Hon Rick Barker
Minister for Courts

18 September 2007 Media Release

Nelson Courthouse visuals released

Visuals for the new Nelson District Courthouse were made public today by Courts Minister Rick Barker and are part of the largest courts capital investment programme in New Zealand’s recent history.

“Under Labour, New Zealand’s courts are experiencing the largest investment in refurbishment and construction in a long time. This is a result of our concerted effort to modernise courts after a decade of neglect and real-term cut backs under the previous National administration," Rick Barker said.

“As one of the highlights of this investment programme, the expansion and refurbishment of the Nelson Courthouse will add two additional courtrooms to the existing three courtrooms. The courts’ floor area will be doubled and administration and public waiting spaces will be increased

“The refurbished Nelson courthouse is designed to meet the current and future needs of the community, and includes extra space for judges. The refurbishment is testament to Labour’s ongoing commitment to improvement over time throughout the court system,” Mr Barker said.

“The expansion and refurbishment of the existing courthouse will include extensions on the current Bridge Street site.

“As well as being bigger, the refurbished courthouse will have advanced security systems and will be capable of supporting the latest technology, including video conferencing and evidence recording services introduced over the last year in courts throughout New Zealand by the Labour-led government.

“Where possible, environmentally sustainable design practices will also be incorporated into the concept for the courthouse. By investing now we are better placed to provide long term savings and solutions to ongoing concerns for our environment in the future.”

The expansion and refurbishment of the Nelson Courthouse is scheduled to begin in mid 2008 and is expected to be complete by mid to late 2009.

Since being elected in 1999 the Labour-led Government has completed five new courthouses and 28 major courthouse refurbishments. Four courthouses are currently being built and eight more major refurbishments either planned or underway.

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Additional Background Information

The following table provides a comprehensive list of all South Island Court refurbishment and construction projects undertaken since 1999, with a breakdown of costs involved.

Year Location of Court Cost ($000’s)

New Builds since 1999
2006 Queenstown District Court 3,208
2007 Greymouth High/District Court 5,500

Refurbishments/additions since 1999
1999 Blenheim High/District Court
Cell/secure areas & alterations 3,028
2001 Nelson High/District Court
Cell/secure areas 450
2002 Dunedin High/District Court
Addition & refurbishment 12,500
2004 Ashburton District Court
Addition & refurbishment 278
2004 Rangiora District Court
Addition & refurbishment 275
2005 Balclutha District Court
Cells & refurbishment 105
2005 Christchurch Administration addition 270
2006 Oamaru District Court
Refurbishment 680
2007 Blenheim High/District Court
Major alterations 3,028

Major Building Fitouts
2005 Christchurch MLC & Employment Court
Expansion & refit 1,688

Major refurbishments planned
Nelson High/District Court
Addition & refurbishment 10,355
Invercargill High/District Court 10,500
Timaru High/District Court 9,500

Total Capital Expenditure 61,365

ENDS

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