For PSC’s support staff, 2020 ended with a move into new premises and embracing a new way of working.
Following the sale of PSC’s George Street building in Thorndon in late 2019, the search for a new office space was underway in early 2020. Then lockdown put a pause on things and led to a different approach.
“The workplace has changed dramatically during the last decade, particularly during 2020,” says outgoing Chief Executive Pat Waite.
“The way we kept things running during Covid-19 lockdowns proved that anything was possible.”
To that end, a smaller and more agile office space was sought, 20 kilometres north from Wellington on Prosser Street in Porirua.
The ‘Central Hub’ is now host to PSC’s Finance, Property, Human Resources, External Relations, Administration and Enliven support teams.
The space has since been blessed by Ngati Toa kaumātua Taku Parai with support from Ngati Toa kuia.
Everyone officially moved in at the end of November and since then they have adapted to using shared spaces, with many teams dividing their work weeks between the office and working from home.
Family Works finds new home in Wellington
In October the George Street-based Family Works team moved into premises of their own, in Anvil House on Wakefield Street in Wellington.
The space was blessed shortly after by Te Atiawa kaumātua Peter Jackson as part of a small ceremony.
It was important for Family Works to maintain a presence in the capital and continue to provide support to the community there, explains Family Works General Manager Julia Hennessy.
She says their new location in the CBD allows Family Works to be closer to other non-government organisations and build relationships with them.
The Family Works Resolution Service team is also based in the new office at Anvil House.
The big move
Prior to moving out, staff tackled the large job of clearing out the George Street office.
After being based in the building for more than 13 years, it was not a small job – and there were plenty of items to get rid of.
Pat used his Rotary Club connections to ensure all the excess stationery that was no longer needed was packed up and sent to schools in Fiji and Timor-Leste.
Many smaller pieces of furniture, such as excess chairs, were donated to the Red Cross and Women’s Refuge.
