Formal reopening of Dollan House

Acknowledgements

Mayor Bob Parker and Mayoress Jo Nicholls-Parker

Dame Margaret Bazley

Geoff Bascand

Roger Sutton

The owners of Dollan House, Vincent and Cecilia Chia

• Thank you for inviting me to be here today.

• As you may know, after the February 22 earthquake, I became the Associate Minister for Earthquake Recovery for a time, and I am still the Building and Construction Minister, so I have more than a little interest in seeing projects like this completed, and people back to work in the CBD.

• There are over 250 people working here now. That’s fantastic news. Christchurch needs people working in and around the CBD and the fact that Statistics NZ is here, and adding to the life of the area, is tremendous.

• This is one of the first buildings to reopen that’s been rebuilt to 100 per cent of the new building code. I know that the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority sees it as a significant step in the rebuilding and wider recovery of the central city –and as a precursor to a wider re-occupation by government departments in the CBD.

• It’s an important symbol for Christchurch as a whole that Christchurch can rebuild and that government departments are committed to that rebuild.

• Reinstating the Christchurch premises of Statistics NZ was one of the key priorities for Statistics that I agreed with the Prime Minister.

• It fits in very well with the Government’s overall aim of rebuilding Canterbury, which is one of our four key priorities across the next three years.

• Make no mistake – I know how important this office is. The work that’s done here flows into some of our most important economic information – GDP, Balance of Payments, Consumers Price Index, employment data. There’s also population work, and people working on next year’s census. Having it open for business again is incredibly important.

• I also know the staff down here did an amazing job after the earthquakes. They worked from home, they worked across multiple smaller offices, they held meetings in their own lounge rooms. They kept producing statistics. But ultimately, it’s better for them all to be together. It’s more efficient.

• And I understand that as part of that efficiency, the remodelling’s meant that 45 more people can now be accommodated – meaning some staff who used to work in other offices before the earthquakes can now work here.

• This building does look different now – and new. There used to be large concrete parapets and they’re no longer in place. They are a real visual symbol of the changes.

• I congratulate you for getting on to this work so promptly. I’m told you were able to get all the right people on the project and the end result is that you’re back in business. It’s a tribute to the fact that Statistics NZ and the building owners have worked so well together.

• It’s like going into a new office. I hope those of you here today are excited about getting back to work here and enjoying being all back together again.

• Thank you.