Self-Guided OUTDOOR TOUR Make your way around the precinct on your own self-guided tour, and discover the exciting history of our grounds. Beware of cars that will pass through the grounds from various entranceways. 2 Supreme Court Bowen House Bowen Turnbull House 1 4 5 Wellington Cenotaph 7 3 Cathedral 8 16 15 11 9 6 14 12a 12b 10 13 ry Libra National Th e B ack bencher Parliament Buildings Parliament House Steps and Bronze Gates Parliament Gates 2. The steps lead to the official entrance of Parliament behind the 10. John Campbell, designed Parliament’s iron gates, which use the ornamental bronze gates. The Royal Coat of Arms is shown in relief initials of the reigning monarch at the time of construction, King Parliament Grounds above the main doors. Mosaic tiles decorate the entrance with a George V. The iron lamp standards were manufactured in Britain, Considered to be of little liveable value when Māori settled on this side motto in French, which translates ‘Evil to him who evil thinks‘ and while the gates were manufactured in Auckland. of the harbour, the site of the Beehive and part of Parliament House was ‘God and my Right’. For official ceremonies, such as the State designated as a Government reserve by the New Zealand Company. Opening of Parliament, red carpet is placed on the steps. Statue of Richard John Seddon Sydney Street separated this reserve, and the wooden buildings of 11. Succeeding Ballance, Richard Seddon is New Zealand’s longest Parliament (where the Parliamentary Library stands today). In 1910 the Flags and Forecourt serving Prime Minister (1893-1906). He is regarded as one of the grounds were completely redesigned, and Sydney Street was filled in to 3. New Zealand flags are flown from the top of Parliament House most important, despite being referred to as ‘King Dick’ for his create one block of land. To achieve a unified landscape, most of the and the Beehive. The flag on top of the Beehive is the third largest autocratic style. His leadership saw two decades of social and vegetation and paths were cleared and replaced with trees, new lawns in New Zealand. When the Governor-General is visiting, their flag economic reform including establishing state supported welfare, and drives — including a perimeter wall with entrances, ornamental gates is flown to the left of the foot of the Parliament House steps. Two giving women the right to vote, and rejecting Australia’s proposal and a carriageway. An elm tree stands sentinel at the main entrance to New Zealand flags are flown every day on the forecourt. Other for New Zealand to become one of its states. Designed by British the grounds. flags may be flown between the New Zealand flags to mark special sculptor, Thomas Brock, the statue was unveiled in 1915. occasions or visits. If more than one flag is to be flown, the flags Parliament House are raised from left to right alphabetically across the 29 flagpoles. Native Plants and Norfolk Pines A competition amongst New Zealand architects determined the design, The planting of native pōhutakawa, ferns, and cabbage trees on with John Campbell and Claude Paton providing the winning entry. The 12. New Opening Stone the grounds dates from the 1860s. The large pōhutakawa near the Edwardian neoclassical building, clad in Kairuru marble from the Takaka Though occupied since 1918, Parliament House was never Seddon statue, named the Royal Pōhutakawa (12a), was planted by Hills, and Coromandel granite, replaced the Gothic wooden Parliament 4. officially opened. This stone commemorates the ceremony Her the Prince of Wales in 1920. The larger of the two Norfolk Island House destroyed by fire in 1907. Work began in 1912 but due to a Majesty Queen Elizabeth II performed on 2 November 1995. pines (12b) was planted by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1869. shortage of materials and manpower caused by WW1, its construction was only completed in 1922. The original design included another wing to mirror what you see today, with prominent domes and ornamentation on Parliament House Plaque Sonja Davies Plaque the roof, but with the building of the Beehive this would never eventuate. 5. The capital of New Zealand moved from Auckland to the more 13. Sonja Davies (1923-2005) sought change through education and Instead a three year project began in 1992 to strengthen and refurbish it. centrally located Wellington in 1865. This plaque marks the first debate. She campaigned against apartheid, nuclear weapons and Parliamentary session in the new capital on 26 July 1865. the Vietnam War; was a trade unionist, a World Peace Council Parliamentary Library executive member, and an MP. She was a trailblazer for women, The Parliamentary Library, designed by Thomas Turnbull in a Victorian Kate Sheppard Walk campaigning for issues vital to women’s equality. She received the Gothic style, is the oldest building on site. Built in 1899 of brick, cement 6. Kate Sheppard was a prominent suffragist in New Zealand’s Order of New Zealand in 1987 for a lifetime of service to the and plaster, the original three-storey building and much of its external campaign for women’s right to vote. The garden to the left of the country. ornamentation had to be revised due to financial constraints. During steps, features white camellia bushes named after her. White the 1907 fire, 15,000 books were dumped on the front lawn in a frantic camellias became the symbol of the campaign. The camellias were Hilda Ross Plaque rescue effort. The Library was badly damaged but ultimately saved thanks gifted to Parliament by the National Council of Women in 1993, 14. Dame Hilda Ross (1883-1959), was an activist for the welfare of to its fire door and walls. The ornate main foyer was again damaged by with a plaque at the base of the steps celebrating the centennial of women. She was Hamilton’s first female councillor and deputy fire in 1992 during the refurbishment and strengthening, but the entire women’s suffrage. Sealed in the pillar behind the plaque is a time mayor, and when elected an MP, was a Minister for the Welfare of building has since been restored to its original style of 1899. capsule with items from the 1990s to be opened in 2093, the Women and Children (1949-1957), Minister for Child Welfare bicentennial of women’s suffrage. (1954-1957), and Minister of Social Security (1957). Her position The Executive Wing meant she was able to advocate, represent and support various Known as the Beehive, the design was developed in 1964 by Sir Basil Parliamentary Library Foundation Stone campaigns and events surrounding issues important to women. Spence who was thought to have rapidly sketched it on a napkin. The 7. The architect, Thomas Turnbull, requested the stone be altered concept was favoured over the completion of Parliament House as both to conceal his name, as the design was changed against his will. Victoria Cross Plaque parties envisioned it to “become a source of national pride and During the Library refurbishment in the 1990s, Turnbull’s name 15. The Victoria Cross was Britain’s highest award for gallantry during international interest.” Construction took place between 1969 and 1979 was revealed under the plastered edge at the bottom of the stone. WWI. This plaque is one of 11 gifted to Victoria Cross recipents’ using steel and reinforced concrete. The roof is constructed from hand It was again concealed to honour his wishes. home countries in 2015, as a symbol of the United Kingdom’s welded and seamed copper. It stands at 72 metres tall, with 14 floors — gratitude. On the plaque are the names of the 16 New Zealand two of which are below ground. The Prime Minister’s office is on the ninth Picket Fence WWI Victoria Cross recipients. Those with asterisks were New floor. Ministers have offices on floors four to seven— the higher their 8. Since 1892, a feature of the Hill Street boundary has been a Zealand born but fought with overseas forces. floor the more senior the Minister’s position. staggered height picket fence. It has been replaced at least twice in the 20th century. Cook Bicentenary Plaque 16. Unveiled by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1970, this plaque Statue of John Ballance commemorates Captain James Cook’s arrival in New Zealand in 9. John Ballance led New Zealand’s first Liberal Government 1769. He became the first European to map the outline of New Parliament Features (1891-1893). He supported policies aimed to create significant Zealand, meaning from the 1770s, accurate knowledge of New social change including land reform and women’s suffrage. His Zealand was available in Europe for the first time. Original Foundation Stone of Parliament House policies passed by his successor, Seddon, remain his legacy. This 1. The stone was laid on 23 March 1912 by the Governor, the Right carved marble statue was unveiled in 1897 and was paid for by Honourable Lord Islington PC, KCMG, DSO, to mark the beginning public donations. The sculptor is unknown. of the build. Located behind the Parliament precincts are the Navigator Sculptures, the Oak Tree with a Notable Tree Trust Plaque, and the Parliamentary Library gardens. While you are invited to view these, please note accessibility is limited and this area is used as a vehicle thoroughfare..