“I do recall being a member of that law school alumni committee in the mid-1990s that was tasked by the then soon-to-be Chancellor Sir Douglas White with the impossible task of raising the significant level of funds needed to transform the building into a law school. At the time, the idea of the Law School calling this home seemed amazing but very ambitious,” she said.

“My time in the Law Faculty, first as an undergraduate, and then a postgraduate student, then as a Faculty member, lasted over a decade. I survived the horrors of the Socratic method of teaching and, looking back, I am very grateful for the legal training I received. It provided me with an invaluable foundation that has stood me in good stead throughout my career in law, business, and the public service.”

She left guests with a vision for the future. “I hope you will continue to draw inspiration from these venerable timbers, imbued as they are with the kōrero of generations of people who’ve helped shape the course of our nation’s legal journey.”

Two current students, Victoria University of Wellington Law Students’ Society president Meghan Grant and Ngā Rangahautira tumuaki wāhine Rhianna Morar, also shared their experiences of studying Law in 2021.

As part of the celebrations, a new alumni project called Tātai Ture was launched, which tells the story of the Law School and its people, connecting the past, present, and future generations of students.

Tātai Ture also aims to recognise the rich heritage of the Law School and the support of alumni, donors, and the wider community in many different ways.

As the celebrations continued, guests were taken on guided tours of Government Buildings by Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand, on which they learnt details such as the fact it is the largest fully wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere and was one of the first smoke-free buildings in New Zealand.

After speeches were made, memories brought back to life, and old friends reunited, guests enjoyed reconnecting with colleagues, classmates, and friends of the profession over refreshments. Many discussed their time at Law School and how much had changed but also how much had remained the same, including Government Buildings itself and some of the staff who continue to nourish future generations of lawyers.

The Faculty of Law is looking forward to what the next 25 years will hold for law and for students of Law at Te Herenga Waka.

About Government Buildings

Government Buildings, the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere, was designed in the classically derived Italian Renaissance revival style. Like many colonial buildings of the era, it was built to resemble a stone palace. This was to convey strength and stability in a young country undergoing rapid growth and change.

To avoid being seen as extravagant, the government chose to build in timber, including extensive use of kauri, and it remains probably the world’s largest timber office building. As a result, it became one of New Zealand’s first smoke-free buildings.

It was completed in 1876—an important turning point in New Zealand’s political history. That year saw the provincial governments abolished and a central government established. For 56 years, the building was the home of ministers’ offices, the Cabinet room, and all Wellington-based civil servants.

Its features include two staircases, eight vaults, 143 rooms, 126 fireplaces, 22 chimneys, two hydraulic lifts, eight verandas, and seven porticos.

Government ministers used the building during Parliament’s recess until 1921. The Executive Council met in the building until 1948. Before long, the public service had rapidly expanded beyond the building’s capacity. By 1990, the last of the public service departments had moved out, concluding 114 years of government service.

Limited restoration began in the early 1980s, but by 1990 the building was empty. The government decided to restore the building, and work began in 1994 under the management of the Department of Conservation. The work cost $25 million and was completed early in 1996. It is regarded as a landmark in government-initiated heritage conservation.

Government Buildings, now managed by Pouhere Taonga Heritage New Zealand, is open to the public, with displays on the ground floor and the Cabinet room on the first floor accessible for visitors to explore. The grounds feature examples of New Zealand’s flora, including many rare species.