The Public Trust of New Zealand was founded in 1873 as a government agency to manage estate assets when the beneficiary was a minor or otherwise needed financial assistance. They occupied this Edwardian Baroque building from 1909 until 1982. It was designed by John Campbell. This Scottish architect is best remembered for creating extraordinary government landmarks in Dunedin located across Cook Strait from Wellington in the South Island. After the Public Trust Building underwent extensive reconstruction following the 2013 Seddon earthquake, it became the offices for the Ministry for Culture and Heritage in 2015.
