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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T V W, 28-day rule 1.52, 7.95(h), 7.100–7.103, A, accountability documents 3.16–3.17 statutory inquiries 4.784 See also Ministers acting roles Attorney-General 4.6, 4.11 Ministers 2.21, 2.41–2.45, 2.76(c), 2.123, 2.…

The Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand 1983, incorporating the 1986 and 2006 amendments, are in appendix B . Information about the office of the Governor-General, including background information, biographies, and…

Information on the composition of the current ministry and the scope of ministerial portfolios can be found on the Cabinet Office section of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet's website, dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office .…

Information on Cabinet and Cabinet committee processes is set out in the CabGuide , dpmc.govt.nz/publications/cabguide . Information on standards of integrity and conduct, political neutrality, briefings for incoming Ministers, contact between public…

Cabinet Office circular CO (16) 2 Cabinet Directions for the Conduct of Crown Legal Business 2016 , Cabinet Office circular CO (19) 2 Attorney-General's Protocol for Release of Draft Government Legislation Outside the Crown , and Cabinet Office circular…

The Cabinet Manual is the primary authority on the conduct of Cabinet government in New Zealand. It covers Cabinet procedure and provides guidance for Ministers, their offices and those working within the public service. It is part of New Zealand's…

The Cabinet Manual has been an authoritative guide to New Zealand’s system of central government decision making since the publication of the first edition, then known as the Cabinet Office Manual , in 1979. This is the seventh edition of the Cabinet…

The Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith, 1990, updated 2008, 2017 and 2023, A constitution: What is it?, A constitution is about public power, the power of the state. It describes and establishes the major institutions of government, states their principal powers,…

1.1 This chapter covers: the formal and constitutional aspects of the role of the Sovereign and the office of the Governor-General; the powers, membership, and meeting procedures of the Executive Council; the role of the Clerk of the Executive Council;…

1.2 New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. The Sovereign in right of New Zealand is the head of state of New Zealand, and is known by the royal style and titles defined in statute from time to time. Upon the demise of a Sovereign, the transition to the…

Office of Governor-General 1.5 The Governor-General is the representative of the Sovereign in the Realm of New Zealand. The office of Governor-General is constituted by the Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand 1983 (…

Powers 1.21 The Executive Council, which is constituted by the Letters Patent , is the highest formal instrument of government. It is the institution through which the government collectively and formally advises the Governor-General. 1.22 Action by the…

1.33 The Clerk of the Executive Council is formally appointed by the Governor-General by warrant under the Letters Patent, on the advice of the Prime Minister. The primary role of the Clerk is to provide impartial secretariat support for the Executive…

Items for consideration by Executive Council 1.38 Matters requiring Executive Council action include: regulations, commencement orders, and other secondary legislation made by Orders in Council; other Orders in Council; for example, certain local…

1.50 Laws should enter into force only after their publication. The exceptions to this important constitutional convention are matters of national security or of great commercial or legal significance where time is an overriding factor. Accordingly,…

1.53 The Governor-General or the Governor-General in Council may need to formally execute a decision to give effect to it (for example, an appointment decision). In such cases, Ministers should not pre-empt the outcome of this process by announcing that…

General 1.55 The New Zealand Royal Honours system provides a way for New Zealand to thank and congratulate people who have served their communities and to recognise people's achievements. Further information on all aspects of the honours system is…

1.76 The granting, confirmation, and control of armorial bearings (coats of arms) and other heraldic devices fall within the Sovereign's prerogative as the “Fount of all Honour”. The Sovereign has delegated this prerogative in New Zealand to the Earl…

1.80 The Order of Precedence is approved by the Sovereign. It indicates the relative precedence of constitutional office holders, public officials, and certain others, on state, official, and other important occasions. Hosts and organisers of official…

2.1 This chapter covers: the appointment and roles of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers (including Associate Ministers, acting Ministers, and duty Ministers), Parliamentary Under-Secretaries, and Parliamentary Private Secretaries;…

Appointment 2.2 The Prime Minister is appointed by warrant by the Governor-General. In making this appointment, constitutional convention requires the Governor-General to: act on the outcome of the electoral process and subsequent discussions between…

2.13 The Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by warrant. If the Prime Minister is unavailable or unable to exercise the statutory or constitutional functions and powers of the office, the Deputy Prime Minister can, if necessary, exercise those powers and…

Appointment 2.15 The Letters Patent ( see appendix B ), issued under the Sovereign's prerogative power, empower the Governor-General: … to constitute and appoint under the Seal of New Zealand, to hold office during pleasure, all such Members of the…

2.48 The Governor-General, under section 8 of the Constitution Act 1986 , may appoint any member of Parliament to be a Parliamentary Under-Secretary in relation to the ministerial office or offices specified in the warrant of appointment. The Governor-…

2.52 Parliamentary Private Secretaries are members of Parliament who may be appointed by the Prime Minister by letter to assist Ministers. Parliamentary Private Secretaries support the Minister by building relationships with relevant communities,…

General 2.53 To protect the integrity of the decision-making process of executive government and to maintain public trust in the Executive, Ministers and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries must conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to their office.…

2.84 In a democracy, everyone has the right to make representations to Ministers on matters that concern them. Ministers will receive a large number of requests for meetings with people and organisations seeking either to influence government policy or to…

General 2.88 The Standing Orders require members of Parliament to disclose to the Registrar of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament any gift received with an estimated market value of more than a prescribed amount (or more than…

Speaking engagements 2.101 Ministers receive many invitations to events and offers of speaking engagements. Ministers should consider carefully which invitations they will accept, and try to honour invitations from a variety of organisations. 2.102…

2.115 Governments have a responsibility to keep the public informed about important issues of the day. They may legitimately use public funds and resources for advertising and other publicity that explains their policies, informs the public of the…