KEY POINTS:
ACC is defending a shift of premises during the recession that will increase the annual burden on taxpayers by $247,000, but its own minister wants no role in opening it.
ACC staff moved into their new building in Nelson late last month and it is to be officially opened in coming weeks.
The corporation is locked in to a nine-year lease and will pay a rental of $346,000 a year for the building, compared with $99,000 for its previous premises.
ACC Minister Nick Smith, the local MP, has turned down an invitation to open the building as a "silent protest" at the "unjustifiable" cost hike, which he says will be funded by increases in levies on households, businesses and motor vehicles.
The deal was approved under the previous Labour Government and Dr Smith said he was unable to reverse it.
"The real estate word around Nelson is that this is a very expensive deal for ACC, and I think it reflects a culture from the previous government that I don't want to be seen as endorsing."
Former ACC Minister Maryan Street denies any knowledge about the new building - "that's the sort of thing highly paid chief executives are responsible for".
ACC says its contract for its previous building had expired and it had no guarantee it would have maintained the same rental.
A spokesman said the new branch was bigger and more accessible. "We were previously in a building [where the office] was on the first floor with access that was difficult for people with significant injuries."
Ms Street claimed Dr Smith was on a campaign to demonise ACC, which was a "softening-up process in preparation for privatising ACC".
