Formats
CO (23) 2: Cabinet Committees: Terms of Reference and Membership#
This circular has been updated to reflect the changes to Ministerial portfolios that took effect on 10 May 2023.
1The Prime Minister has agreed to the updated terms of reference and membership of Cabinet committees. The Cabinet committees are:
1.1the Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee (APH);
1.2the Cabinet Business Committee (CBC);
1.3the Cabinet Priorities Committee (CPC);
1.4the Cabinet Economic Development Committee (DEV);
1.5the Cabinet Environment, Energy and Climate Committee (ENV);
1.6the Cabinet External Relations and Security Committee (ERS);
1.7the Cabinet Extreme Weather Recovery Committee (EWR);
1.8the Cabinet Government Administration and Expenditure Review Committee (GOV);
1.9the Cabinet Legislation Committee (LEG);
1.10the Cabinet Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Committee (MCR); and
1.11the Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee (SWC).
2The updated Cabinet committee terms of reference and membership are attached.
Rachel Hayward
Secretary of the Cabinet
Enquiries:
Diana Hawker, Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet
Ph: (04) 495 6725
[email protected]
Jenny Vickers, Senior Advisor
Ph: (04) 830 5018
[email protected]
Cabinet Appointments and Honours Committee (APH)#
To consider appointments to statutory and other government agencies, chief executive appointments, nominations for New Zealand Royal Honours, and associated policy.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins (Chair)
Hon Carmel Sepuloni (Deputy Chair)
Hon Kelvin Davis
Hon Grant Robertson
Hon Jan Tinetti
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Andrew Little
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan
Hon Ginny Andersen
Hon Barbara Edmonds
Relevant Portfolios#
All portfolios
Frequency#
Meets weekly during sitting weeks
Cabinet Business Committee (CBC)#
To consider policy issues, appointments, bills, and regulations, and other matters that require decisions before the next scheduled relevant Cabinet committee meeting, when other committees are not meeting and the House of Representatives is adjourned. CBC will meet only on a strictly if required basis.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins (Chair)
Hon Carmel Sepuloni (Deputy Chair)
Hon Kelvin Davis
Hon Grant Robertson
Hon Dr Megan Woods
Hon Jan Tinetti
Hon Michael Wood
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Damien O’Connor
Hon Andrew Little
Hon David Parker
Relevant Portfolios#
All portfolios
Frequency#
Meets during non-sitting weeks if required
Cabinet Priorities Committee (CPC)#
- Consider overall government priorities and major strategic issues.
- Consider significant issues as determined by the Prime Minister or Cabinet. Implementation aspects of these issues will be considered by the appropriate committee, once major policy directions have been set.
- Responsible for the overall coordination of the delivery of the government's priorities.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins (Chair)
Hon Carmel Sepuloni (Deputy Chair)
Hon Kelvin Davis
Hon Grant Robertson
Hon Dr Megan Woods
Hon Jan Tinetti
Hon Michael Wood
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Damien O’Connor
Hon Andrew Little
Hon David Parker
Relevant Portfolios#
All portfolios
Frequency#
Meets monthly, or as required
Cabinet Economic Development Committee (DEV)#
To consider strategy and policy relating to building an inclusive, sustainable economy.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Hon Carmel Sepuloni
Hon Grant Robertson (Chair)
Hon Dr Megan Woods (Deputy Chair)
Hon Michael Wood
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Damien O’Connor
Hon David Parker
Hon Peeni Henare
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan
Hon Kieran McAnulty
Hon Ginny Andersen
Hon Barbara Edmonds
Hon Dr Duncan Webb
Hon Rino Tirikatene
Hon Dr Deborah Russell
Hon Rachel Brooking
Hon Jo Luxton
Relevant Portfolios1#
ACC
Agriculture
Auckland
Biosecurity
Broadcasting and Media
Building and Construction
Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Customs
Digital Economy and Communications
Education
Economic Development
Emergency Management
Energy and Resources
Environment
Finance
Food Safety
Forestry
Housing
Immigration
Infrastructure
Land Information
Local Government
Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti
Māori Development
Oceans and Fisheries
Racing
Research, Science and Innovation
Regional Development
Revenue
Rural Communities
Small Business
Statistics
State Owned Enterprises
Tourism
Trade and Export Growth
Transport
Workplace Relations and Safety
Frequency#
Meets weekly during sitting weeks
Notes
- [1] This is an indicative list of portfolios relevant to the committee's consideration. Portfolios may be listed under more than one committee. Papers should be submitted to the most relevant committee for the subject matter.
Cabinet Environment, Energy and Climate Committee (ENV)#
To consider strategic and policy matters relating to the environment, climate change, sustainable energy use, natural resources, and resource management.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Hon Carmel Sepuloni
Hon Kelvin Davis
Hon Dr Megan Woods (Deputy Chair)
Hon Michael Wood
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Damien O’Connor
Hon David Parker (Chair)
Hon Peeni Henare
Hon Kieran McAnulty
Hon Barbara Edmonds
Hon Willow-Jean Prime
Hon Rachel Brooking
Hon Jo Luxton
Relevant Portfolios2#
Agriculture
Biosecurity
Climate Change
Conservation
Economic Development
Emergency Management
Energy and Resources
Environment
Forestry
Local Government
Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti
Māori Development
Oceans and Fisheries
Research, Science and Innovation
Regional Development
Rural Communities
Transport
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
Frequency#
Meets fortnightly during sitting weeks
Notes
- [2] This is an indicative list of portfolios relevant to the committee's consideration. Portfolios may be listed under more than one committee. Papers should be submitted to the most relevant committee for the subject matter.
Cabinet External Relations and Security Committee (ERS)#
- Oversight of the national security and intelligence sector, and to consider strategic, policy, and legislative matters relating to the sector, foreign affairs, defence (excluding Defence procurement), and significant hazards.
- Coordinate and direct national responses to major crises or circumstances affecting national security (either domestic or international).
ERS, or a subcommittee of ERS as determined by the Prime Minister, will have Power to Act where the need for urgent action and/or operational or security considerations require it.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins (Chair)
Hon Carmel Sepuloni
Hon Kelvin Davis
Hon Grant Robertson
Hon Michael Wood
Hon Damien O’Connor
Hon Andrew Little
Hon David Parker
Hon Nanaia Mahuta (Deputy Chair)
Hon Kieran McAnulty
Hon Ginny Andersen
With the addition of the relevant portfolio Minister as appropriate.
Relevant Portfolios3#
Customs
Digital Economy and Communications
Disarmament and Arms Control
Emergency Management
Defence
Foreign Affairs
Health
Immigration
National Security and Intelligence
NZSIS
Police
Frequency#
Meets monthly, or as required
Notes
- [3] This is an indicative list of portfolios relevant to the committee's consideration. Portfolios may be listed under more than one committee. Papers should be submitted to the most relevant committee for the subject matter.
Cabinet Extreme Weather Recovery Committee (EWR)#
To co-ordinate and direct the government response to recovery from the severe weather events that occurred in the upper and eastern North Island in January and February 2023, and related matters.
The committee has Power to Act to take decisions on the Government response as needed.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Hon Carmel Sepuloni
Hon Kelvin Davis
Hon Grant Robertson (Chair)
Hon Dr Megan Woods
Hon Michael Wood
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Damien O'Connor
Hon Kieran McAnulty
Hon Barbara Edmonds (Deputy Chair)
Relevant Portfolios#
Auckland
Agriculture
Building and Construction
Climate Change
Community and Voluntary Sector
Cyclone Recovery
Defence
Digital Economy and Communications
Economic Development
Emergency Management
Environment
Infrastructure
Immigration
Finance
Health
Housing
Local Government
Māori Development
Regional Development
Revenue
Rural Communities
Small Business
Social Development and Employment
Transport
Workplace Relations and Safety
Frequency#
The committee will meet weekly during sitting weeks and/or as required, including by teleconference.
Cabinet Government Administration and Expenditure Review Committee (GOV)#
- Consider strategic and policy matters relating to the public sector and government expenditure, including significant sector infrastructure and investment proposals (e.g. defence, schools, hospitals).
- Consider matters relating to local government and emergency management.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Hon Carmel Sepuloni
Hon Grant Robertson (Chair)
Hon Dr Megan Woods
Hon Jan Tinetti
Hon Michael Wood (Deputy Chair)
Hon Andrew Little
Hon David Parker
Hon Kieran McAnulty
Hon Ginny Andersen
Hon Dr Duncan Webb
Hon Dr Deborah Russell
Relevant Portfolios4#
Auckland
Corrections
Defence
Digital Economy and Communications
Education
Emergency Management
Finance
Health
Infrastructure
Internal Affairs
Local Government
Revenue
State Owned Enterprises
Public Service
Statistics
Transport
Frequency#
Meets fortnightly during sitting weeks
Notes
- [4] This is an indicative list of portfolios relevant to the committee's consideration. Portfolios may be listed under more than one committee. Papers should be submitted to the most relevant committee for the subject matter.
Cabinet Legislation Committee (LEG)#
To consider the legislation programme, draft Bills and regulations, government responses to petitions, select committee reports, and Law Commission reports. LEG may also consider minor policy issues relating to these matters.
Government responses to significant select committee reports and Law Commission reports should be dealt with at a policy committee if they involve significant new policy or amendments to existing policy.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Hon Carmel Sepuloni
Hon Grant Robertson (Chair)
Hon Michael Wood
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Andrew Little
Hon David Parker
Hon Kieran McAnulty (Deputy Chair)
Hon Barbara Edmonds
Hon Dr Duncan Webb
Hon Willow-Jean Prime
Tangi Utikere, MP (Chief Government Whip)
Relevant Portfolios#
All portfolios
Frequency#
Meets weekly during sitting weeks
Cabinet Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti Committee (MCR)#
To consider strategic and policy matters relating to Treaty of Waitangi settlement negotiations and the delivery of post-settlement commitments, the Crown's Treaty obligations, the revitalisation of te reo Māori, and opportunities that exist in the post-Treaty settlement environment.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Hon Carmel Sepuloni
Hon Kelvin Davis (Chair)
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Andrew Little (Deputy Chair)
Hon David Parker
Hon Peeni Henare
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Hon Kieran McAnulty
Hon Ginny Andersen
Hon Barbara Edmonds
Hon Willow-Jean Prime
Hon Rino Tirikatene
Hon Rachel Brooking
Relevant Portfolios5#
Agriculture
Attorney-General
Conservation
Economic Development
Environment
Local Government
Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti
Māori Development
Oceans and Fisheries
Regional Development
Rural Communities
Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
Whānau Ora
Frequency#
Meets monthly, or as required
Notes
- [5] This is an indicative list of portfolios relevant to the committee's consideration. Portfolios may be listed under more than one committee. Papers should be submitted to the most relevant committee for the subject matter.
Cabinet Social Wellbeing Committee (SWC)#
To consider strategic and policy matters which support an equal, inclusive, and fair standard of living for all New Zealanders, including education, health, justice, income support, homelessness, public housing and residential tenancy issues.
Membership#
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins
Hon Carmel Sepuloni (Chair)
Hon Kelvin Davis
Hon Grant Robertson
Hon Dr Megan Woods
Hon Jan Tinetti (Deputy Chair)
Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall
Hon Willie Jackson
Hon Kiri Allan
Hon Peeni Henare
Hon Priyanca Radhakrishnan
Hon Kieran McAnulty
Hon Ginny Andersen
Hon Barbara Edmonds
Hon Willow-Jean Prime
Hon Rino Tirikatene
Hon Jo Luxton
Relevant Portfolios6#
ACC
Arts, Culture and Heritage
Child Poverty Reduction
Children
Community and Voluntary Sector
Corrections
Courts
Disability Issues
Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities
Education
Health
Housing
Justice
Māori Crown Relations: Te Arawhiti
Māori Development
Pacific Peoples
Police
Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence
Rural Communities
Seniors
Social Development and Employment
Sport and Recreation
Veterans
Whānau Ora
Women
Youth
Frequency#
Meets weekly during sitting weeks
Notes
- [6] This is an indicative list of portfolios relevant to the committee's consideration. Portfolios may be listed under more than one committee. Papers should be submitted to the most relevant committee for the subject matter.