This imposing classical brick and stone building was built in 1883 as a banking chamber and manager’s residence. Occupying a prominent corner site, the BNZ proclaimed its status, stability, and security with this fine, dignified building.

The BNZ was founded in 1861. The Kaiapoi branch opened in April 1862, the fourth in the Canterbury province, signifying Kaiapoi’s commercial business generated by the port.

Quite specific guidelines were probably given to Thomas Lambert, the highly regarded Scottish-trained architect. His careful attention to detail ensured the production of a distinctive design. Strong contrasts of white stone against red brick emphasize the elaborate classical ornamentation of windows, doorways, string-course, and eaves brackets. The entrance facing onto Charles Street is identified by the handsome pillared entrance and pediment.

The building is noteworthy as a particularly fine, well-preserved example of 19th-century bank design. The original boundary fence is topped by a decorative iron railing.

The bank took possession of its new premises in Kaiapoi on 26 October 1988. The building has since been used for offices, and doctor’s rooms and was occupied by a Funeral Director until it closed after damage sustained in the 2010 Canterbury earthquake.

This building has a Historic Place Category I registration. It was given landmark status at a ceremony held on 15 May 2010.

Restoration

Prior to the earthquakes, the former BNZ building was a well-preserved example of a substantial commercial building with imposing classical features appropriate to a bank of the 1880s. J Shivas purchased the building in 2015 to save it from demolition and he commenced restoration and strengthening work on it, but sadly passed away before he was able to complete it and the building was then sold. The final restoration project was completed in 2023, with local business Hazeldine Construction completing the building, Paper Plus taking on the lease, and local interior designer, Katy Husband from Feather & Oak Interiors, finished the apartments on the upper levels.

To strengthen the building the Hazeldine team drilled eight metres down through the brick walls to the foundation, inserted threaded rod and anchored this to the foundation. The interior was gutted to install a steel structure at midfloor level and diaphragm midfloor was created. A steel angle was then installed to the second storey ceiling line to form a diaphragm ceiling. The fireplaces were removed, restored and reinstated. The windows were removed, reglazed, new sash weights were put on them and they were reinstalled. And after looking at old photos the team realised the building had had three chimneys on the roof – so they rebuilt them.