Wellington - Parliament Buildings (Beehive)

Parliament buildings North of the Old Government Building is an even more remarkable building, the modern circular structure popularly known as the Beehive, which houses ministerial and government offices and the Cabinet Room. Built in 1964-81 to the design of the British architect Sir Basil Spence, it is still the subject of controversy. Next to it is Parliament House (1922), built of granite and Takaka marble from the South Island. The chamber in which Parliament sits is modeled on the House of Commons chamber at Westminster. There are conducted tours of the building on weekdays. The chamber of the upper house, which was abolished in 1952, is now used only for the state opening of Parliament.

Here too is the General Assembly Library Building, a two-story neo-Gothic building (1897). In the gardens are statues of Richard John Seddon, prime minister of New Zealand 1893-1906, and John Ballance, leader of the Liberal Party and Seddon's predecessor as prime minister.