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Cabinet Office Circulars

What is a Cabinet Office circular?

From time to time, the Cabinet Office issues circulars on matters which are of general interest to Ministers and departments. Cabinet Office circulars complement the Cabinet Manual and CabGuide, providing detailed guidance on central government processes. Circulars are incorporated into the Cabinet Manual or the CabGuide when the publications are updated.

Current Circulars

  • Statutes Amendment Bill for 2013
    (14/03/2013)
    application/pdf iconcoc_13_2.pdf (48.53 KB)
  • Cabinet Committees: Terms of Reference and Membership
    (31/01/2013)
  • Cabinet Directions for the Conduct of Crown Legal Business 2012
    (21/12/2012)
    application/pdf iconcoc_12_8.pdf (58.84 KB)
  • Guidelines for Dealing with Inside Information About Public Issuers
    (20/12/2012)
    application/pdf iconcoc_12_07.pdf (97.56 KB)
  • Fees framework for members appointed to bodies in which the Crown has an interest
    (19/12/2012)
    application/pdf iconcoc-12-06.pdf (237.24 KB)
  • 2013 Legislation Programme: Requirements for Submitting Bids
    (15/11/2012)
    application/pdf iconcoc_12_05.pdf (52.6 KB)
  • Amended Standing Orders: Implications for First Reading Speeches
    (04/05/2012)
    application/pdf iconcoc_12_04.pdf (49.02 KB)
  • National-led Administration: Consultation and Operating Arrangements
    (01/05/2012)
    application/pdf iconcoc_12_03.pdf (53.04 KB)
  • Role of the Remuneration Authority in Setting Remuneration for Individuals Appointed to Statutory Bodies and Other Positions
    (21/10/2011)
    application/pdf iconco_11_07.pdf (74.85 KB)
  • Guidelines and Requirements for Proposals with Financial Implications
    (18/10/2011)
    application/pdf iconcoc-11-06.pdf (106.48 KB)
  • Capital Asset Management in Departments and Crown Entities: Expectations
    (01/08/2010)
    application/pdf iconcoc-10-02.pdf (234.54 KB)
  • Regulatory Impact Analysis Requirements: New Guidelines
    (10/11/2009)
    application/pdf iconcoc-09-08.pdf (210.71 KB)
  • Law Commission: Processes for Setting the Work Programme and Government Response to Reports
    (24/04/2009)
    application/pdf iconcoc-09-01.pdf (74.5 KB)
  • Access to information of a previous administration
    (01/12/2008)
    application/pdf iconcoc-08-12.pdf (47.53 KB)
  • Delegated Legislation: Guidelines for Legislative Instruments that are not Regulations
    (14/03/2008)
    application/pdf iconcoc-08-04.pdf (28.43 KB)
  • Security Classification System: Application to Cabinet Documents
    (10/01/2008)
    application/pdf iconcoc-08-01.pdf (90.1 KB)
  • The Financial Veto and 24 Hour Rule
    (08/03/2007)
    application/pdf iconcoc-07-02.pdf (345.59 KB)
  • Ministerial Interventions under the Resource Management Act 1991
    (10/07/2006)
    application/pdf iconcoc-06-7.pdf (91.61 KB)
  • Whole of Government Directions under the Crown Entities Act 2004
    (22/08/2006)
    application/pdf iconcoc-06-6.pdf (59.12 KB)
  • Ministers’ Roles and Responsibilities in Relation to Crown Entities
    (22/08/2006)
    application/pdf iconcoc-06-5.pdf (149.67 KB)
  • Deposit of Ministers' Papers with Archives New Zealand
    (16/09/2005)
    application/pdf iconco_05_09.pdf (72.45 KB)
  • Legal advice and legal professional privilege
    (15/04/2005)
    application/pdf iconcoc_05_5.pdf (59.08 KB)
  • Government Appointments: Increasing Diversity of Board Membership
    (19/11/2002)
    application/pdf iconcoc_02_16.pdf (49.25 KB)
  • New Zealand e-Government Interoperability Framework (NZ e-GIF): adoption by government agencies
    (25/09/2002)
    application/pdf iconcoc_02_12.pdf (157.8 KB)
  • Appointment of Public Servants to Statutory Boards
    (22/03/2002)
    application/pdf iconcoc_02_5.pdf (54.89 KB)
  • Acts Binding the Crown: Procedures for Cabinet Decision
    (13/03/2002)
    application/pdf iconcoc_02_4.pdf (145.49 KB)
  • Use of New Zealand Government Locator Service (NZGLS) Metadata Standard
    (08/03/2002)
    application/pdf iconcoc_02_3.pdf (135.67 KB)
  • Gender Analysis: Inclusion of Gender Implications Statement in All Submissions to the Cabinet Social Equity Committee
    (06/03/2002)
    application/pdf iconcoc_02_2.pdf (180.37 KB)
  • Procedures for Including Non-Official Representatives On Official Delegations to International Meetings
    (12/12/2000)
    application/pdf iconcoc_00_14.pdf (125.79 KB)
  • Guidance for Members of Statutory, Commercial and Other Bodies Appointed by the Crown
    (23/08/1999)
    application/pdf iconcoc_99_12.pdf (27.16 KB)
  • Policy Framework for Occupational Regulation
    (08/06/1999)
    application/pdf iconcoc_99_6.pdf (169.41 KB)

Cancelled Circulars

Below is a list of titles of the most recent cancelled circulars. This is not a complete list, and will be added to over time. Please contact the Cabinet Office on 04 471 9743 if you wish to receive a copy of one of these, or any other, cancelled circular.

  • CO (12) 2
    Statutes Amendment Bill for 2012
  • CO (12) 1
    Cabinet Committees: Terms of Reference and Membership
  • CO (11) 11
    2012 Legislation Programme: Requirements for Submitting Bids
  • CO (11) 10
    Resumption of Cabinet Business
  • CO (11) 09
    Formation of a government - next steps
  • CO (11) 08
    Government decision making during the period of caretaker government
  • CO (11) 05
    Constitutional procedures after the election
  • CO (11) 04
    Management of parliamentary business after the dissolution of Parliament
  • CO (11) 03
    Cabinet Committee Membership: Update
  • CO (11) 02
    Government decisions and actions in the pre-election period
  • CO (11) 01
    Statutes Amendment Bill (No 3) for 2011
  • CO (10) 04
    2011 Legislation Programme: Requirements for Submitting Bids
  • CO (10) 03
    Cabinet Committee Membership: Update
  • CO (10) 01
    Statutes Amendment Bill (No 2) for 2010
  • CO (09) 07
    National-led Administration: Consultation and Operating Arrangements
  • CO (09) 06
    Guidelines for Changes to Baselines
  • CO (09) 05
    Fees framework for members appointed to bodies in which the Crown has an interest
  • CO (08) 11
    Resumption of Cabinet Business
  • CO (08) 09
    Arrangements for transition to new administration
  • CO (08) 08
    Government decision making during the period of caretaker government
  • CO (08) 07
    Constitutional Procedures after the General Election
  • CO (08) 06
    Management of parliamentary business after the dissolution of Parliament
  • CO (08) 03
    Government decisions and actions in the pre-election period
  • CO (02) 14
    Guidance for Dealing with Information Relating to Publicly Listed Companies