31 Oct 2016

Ministry of Health revamp complete

7:58 pm on 31 October 2016

About 800 Ministry of Health staff will move back into their Wellington head office after a $24 million renovation.

Chai Chuah

Ministry of Health director general Chai Chuah came under fire over the $18 million budget blowout. Photo: Supplied

The project was in the news in March after a Ministry forecasting error led to an $18 million budget shortfall.

The ministry budgeted $24 million dollars for the refit in 2014, but later had to ask the government for an extra $18m after what it called a financial forecasting error.

The ministry's lease on the building at 133 Molesworth Street expired at the end of 2014 and the building needed earthquake strengthening and an extensive refit.

A spokesperson said that had been completed ahead of schedule and within budget.

It said the $18 million shortfall was covered by a leasing agreement and no government top-up was needed to complete the project.

Staff spread across five buildings in the capital would move back into the head office by 21 November, the spokesperson said.

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