Cabinet faces 18-month displacement if Beehive repairs proceed

Speaker Gerry Brownlee says the Beehive executive wing may need complete vacation for up to 18 months for repairs. The move would displace the Prime Minister, Cabinet ministers and ministerial staff from their offices longer than a full parliamentary term. Brownlee suggested the decision may fall to the government elected after the 2026 election. New Zealand has no dedicated overflow facility for ministerial operations, making the logistical challenge substantial.