Defence Force set to move to new HQ

WELLINGTON: The Defence Force is set to move into a new home, three years after its central headquarters were destroyed in an earthquake.

The NZDF’s base, Defence House in Wellington, was torn down after the 2016 Kaikoura quake damaged the 11yearold, sevenstorey building.

Since then, about 1000 Defence staff have been working out of the nearby Aitken St Freyberg Building, while others have been scattered about the city, Lower Hutt and Upper Hutt.

It was announced last week the site of the old HQ would become the home of a new national archive to store some of the country’s most significant historic documents.

Instead, the Defence Force will be heading into new digs being set up near the Beehive.

The former Bowen State Building behind Parliament — currently being refitted as part of a $203 million renovation to a campus in the area — will soon be renamed Defence House.

The building, owned by Precinct Properties, will serve as the official headquarters for the NZDF from October 2, and the lease will be shared with the Ministry of Defence.

It will come with a highsecurity fitting out. Modifications will include special facilities for handling of secure information, an NZDF spokesman said.

It is also getting plenty of natural disaster contingency measures that will allow it keep functioning if another quake strikes the capital.

Documents from this year’s Budget show the ministry requested and was given an extra $9.2 million to fund the move, saying it had looked at alternatives but found the building had been the best in terms of cost and being able to work closely with the Defence Force. — NZME