Comment on Premier House cost story + release of documents

Please attribute to a spokesperson for the Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services Chris Hipkins –

The previous National Government allocated the $3 million budget associated with a security upgrade at Premier House. This followed an audit of the security arrangements at Premier House.

Under this Government, the Minister responsible for Ministerial Services Chris Hipkins confirmed these arrangements in December 2017.

There has been, however, no cost increase under this Government. The budget for the upgrade and maintenance is unchanged from what was approved in September 2017 by then PM Bill English’s Cabinet.

Some confusion has been created by conflating capital costs of around $1 million with operational costs of $1.9 million over five years – both of which were in the original budget.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, once advised about it, sought to intervene to minimise the costs associated with the upgrade. She was advised at the time that it was too late.

The Prime Minister’s apartment at Premier House was last renovated approximately 30 years ago, and there are no plans to renovate it, beyond maintenance and repairs now.

Note :

Here are the documents released under the OIA regarding the renovations to the Premier House – https://www.dia.govt.nz/Official-Information-Act-Requests-2

ends

© Scoop Media