The Dominion Post reports on the plans for upgrades to the Governor-General's residence, the main driver of the rising cost of the office. As we revealed in May, the Governor-General now costs the New Zealand taxpayer $11m a year, far more than the President of Ireland, who has a budget of NZ$6.7m.

The article notes that Prime Minister Helen Clark said in May that Government House was "ripe for conservation work". Reports at the time - such as some of the upstairs bathrooms not working - confirmed this. Clark also saidL

"It is a nationally significant heritage building and the Cabinet is in no doubt that, despite the significant capital costs, it's essential that it be preserved and enhanced to support the work of a 21st century governor-general."

While the Republican Movement might argue that we do not need a governor-general in the 21st century - we need an actual head of State rather than a de facto one - Government House does need the money spent on it.