Inland Revenue Department to keep Hamilton offices separate

Wednesday, 29 June 2016

The Inland Revenue Department is upgrading its Garnett Ave office to 'better meet current and future operational needs'.

The tax department will spend an undisclosed amount upgrading its Garnett Avenue office, months after announcing a deal has been signed for new offices down the road.

The Inland Revenue Department has two offices in Hamilton with 420 staff based in Garnett Aveand another 500 staff in Bryce St.

The department announced its 900 staff needed new a new office building in mid 2014, sparking a battle between the central city and Te Rapa's powerful property owners.

The city's leaders wanted the office to remain in the central city, fearing the commercial impact on the area of a move to Te Rapa.

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In June IRD announced it had reached an agreement with development company Hamilton Homezone for a nine-year lease in a new development to be built on Home Straight, Te Rapa.

The contract signing was the conclusion of a process that started in the middle of last year.

Staff are expected to move into the new building towards the end of 2018.

A tender to upgrade the Garnett Ave office went out on June 21.

IRD spokesman Pete van Schaardenburg said the department had extended its lease at Garnett Ave until October 2019, with further rights of renewal.

'As such, we are upgrading the Garnett Ave accommodation to better meet our current and future operational needs.'

Retaining the Garnett Ave office allowed the IRD to maintain its presence in Hamilton for the foreseeable future, while also giving taxpayers the best value for money, he said.

He would not say how much was budgeted for the upgrade as it was 'commercially sensitive'.