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Preparing Ministers’ papers for a meeting, Ministers receive all Cabinet and Cabinet committee items in hard copy from the Cabinet Office, unless they have opted to use CabDocs. Papers should be prepared for a Minister’s attendance at Cabinet or a Cabinet…

Introduction, 1 The Legislation Guidelines (2021 edition) are the government's key point of reference for assessing whether draft legislation conforms to accepted legal and constitutional principles.  2 The Legislation Guidelines set out guidance on…

The Cabinet policy paper template is intended as a guide for the preparation of Cabinet policy papers, and outlines the headings and type of information that needs to be included in each section. The actual content and structure of a paper should be…

  The organisation form and candidate CV template are required to be attached to Cabinet appointment papers. See the Cabinet appointments paper template for more information about these requirements.  The Organisation form is required when proposing…

Introduction, 1 This circular sets out guidelines agreed by Cabinet for policy-makers to consider the Treaty of Waitangi in policy development and implementation., Background, 2 The Treaty of Waitangi (the Treaty) is one of the major sources of New…

When developing policy proposals, consideration must be given to their consistency with domestic human rights legislation and New Zealand's international human rights obligations. These include the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990 , the Human Rights…

1 In June 2014, Cabinet approved the Attorney-General’s Protocol for Release of Draft Government Legislation outside the Crown.  2 In September 2018, Cabinet agreed to amend the Protocol to enable: 2.1 the release of draft legislation to external advisers…

Introduction, 1 This circular sets out guidelines and requirements agreed by Cabinet for Ministers and departments involved in contemporary Treaty of Waitangi issues, including: 1.1 processes for appointing lead Ministers and agencies for contemporary…

Email request forms, Below is a list of the different forms that Ministers’ offices might need to submit to Cabinet Office on their Minister’s behalf. Ministers’ offices should copy the relevant form into an email, fill it out, and then send it to Cabinet…

“Power to Act” is when Cabinet or the Prime Minister authorise a Cabinet committee, Minister, or group of Ministers to undertake a specific action with their authority. Ministers who are granted Power to Act must then report-back to Cabinet on what they…

A late paper is any Cabinet paper which needs to be lodged, after 10.00am the Thursday before the meeting is due to take place, . If a Minister needs to submit a late paper to Cabinet or a Cabinet committee after the Thursday 10:00am deadline, then the…

An oral item is a verbal update given by a Minister to Cabinet on a matter of particular urgency, sensitivity, or significance, or to a Cabinet committee on a government priority area or work programme. Oral items must not be used to seek decisions on…

This page contains templates for the following: general government response paper to the Cabinet Legislation Committee seeking the approval of a government response to a select committee inquiry or petition government response to a Law Commission Report…

Cabinet papers on proposed overseas travel and reports on overseas travel are submitted directly to Cabinet, but do not require prior approval to go direct to Cabinet as other submissions do.  Below are templates for the two kinds of Cabinet travel papers…

Introduction, 1 This circular sets out the requirements agreed to by Cabinet for agencies to implement the New Zealand Business Number (the NZBN).  This circular updates and replaces CO (16) 3.  2 An agency must give effect to, or have regard to, some or…

The following template must be used for all papers requesting a priority in the annual Legislation Programme. The template indicates the headings to be used, and each heading must appear in the paper (write "not applicable" if the heading is not relevant…

Introduction, 1 This circular sets out the guidelines and requirements for Ministers and departments seeking approval of proposals with financial implications, changes to appropriations, and the authority to incur expenses. 2 This circular updates and…

A good Cabinet paper includes a clear statement of purpose, is based on sound information and analysis, and is well consulted across agencies, Ministers, and government parties. Good papers reflect robust policy development, and are informed by evidence…

This page sets out the requirements and processes for considering appointments (and reappointments) made by Ministers, the Governor-General on the advice of a Minister, or by the Governor-General in Executive Council. The standard process for appointments…

This wallchart provides an easy guide to the transmission, handling, storage, and disposal of different classifications of Cabinet material. See the CabGuide for more information on the secure handling of Cabinet material .

The Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) provides for information to be protected to the extent consistent with the public interest and the preservation of personal privacy. “Cabinet material” includes Cabinet and Cabinet committee agendas, papers, and…

Laws usually come into effect only after their publication (with the exceptions being matters of national security or matters of particular commercial or legal significance where time is an overriding factor). The Parliamentary Counsel Office's (PCO’s)…

The Governor-General has delegated responsibility for the custody of the Seal of New Zealand to the Clerk of the Executive Council . Documents that require the Seal of New Zealand to be affixed to them include: warrants for the appointment of Ministers of…

Involving the Treasury and the Minister of Finance, The Treasury should be consulted on all proposals which have, or are likely to have, economic implications, financial or fiscal (expenditure or revenue) implications, implications for the Public Finance…

Key points, “Cabinet material” includes Cabinet and Cabinet committee agendas, papers, minutes, and memos. You are responsible for ensuring that the Cabinet material you have access to is handled securely. CabNet is set up to allow “need to know”…

EC meetings are held on most, Mondays at 4pm in the Executive Council meeting room, on level 10 of the Beehive, and are presided over by the Governor-General or, in the Governor-General’s absence overseas, by the Administrator of the Government. From time…

Ministers are expected to consult their relevant Ministerial colleagues before submitting Cabinet committee papers that deal with significant or potentially controversial matters, or that affect other Ministers’ portfolio interests. Where there is a…

Policy development often involves engagement with citizens and/or interest groups to gather views on issues and options. Any non-government consultation process should be discussed with the Minister’s office before proposals are developed for Cabinet.…

The deadline for lodging Cabinet and Cabinet committee papers is, 10am on the Thursday before the meeting, . When a public holiday falls on a Friday (Good Friday, Matariki, and sometimes Waitangi Day, Anzac Day) the deadline for lodging Cabinet and…

Information that should be provided to Cabinet or Cabinet committees, Where a there is a proposal to become party to a treaty, or to take formal treaty action, the following information needs to be provided to Cabinet or Cabinet committees: the exact…

Some items go directly to EC without first being approved by Cabinet. These items are usually drafted in a department, rather than by PCO, and: will not be included in the Legislative Instruments series (but are published in the Gazette in the normal way…

Access to papers and minutes within CabNet will persist for Ministers that have access at the time that the paper was lodged and considered for as long as they continue to be a Minister. Access to CabNet will cease when a Minister leaves office. Chapter 8…