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7.106 In addition to its legislative function, another key role of the House of Representatives is scrutiny of the Executive. Much of this scrutiny, such as consideration of the Estimates, takes place in select committees (see paragraphs 7.112 - 7.126 ).…

General 7.112 The Standing Orders provide for select committees to be appointed to consider bills and other business. Select committees play an important role in the House's functions of scrutinising the Executive and holding it to account, examining…

General 7.127 In New Zealand, the power to conclude treaties rests with the Executive. Any proposal to sign a treaty or to take binding treaty action must be submitted to Cabinet for approval (see paragraphs 5.78 - 5.82 ). 7.128 Before the government…

7.138 All members of Parliament can propose bills or amendments to bills that involve an increase or decrease in expenditure or taxation. They also have the power to move amendments to Votes in the Estimates . The Standing Orders give the government the…

Citizens initiated referenda, 7.141 The Citizens Initiated Referenda Act 1993 establishes a process that allows persons or organisations to initiate a non-binding national referendum on a subject of their choice, if 10 percent of registered voters sign a…

8.1 This chapter provides guidance about the protection, availability, use, and disclosure of information held by government. The chapter covers: the status of information held by government and when it may be disclosed; the main aspects of the Official…

Purpose of the Act 8.22 The Official Information Act 1982 balances the Act's purpose of progressively increasing the availability of official information against the need to protect official information to the extent consistent with the public interest…

Purpose of the Act 8.72 The purpose of the Privacy Act 2020 is to promote and protect individual privacy, by: providing a framework for protecting privacy of personal information, including access by individuals to their information, while also…

8.90 Under the Ombudsmen Act 1975, Ombudsmen can investigate conduct by a public service agency or organisation (central or local government) that relates to a matter of administration affecting any person in a personal capacity. They cannot investigate…

8.94 Ministers and officials interact with select committees as part of ministerial accountability to the House. Select committees have the right to request information from Ministers or agencies under the Standing Orders (see the section entitled “Powers…

8.98 Official documents, including Cabinet records, may be relevant to legal proceedings or other proceedings, such as public inquiries. If so, such documents may need to be discovered and produced in evidence. 8.99 When the discovery or production of…

8.102 Requests under the Official Information Act 1982 for documents relating to parliamentary proceedings may be refused if releasing the document would amount to a contempt of the House ( section 18(c)(ii) ). Most documents relating to parliamentary…

8.104 The Public Records Act 2005 establishes a regulatory framework for information and records management throughout the public sector. “Public records” for the purposes of the Public Records Act 2005 are records (information that is compiled, recorded…

8.132 Former Ministers should not disclose official information dating from their time in office where that information is not already in the public domain. 8.133 Former Ministers may wish to publish memoirs, articles, or other material that relates to…

As amended in 1987 and 2006 Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand (SR 1983/225) ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of…

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,…