Buddle Findlay is proud to have supported the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) in the construction and leaseback of a new national archives facility in Wellington for Archives New Zealand. The project has been described by the Crown as "one of the most significant public buildings in our time", and after several years of construction, is now completed.
The blessing of the building took place earlier this week, and over the next 18 months, the millions of taonga from the old national archives building, will be moved into the new purpose-built facility. Features of the bespoke building include 36 triple-pendulum base isolators, each weighing more than 13 tonnes. These base isolators mean the building can shift 1.6m in any direction, allowing the building to disconnect from ground movement in the event of a major earthquake. The facility is set to open to the public in 2026.
The Buddle Findlay team included now retired partner / consultant Stephen Whittington, partner Charlotte von Dadelszen, special counsel Brannavan Gnanalingam, and senior associates Anna Muru Paenga and Louise Brazier. The team provided a range of legal services for this unique project, including negotiating a suite of construction, lease and maintenance documents for the bespoke archival facility. The specialist requirements, including seismic standards and bespoke design and services requirements, made this a complex project. The collaboration with mana whenua throughout the design process ensured that the building recognised the historical significance of the site to Taranaki Whānui Te Āti Awa, and enabled a successful partnership between all parties.
Brannavan Gnanalingam commented "It has been a privilege to act for the Department of Internal Affairs in helping deliver this significant national project since 2018, and helping ensure the project was completed ahead of schedule and within budget. We are excited for this new taonga to open more generally to the public."
