Wellington ratepayers fork out $130k for bespoke council office art
Wednesday, 29 April 2026
Wellington City Council’s new offices are bedecked with $130,000 of specially commissioned art, adding four new items to an extensive art collection of big names in New Zealand art as well as Pablo Picasso.
The council budgeted $40 million for the move to and set-up of the new offices, on the corner of Jervois Quay and Harris St in the central city. It has its first meeting in the building on Thursday morning.
As councillors enter the new building they will walk past a new sculpture and fountain by Glen Skipper. One floor up is a meeting room, though not the main meeting room, with a ceiling designed by Ngataiharuru Taepa.
Elsewhere is work by Veranoa Hetet and Kereama Taepa.
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The council could not give the amount it paid for each of the four artists’ works, and on Wednesday could only provide the combined artists’ fees – which amounted to $130,000. Other costs, such as construction, could not be confirmed. It could not break down the cost per piece due to commercial sensitivities.
Council finance committee chairperson Diane Calvert supported public and Māori art, “but at a time when we’re asking ratepayers to tighten their belts, we need to be careful about discretionary spending and keep the focus on essential services”.
Councillor Nicola Young said tighter fiscal controls were needed at the council “but at least these works are on display”.
“Council has an interesting art collection. It is a shame much of it is not more accessible to the public.”
It comes as the council is running a fine comb through all spending to keep this year’s real-world rates increase to 7.4% while dealing with cost blowouts on the Town Hall and sludge plant after years of large rates increases.
Deputy mayor Ben McNulty, who runs the financial review group aimed at finding council savings, said the building was the council's home for the coming 20-plus years and some quality art was fitting.
But the entire move to the new building had been “developed and managed at such a distance from elected members”. There was no elected member oversight into the art works, he said.
The cost seemed “gratuitous” in the council's tough financial times.
“They feel out of kilter with the direction we have set.“
The art works add to a substantial council collection of New Zealand art from some of New Zealand’s biggest artists including Robin White, Colin McCahon, Don Binney, Toss Woollaston, Ralph Hotere, Dick Frizzell, Ronnie Van Hout, and Michael Smither.
The council also holds a Pablo Picasso work called The Bull. The lithograph was donated to the council by importer and art collector Russell Hancock, who bequeathed his art collection and $1.5m to the council in 2004.
The council had the work valued at $10,000 in 2004. It does not have any record of The Bull being on public display but a spokesperson said it was available for loans to public galleries and could be viewed on request or online.
Information released under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act shows the council employs an art collection manager, working 60% of full-time hours and earning between $100,000 and $120,000.
Meanwhile, the layout of offices for elected members versus council staff are raising some eyebrows.
While council staff get upper floors with expansive views of the harbour and Frank Kitts Park, mayor Andrew Little is in a first-floor office with most of his windows looking out on a wall and a smaller window looking over Jervois Quay, and just a patch of sea visible through a gap in trees.
Council staffer Karepa Wall said there was good reason for the layout.
Staff asked the previous council what they wanted in new offices and public access was key, as was access to building facilities not available in upper floors.
The councillor room, also on the first floor, has a view of a lane and the back of the central Wellington police station.