Hang on to the GHQ

9 November 2015

New Zealand Defence Force plans to demolish the historic General Headquarters Building on Pukeahu National War Memorial Park on Buckle Street have been met with dismay by local residents and supporters of Wellington’s heritage.

Peter Cooke, spokesperson for Mt Cook Mobilised, the suburb’s residents association, said “demolishing this building would be like demolishing the Tower of London – it is that vital. A quarter of a million New Zealanders have served as part of this country’s commitment to collective security, and 50,000 died. Many of them passed through this building to get uniforms and equipment, so it bears witness to the sacrifices they made”.

To protest the plans and to request that the New Zealand Defence Force reconsiders its plans, residents of Mt Cook Wellington are holding a silent commemoration there on Armistice Day at 11am to honour and hang on to the GHQ Building.

“In 1913 it was the scene of a confrontation that almost sparked class war. Member of the organised Labour movement went there to protest at the Government and exporters who were exploiting the workers and shots were fired on 3 November.

“This building has irreplaceable heritage values and its location adjacent to the hugely successful Pukeahu National War Memorial Park demands its retention. A building with its history could not be in a better place for commemoration.

“Retaining this building will give Defence the moral high ground in championing the very good historical record New Zealand has in meeting its international defence commitments in the past. Demolishing these buildings will not be seen as commemorating the sacrifices of the past.”

All Wellingtonians are invited to come and place a hand on the building – at 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, November 2015 (Armistice Day).

Background

The GHQ Building was built in 1911 as a defence store for the NZ Military Forces. That was the same year the Territorial Force started training men, the same men who then served overseas. It became General HQ in 1930 and housed the Commandant of the NZ Military Forces for the next eight years. After WWII it was used by the Health Education Department, Dominion Museum and Air Training Corps. It is registered Category 2 by Heritage NZ and is on the Wellington City Council’s District Plan, meaning that it has significant heritage value.

Mt Cook Mobilised was formed in 2007 and represents about 6000 residents in 3200 households.

ENDS

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