Luxon yet to move into Premier House
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is considering “significant” renovations for the prime minister’s residence, Premier House, before deciding whether to move in.
More than two months after being sworn in, Luxon continues to live at his Wellington apartment near Parliament that – according to financial declarations – is one of seven properties he owns mortgage-free.
He has previously claimed an annual $31,000 accommodation allowance while living in his Wellington home as an MP and now, as prime minister, he can claim up to $52,000 a year if he chooses not to relocate to the Thorndon residence for prime ministers.
Premier House remains unoccupied, though work vehicles have been on site as a “small amount of work” is done to support “transitions between residents”, the Department of Internal Affairs says. No major renovations have been decided upon. Luxon has received a report from the Premier House Board advising him the house requires renovation – but how much work, at what cost, when a decision might be made, and if he continued to receive the accommodation allowance, his office would not say.
“The report suggests Premier House requires a significant amount of work so the prime minister will consider that before making any decisions around residing there,” a spokesperson said.
Luxon has also allocated the other ministerial residence, a house on nearby Bolton St, to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters.
That residence was occupied by thenforeign minister Peters during the 2017 Labour-coalition Government; before that by then-foreign minister Gerry Brownlee, and during the 2020 Parliamentary term by trade minister Damien O’Connor.
“It is used by Mr Peters, as appropriate, for engagements with foreign governments.”
The request for funding for an overhaul of Premier House comes at an awkward time for Luxon, who led a National-coalition Government into power on a promise of slashing wasteful government spending amid a cost of living crisis. The Department of Internal Affairs lacks funding for substantial improvements to the property, so capital investment in the property would have to be signed off by Cabinet.
According to officials, conventional wisdom dictates that prime ministers are reluctant to spend public money renewing the residence due to concern at the public backlash.
Premier House was restored as the prime minister’s residence in 1990, but has had “limited investment” since. Luxon, in a briefing upon entering the job, was told many of the house’s facilities were reaching “end of life”.
Jacinda Ardern, the most recent prime minister to live in the house, publicly documented leaks and problems with possums in the roof and walls. She was briefed in 2020 that beyond security upgrades and urgent repairs that had been completed, structural repairs were required for the “dated and basic” home.
Ardern created the Premier House Board, which produced a report on work needed to be done in September 2023.