The Ministry of Works is associated in some way with almost [unclear: very] phase of national development. Its activities extend from [unclear: the] tropics to the Antarctic.

Its history commenced soon after British Sovereignty was established [unclear: in] New Zealand when, in 1844, Parliament appropriated a sum of £2,710 for "public works, fixed establishments, tools and [unclear: contingencies], roads and buildings".

To-day the Department is responsible for the design and construction of such public works as: Electric power schemes (hydro, [unclear: geothermal], and coal-fired steam), [unclear: motorways], highways, public buildings, aerodromes, schools, hospitals, government housing, bridges. railways, irrigation, [unclear: defence] works, lighthouse and [unclear: harbour] works, opencast mines and public health engineering.

The planning and supervision of such a huge programme of works, currently costing approximately £1½ million a week, requires a big staff of professional, technical, and administration officers, plus the services of hundreds of contractors and thousands of workmen.

The Ministry of Works comprises seven divisions, the head of each division being responsible to [unclear: the] Commissioner of Works; there [unclear: are] seven district organisations, various projects (major construction works), and three major mechanical repair workshops, each responsible direct to Head Office.