This building on the corner of Currie and Ariki Streets was built in 1968 for the New Zealand Insurance Company. It replaced the former Burgess Fraser warehouse and the Jubilee Boarding House.

The architects and engineers were the Auckland based firm Gummer Ford Hoadley Budge & Gummer. Construction of the building was carried out by Roebuck Construction Ltd. John Roberts Electrical carried out all the electrical work.

During excavations two Māori artefacts were uncovered - a stone pounder and an adze handle. The site was once part of Kawau pā. 

The building was officially opened by the company's chairman Mr A.G. Wilson on 26 March 1968. Before the new premises were built the company had operated from a building in Devon Street near the New Plymouth Opera House.

More recently the building has been significantly altered; there is a Starbucks on the ground floor and State Insurance have an office on the Ariki Street side of the building. (2023)

Please do not reproduce these images without permission from Puke Ariki. 
Contact us for more information or you can order images online here.