial suites with the copper clad Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Room at the top. It was a design requirement that ministers be able to make their way from these offices to the Chamber within two minutes of the division bell.

Spence's initial concept was sufficiently defined. It was faithfully developed by the Government Architect Fergus G F Shepperd and overseen by the job architect J W Laburn. Popularly known as 'The Beehive', the extension was built between 1969 and 1979. HM Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the building in 1977, a year after Sir Basil's death. Since then it has become an iconic emblem for New Zealand, appearing on $20 banknotes and as a background to daily national television news broadcasts

Archive Details and Summary
The Sir Basil Spence Archive contains 44 drawings, five photographs and four manuscript folders containing correspondence, news cuttings and publications relating to the parliament extension.

Press cuttings in the Archive reveal that some New Zealanders felt that Spence's proposals were intended to shock the committee into considering a radical solution. Others argued that the hiring of an established overseas consultant expressed a lack of confidence in local architects and that a national competition should be organised. The press cuttings detail Spence's response through the press stating that the circular design was serious, considered, and practical. He pointed out that it was symbolic of unity and stability, and had historic precedent in government buildings such as the Capitol in Washington, USA.

The drawings in the Archive are Spence's early design sketches and a framed colour perspective drawing. They do not show details of technical construction as developed by Shepperd. Two drawings by government architects, dated 1960, show an unexecuted alternative scheme for the same site. Photographs include a view of a model for the scheme.


This text was written as one of the outputs of the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, 2005-08. Information about the project can be found at http://www.basilspence.org.uk

Notes and Activities

Books and References

A and B News (1964) [New Zealand Parliament Extension], A and B News Cutting 22 April 1964

Anon (1964) ''Beehive' idea seen as a lead - not final design', Cutting source unknown 7 April 1964

Anon (1964) 'Completed in five years? Synod says 'go ahead with St. Paul's Cathedral'', Cutting source unknown 10 July 1964

Anon (c. 1964) 'New look planned for the "The Hill'', Cutting source unknown

Anon (c.1964) ''Hornet's nest of all types'', Cutting source unknown

Anon (c.1964) 'Will parliament at last be finished - with a startling 'beehive'?', Cutting source unknown

Anon (c.1964) '"How do you mean - derivative?"', Cutting source unknown

Auckland Star (1964) 'Quote (from british architect Sir Basil Spence in the Listener)...', Auckland Star Cutting 18 April 1964

Auckland Star (1964) 'A dome in the capital', Auckland Star Cutting 2 April 1964

Auckland Star (1964) 'The hive: "it's a stunt"... "a fine conception:', Auckland Star Cutting 3 April 1964

Austen, L D (1964) 'The beehive', Evening Post Cutting 7 April 1964

Building Progress (1964) 'Sir Basil deserves an apology', Building Progress Cutting May 1964

Christchurch Press (1964) 'Parliament Buildings', Christchurch Press Newscutting 23 April 1964

Christchurch Press (1964) '"Beehive botch"', Christchurch Press Newscutting 3 April 1964

Christchurch Star (1964) 'Sketch plans to be made of 'beehive'', Christchurch Star Newscutting 2 April 1964

Christchurch Star (1964) 'Major row brewing over Sir Basil's 'beehive' design', Christchurch Star Newscutting 18 April 1964

Christchurch Star (1964) 'The 'beehive'', Christchurch Star Newscutting 11 April 1964

Cross Section Magazine (1964) 'This model represents Sir Basil Spence's idea for the new New Zealand parliament building', Cross Section Mag, vol.140 Newscutting 1 June 1964

Daily Post (1964) 'Parliament building plans raise hopes', Daily Post Newscutting 3 April 1964

Dollimore, H N (ed.) (1954) The Parliament of New Zealand and Parliament House, Unpublished pamphlet

Evening Post (1964) ''Beehive' siting', Evening Post Newscutting 9 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) ''Beehive' a stunt to clear ground for committee', Evening Post Newscutting 3 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) ''Beehive' to complete parliament', Evening Post Newscutting 2 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) 'Parliament; 'the beehive'', Evening Post Newscutting 18 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) 'Go ahead', Evening Post Newscutting 13 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) ''Beehive' no stunt, says its designer', Evening Post Newscutting 4 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) 'Matter of pride', Evening Post Newscutting 9 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) 'Harmonious trio', Evening Post Newscutting 9 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) 'The answer?; Blackpool theme; The Beehive', Evening Post Newscutting 4 April 1964

Evening Post (1964) 'Dinner given for Sir Basil and Lady Spence', Evening Post Newscutting 3 April 1964

Evening Post (c. 1964) 'Keep to original', Evening Post Newscutting

Evening Star (1964) 'Home for parliament', Evening Star Newscutting 2 April 1964

Evening Star (1964) 'Report from the capital: architects' dim view of outside preferment', Evening Star Newscutting 18 April 1964

Fantl, R (1964) 'Parliament Building', The Dominion Newscutting 22 April 1964

Fitchett, W B (1964) 'Parliament House', The Dominion Newscutting 6 April 1964

Gillett, C A (1964) 'Parliament Building', The Dominion Newscutting 13 April 1964

Gisborne Herald (1964) 'Real work centre for parliament', Gisborne Herald Newscutting 2 April 1964

Gregory, M P (c. 1964) ''The beehive'', Newscutting, source unknown

HB Herald Tribune (1964) ''Beehive' plan; HB architect urges world competition', HB Herald Tribune Newscutting 21 April 1964

Herald Tribune (1964) ''Beehive' designer's impish move', Herald Tribune Newscutting 4 April 1964

Hutt News (1964) '"Beehive" addition to parliament buildings', Hutt News Newscutting 8 April 1964

Hutt News (1964) 'Completion of parliament buildings necessary', Hutt News Newscutting 8 April 1964

King, R (1964) 'Parliament House; bees in their bonnets', Southland Times Newscutting 3 April 1964

Lodge (1964) 'Lodge laughs; a big factor in whether or not we have a beehive Parliament Building will be the cost...', Newscutting, source unknown

Lonsdale (1964) 'Lonsdale buzzes the beehive; "wot abaht the workers?"', Auckland Star Newscutting 2 April 1964

Martin, L (1964) 'Sir Basil Spence looks at New Zealand', New Zealand Listener Newscutting 17 April 1964

McKenzie, M (1964) 'Parliament buildings', Evening Post Newscutting, source unknown 9 April 1964

McKeon, W J (1964) 'The buildings', Evening Post Newscutting 29 May 1964

McKeon, W J (1964) 'Parliament', Evening Post Newscutting 21 April 1964

McKeon, W J (c. 1964) 'Completed parliament building could look like this', Newscutting, source unknown

Mitchell, D (1964) 'Parliament Buildings', Auckland Star Newscutting 23 April 1964

Nelson Evening Mail (1964) 'A home for government', Nelson Evening Mail Newscutting 3 April 1964

New Zealand Herald (1964) 'Parliamentary architecture', New Zealand Herald Newscutting 2 April 1964

New Zealand Herald (1964) 'Expert sees logic in beehive plan', New Zealand Herald Newscutting 18 April 1964

New Zealand Herald (1964) 'Beehive no stunt says Sir Basil', New Zealand Herald Newscutting 4 April 1964

New Zealand Herald (1964) 'Mr Nordmeyer in favour of beehive', New Zealand Herald Newscutting

New Zealand Listener (1964) 'The marching poles', New Zealand Listener Newscutting 17 April 1964

New Zealand News (1971) 'There's an angry buzz around the beehive', Newscutting 10 November 1971

New Zealand News (1971) [Interview with Sir Basil Spence], New Zealand News Transcript of interview 1971

Pencarrow (1964) 'Spotlight on the capital; plans for 'The Hill'', Nelson Evening Mail Newscutting 4 April 1964

Reid, P (1964) 'Letters to editor; Parliament House', The Dominion Newscutting 16 April 1964

Roof Cladding and Insulation (1980) 'Roofscape', Roof Cladding and Insulation Newscutting May-June 1980
Page(s): 38-39

Southland Evening News (1964) 'Sir Basil's "beehive" - or N.Z.'s likely new parliament buildings', Southland Evening News Newscutting 8 April 1964

Southland Times (1964) 'Idea that appeals', Southland Times Newscutting 3 April 1964

Syme, D (1964) 'The buildings', Evening Post Newscutting 24 April 1964

Syme, D (c. 1964) 'Letters to editor; Parliament Building', The Dominion Newscutting

Taranaki Herald (1964) ''Beehive' design a 'fine conception'', Taranaki Herald Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Builder (1964) 'New Zealand parliament building extension, Wellington', The Builder Newscutting 22 May 1964
Page(s): 1065-1066

The Daily Telegraph (1964) 'A model of Sir Basil Spence's design for a new wing for Parliament House, Wellington, New Zealand', The Daily Telegraph Newscutting 15 April 1964

The Daily Telegraph (1964) ''Beehive' parliament building design', The Daily Telegraph Newscutting 2 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Something that might grow', The Dominion Newscutting 2 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'UK architect's wife tells of his methods', The Dominion Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Waiting for sketches', The Dominion Newscutting 30 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Parliament Building', The Dominion Newscutting 10 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Letters to the editor; Parliament House', The Dominion Newscutting 9 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'A cynic who works somewhere in Lambton Quay...', The Dominion Newscutting 9 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Parliament House', The Dominion Newscutting 7 May 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Comment on beehive; a fine conception or a stunt?; no 5 minute idea', The Dominion Newscutting 4 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Design contest urged', The Dominion Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Bold and handsome plan for parliament', The Dominion Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Dominion (1964) 'Parliament Building; ideas of consultant', The Dominion Newscutting 2 April 1964

The Evening Post (1964) 'Will it be Sir Basil's beehive?', The Evening Post Newscutting 2 April 1964

The Evening Post (1964) 'New Parliament House design; the beehive idea gets praise from all quarters', The Evening Post Newscutting 2 April 1964

The Guardian (1964) 'Sir Basil's beehive parliament; NZ enthusiasm for design', The Guardian Newscutting 2 April 1964

The Guardian (1964) 'Sir Basil's beehive parliament - NZ enthusiasm for design', The Guardian Newscutting 2 April 1964

The Manawatu Evening Standard (1964) 'A beehive on the hill', The Manawatu Evening Standard Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Manawatu Evening Standard (1964) 'Architect with his drawing', The Manawatu Evening Standard Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Otago Daily Times (1964) '"It's function being, I suppose, to house a lot of bees buzzing round in circles"', Otago Daily Times Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Otago Daily Times (1964) 'A worthy home', The Otago Daily Times Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Otago Daily Times (1964) 'Challenge faced by N.Z. architects', Otago Daily Times Newscutting 31 March 1964

The Parliament of New Zealand (1965) Additions to parliament buildings; design report, Unpublished typescript

The Press (1964) 'Dramatic design for parliament', The Press Newscutting 2 April 1964

The Press (1964) 'Architect wants design contest', The Press Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Southland Daily News (1964) 'Our ugly "linescape"', The Southland Daily News Newscutting 3 April 1964

The Times (1964) 'Beehive wing for Parliament House in New Zealand', The Times Newscutting 7 April 1964

The Times (1977) 'Queen opens Sir Basil Spence's 'beehive'', The Times Newscutting 1 March 1977
Page(s): 6

The Weekly News (1964) 'Flurry in the capital; beehive house is planned', The Weekly News Newscutting 8 April 1964

The Weekly News (1964) 'A new shape for the new St Paul's', The Weekly News Newscutting 15 April 1964

Timaru Times (c. 1964) [untitled illustrations showing model for the New Zealand parliament extension; and Sir Basil Spence (Consultant Architect) and F G F Shepherd (Government Architect) outside the existing parliament buildings], Timaru Times Newscutting

Wanganui Chronicle (1964) 'The hub of the nation', Wanganui Chronicle Newscutting 3 April 1964

Wanganui Chronicle (1964) 'Gas', Wanganui Chronicle Newscutting 3 April 1964

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