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 the Crown and members of the Executive Council
- warrants for the appointment of judges
- commissions of officers of the Armed Forces
- Letters Patent establishing Royal Commissions.
All documents to be sealed must first be signed by the Governor-General (or the Sovereign), then sealed, and finally countersigned by a Minister of the Crown. If a document is to be sealed with the Seal of New Zealand, the relevant department must contact the Honours Unit within the Cabinet Office.