New Zealand House
Encyclopedia
The High Commission of New Zealand in London
(in Māori
: Te Kāinga Māngai Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa i Rānana) is housed in a skyscraper
known as New Zealand House in The Haymarket
, London
, off Pall Mall
. As well as containing the offices of the High Commissioner, the building also hosts the New Zealand consulate in London and the military attaché.
The High Commission was built by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts
in 1959 on the derelict site of the Carlton Hotel
, destroyed by a bomb during the Blitz. New Zealand House was to be the main diplomatic representation for the New Zealand government, and no expense was spared in its construction. The design differed from the other diplomatic buildings of other Commonwealth countries in that it would be a modern skyscraper, designed by Sir Robert Matthew
. After difficulties in planning permission, the 18 storey building was constructed only after permission was granted by the British Cabinet. It is the only tall building in this part of London, and remains controversial.
It is an overseas post of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
. The current High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is His Excellency Mr Derek Leask
, who is also New Zealand's ambassador to the Republic of Ireland
, and in addition, is accredited to Nigeria
. The current Deputy High Commissioner is Belinda Brown. New Zealand House is staffed by a team of 20 diplomats and local staff. The focus of the High Commission's work is managing New Zealand's political, economic and trade relations with the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
The Māori cultural group Ngati Ranana
is based at the High Commission. The nearest Tube
stations to New Zealand House are Piccadilly Circus
and Charing Cross
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(in Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
: Te Kāinga Māngai Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa i Rānana) is housed in a skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
known as New Zealand House in The Haymarket
The Haymarket
Haymarket is a street in the St. James's district of the City of Westminster, London. It runs from Piccadilly Circus at the north to Pall Mall at the south...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, off Pall Mall
Pall Mall, London
Pall Mall is a street in the City of Westminster, London, and parallel to The Mall, from St. James's Street across Waterloo Place to the Haymarket; while Pall Mall East continues into Trafalgar Square. The street is a major thoroughfare in the St James's area of London, and a section of the...
. As well as containing the offices of the High Commissioner, the building also hosts the New Zealand consulate in London and the military attaché.
The High Commission was built by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts
Holland, Hannen & Cubitts
Holland, Hannen & Cubitts was a major building firm responsible for many of the great buildings of London.-History:It was formed from the fusion of two well-established building houses that had competed throughout the later decades of the nineteenth century but came together in 1883: this was...
in 1959 on the derelict site of the Carlton Hotel
Carlton Hotel, London
The Carlton Hotel, London was a luxury hotel that operated from 1899 to 1940. It was designed by the architect C. J. Phipps as part of a larger development that included the rebuilding of Her Majesty's Theatre, which is adjacent to the hotel site. The Carlton was originally run by the Swiss...
, destroyed by a bomb during the Blitz. New Zealand House was to be the main diplomatic representation for the New Zealand government, and no expense was spared in its construction. The design differed from the other diplomatic buildings of other Commonwealth countries in that it would be a modern skyscraper, designed by Sir Robert Matthew
Robert Matthew
Sir Robert Hogg Matthew, OBE, FRIBA was a Scottish architect and a leading proponent of modernism.- Early life & studies :Robert Matthew was the son of John Matthew . He was born and brought up in Edinburgh, and attended the Edinburgh College of Art.- Career :Robert was apprenticed with his...
. After difficulties in planning permission, the 18 storey building was constructed only after permission was granted by the British Cabinet. It is the only tall building in this part of London, and remains controversial.
It is an overseas post of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the New Zealand Government ministry responsible for promoting New Zealand's interests in trade and international relations....
. The current High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is His Excellency Mr Derek Leask
Derek Leask
Derek Leask is a New Zealand diplomat, since March 2008 the High Commissioner from New Zealand to the United Kingdom, and concurrently accredited as Ambassador to Ireland and High Commissioner to Nigeria. Leask is a career diplomat, who joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1969...
, who is also New Zealand's ambassador to the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, and in addition, is accredited to Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The current Deputy High Commissioner is Belinda Brown. New Zealand House is staffed by a team of 20 diplomats and local staff. The focus of the High Commission's work is managing New Zealand's political, economic and trade relations with the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.
The Māori cultural group Ngati Ranana
Ngati Ranana
Ngāti Rānana is a Māori cultural group based in London. It aims to provide 'an environment to teach, learn and participate in Māori culture and to promote New Zealand through Māori culture. The group regularly performs throughout the United Kingdom and Europe....
is based at the High Commission. The nearest Tube
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
stations to New Zealand House are Piccadilly Circus
Piccadilly Circus tube station
Piccadilly Circus tube station is the London Underground station located directly beneath Piccadilly Circus itself, with entrances at every corner...
and Charing Cross
Charing Cross tube station
Charing Cross tube station is a London Underground station at Charing Cross in the City of Westminster with entrances located in Trafalgar Square and The Strand. The station is served by the Northern and Bakerloo lines and provides an interchange with the National Rail network at station...
.