Most people who visit Parliament walk past thousands of artworks without knowing they are there. Our club got a rare look behind the scenes in May when we joined a guided tour of the Parliamentary Art Collection, hosted by curator Tasha Fernandez.

The collection spans Bowen House, Parliament House, and the Parliamentary Library — one of the oldest buildings in the complex. It includes paintings, sculptures, gifted objects, and historical pieces accumulated over decades, many donated by outgoing MPs. Helen Clark alone contributed a significant number of works. There is also a modest $15,000 annual acquisitions budget, focused on supporting new and emerging New Zealand artists.

Highlights of the tour included the Beehive Theatrette, which carries strong associations with the Covid-19 pandemic announcements; the themed committee rooms, including the Women’s Suffrage Room, the Asian Room, and the Rainbow Room; and the Galleria, a striking four-storey stone passage featuring a large multi-media artwork suspended from the ceiling like a sail.

The tour ended in the Beehive with a six-panel woven hanging called Forest in the Sun, whose three creators were only recently formally acknowledged for their work.

If you are interested in seeing the collection for yourself, a virtual tour is available through the Parliament website.