Supreme Court of New Zealand

Supreme Court building: Progress Report No. 3

Work is in full swing on the Supreme Court Building Project with the Ministry negotiating with a preferred construction company and the main contract to be awarded in the next few weeks.

In the meantime the site, particularly the park area, has been cleared in preparation for the main construction. Some parts of the old High Court building, the annex building and an old public toilet have been demolished and a disused underground oil tank has been removed.

Minister for Courts Rick Barker visited the site and old building while this work was being carried out and was interested in the construction techniques used on some of windows salvaged. These windows will be reused in the restoration of the old building.

After the site was cleared an archaeological investigation uncovered interesting finds including the old Magistrates Court and Police Station foundations. The investigation showed the foundations of these buildings were quite different from their original plans. Other finds included a large number of bottles from various periods including a 'torpedo' bottle dating from the late 1800s.

The next stage is preparing for the drilling of the piles that will support the new building. Work on the interior of the old building to salvage and protect the heritage fabric, for example the wooden panelling in the courtrooms, will also begin.

It is expected construction will begin in mid October 2007.

Supreme Court building site

Clearing the Supreme Court building site in preparation for the archaeological investigation