Vogel House

Was somewhat sad to see $47 million being spent on renovating Government House. Not the renovation per se, but the fact it means the Governor-General is going to be a squatter in Vogel House in Lower Hutt.

The Dom Post states that this means Jim Anderton is having to leave it. Well on current polls he was going to be leaving anyway – so the real loser is a National frontbencher who misses out on what is the ultimate state house – much much nicer than Premier House in my opinion.

The Dom Post gets it a bit wrong saying the Deputy PM traditionally lives there. Muldoon lived there as PM. I don’t think Sir Geoffrey ever lived there, and certainly in the 1990s it was Doug Graham, not Don McKinnon who lived there.

The House itself is lovely, with a dining table which seats 20 – designed for Cabinet Dinners. It is surrounded by a huge lawn which is ideal for croquet and even some golf practice.