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Key points, 1 This circular sets out the requirements for central government agencies to estimate and disclose the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission implications and/or impacts on emissions budgets or actions in a current emissions reduction plan, for policy…

Introduction, 1 This circular sets out the Government’s expectations for good law-making to ensure responsible regulation. 2 Responsible regulation can help governments to achieve their desired economic, environmental and social outcomes, support the…

Cabinet Office circulars which have been superseded or cancelled over the last 20 years are listed here. They are available from the Cabinet Office on request - please quote the reference number and title. Older circulars are also available from the…

The Schedule of Responsibilities Delegated to Associate Ministers provides a summary list of the responsibilities that portfolio Ministers have delegated to Associate Ministers. This page will be updated from time to time to reflect any substantive…

Details of the Ministerial List as at 7 April 2026 are set out in the attached file. , Notes:, all Ministers are members of the Executive Council portfolios are listed in the left-hand column. Other responsibilities assigned by the Prime Minister are…

Proactive release of information about management of ministerial conflicts of interest, 1 July to 31 December 2025,   1 The table below is a summary of certain actions taken by Ministers to manage actual and potential conflicts of interest during the…

Introduction, 1 As announced by the Prime Minister on 21 January 2026, the 2026 general election is to be held on, 7 November 2026, . The "pre-election period" is generally regarded as being the three months before a general election. The pre-election…

Introduction, 1 This circular sets out the requirements for bids for bills seeking placement on the 2026 Legislation Programme. 2 When submitting bids, Ministers and agencies are asked to consider core legislative priorities to be delivered before the…

Proactive release of information about management of ministerial conflicts of interest, 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025,   1 The table below is a summary of certain actions taken by Ministers to manage actual or potential conflicts of interest during the…

Cabinet Fees Framework for members appointed to bodies in which the Crown has an interest, 1 Cabinet has agreed to a revised Fees Framework for determining or reassessing the fees paid to members of statutory and other bodies in which the Crown has an…

Introduction, 1 In November 2024, Cabinet Circular CO (24) 6 asked Ministers and agencies to submit bids for bills seeking places on the 2025 Legislation Programme. At that time, it was noted that the Leader of the House, in consultation with the Prime…

Proactive release of information about management of ministerial conflicts of interest, 1 May 2024 – 31 December 2024,     1 The table below is a summary of certain actions taken by Ministers to manage actual or potential conflicts of interest during the…

The items considered by Cabinet and Cabinet committees are most often Cabinet papers. Sometimes oral items may also be considered (refer to the further guidance on oral items for information about when an oral item may be appropriate).  There are a number…

As noted in the Cabinet Manual, proposals that affect the government's financial position, or important financial commitments, including proposals seeking additional financial resources, must be submitted to Cabinet [ paragraph 5.12, Cabinet Manual ]. The…

Purpose, 1 This circular sets out Government expectations for how the targeting, commissioning, and design of public services should be based on the needs of all New Zealanders. 2 This circular gives effect to the commitment in the coalition agreements…

The directory of Ministerial portfolios is updated regularly below. The portfolio description provided on each page of the directory is intended to offer a general overview of the role of the portfolio Minister, and is not a complete description of the…

Introduction, 1 This circular sets out the requirements for developing and maintaining Performance Plans. 2 Achieving a sustainable fiscal outlook while delivering efficient, effective, and responsive public services requires planning and oversight of…

Proactive release of information about management of ministerial conflicts of interest, 27 November 2023 – 30 April 2024,   Explanatory note 1 The table below is a summary of certain actions taken by Ministers to manage actual or potential conflicts of…

General 8.136 The convention on access to documents of a previous administration allows Ministers of the current government to consult the Cabinet records of a previous government on a confidential basis. It also gives former Ministers ongoing access to…

Introduction, 1 This circular provides guidance for Ministers [1] and agencies on the consultation and operating arrangements agreed to by the Coalition Government, comprising the National Party, the ACT Party, and the New Zealand First Party. 2 Ministers…

General 3.39 Crown entities are legal entities in their own right. A decision to assign a government activity or function to a Crown entity indicates that the function should be carried out at “arm's length” from the government. As reflected in the Public…

Accessible version If you require an accessible version please contact [email protected] and cite "Proactive Release: Secondary Legislation Confirmation Bill: Approval for Introduction" as a reference. The following documents have been proactively…

CO (24) 1: Cabinet Committees: Terms of Reference and Membership, This circular provides an updated membership list for Cabinet Committees following the ministerial change on 7 April 2026. 1 The Prime Minister has agreed to the updated terms of reference…

Proactive release of information about management of ministerial conflicts of interest, 1 October 2022 – 30 September 2023, Explanatory note 1 The table below is a summary of certain actions taken by Ministers during the period 1 October 2022 to 30 …

Purpose, 1 This circular sets out the principles that guide Ministers’ access to the records of the previous administration. It also provides guidance for officials handling requests for official information received before 27 November 2023, when the new…

Introduction, 1 The Leader of the National Party has announced his intention to form a coalition government with the ACT Party and the New Zealand First Party that is able to command the confidence of the House of Representatives. 2 This circular sets out…

Accessible version If you require an accessible version please contact [email protected] and cite "Proactive Release: Governor-General’s Travel to the Cook Islands (CAB-23-SUB-0223) " as a reference. The following documents have been proactively…

Accessible version If you require an accessible version please contact [email protected] and cite "Proactive Release: Overseas Travel: Governor-General's Travel to Malaysia (CAB-23-SUB-0434) " as a reference. The following documents have been…

Accessible version If you require an accessible version please contact [email protected] and cite "Proactive Release: Overseas Travel: Governor-General’s Travel to the Republic of Korea (South Korea) (CAB-23-SUB-0324) " as a reference. The…

Introduction, 1 Following the general election on 14 October 2023, negotiations to form a government are expected to commence shortly. 2 In accordance with the convention on caretaker government, the Prime Minister has indicated that the incumbent…

Introduction, 1 In January this year the Cabinet Office issued guidance on government decision making in the pre-election period 1 . That guidance noted that the government has the right to govern as usual until the election. As in previous election years…

Key points, 1 This circular provides guidance on the management of parliamentary business after Parliament has been dissolved. The key points are as follows: 1.1 all parliamentary business will lapse on, Friday 8 September 2023, , when Parliament is…