High Commission of New Zealand, London

High Commission of New Zealand in London
Te Kāinga Māngai Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa i Rānana
Coordinates 51°30′28″N 0°07′54″W / 51.5077°N 0.1318°W / 51.5077; -0.1318Coordinates: 51°30′28″N 0°07′54″W / 51.5077°N 0.1318°W / 51.5077; -0.1318
Location St James's, London
Address 80 Haymarket, London, SW1

The High Commission of New Zealand (Māori: Te Kāinga Māngai Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa i Rānana) in London is the diplomatic mission of New Zealand in the United Kingdom.[1] It is housed in a skyscraper known as New Zealand House on Haymarket, London, off Pall Mall. As well as containing the offices of the High Commissioner, the building also hosts the New Zealand consulate in London and the military attaché.[1] Since 1995, it has been a Grade II Listed Building.[2]

The High Commission was built by Holland, Hannen & Cubitts in 1959[3] on the derelict site of the Carlton Hotel, destroyed by a bomb during the Blitz. New Zealand House was to be the main diplomatic representation for the New Zealand government, and no expense was spared in its construction. The design differed from the other diplomatic buildings of other Commonwealth countries in that it would be a modern skyscraper, designed by Sir Robert Matthew. After difficulties in planning permission, the 18 storey building was constructed only after permission was granted by the British Cabinet. It is the only tall building in this part of London, and remains controversial.

It is an overseas post of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The current High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is Sir Lockwood Smith, who was formerly the Speaker of the House of the New Zealand Parliament. The current Acting High Commissioner is Rob Taylor. New Zealand House is staffed by a team of 20 diplomats and local staff. The focus of the High Commission's work is managing New Zealand's political, economic and trade relations with the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The Māori cultural group Ngati Ranana is based at the High Commission. The nearest Tube stations to New Zealand House are Piccadilly Circus and Charing Cross.

The top floor has been used in a scene of Spooks: The Greater Good at around 48 minutes.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "The London Diplomatic List" (PDF). 14 December 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2013.
  2. ↑ Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1242616)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  3. ↑ Cubitts 1810–1975, published 1975

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