Process for items that go directly to the Executive Council

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); and/or
• affect only particular local districts, rather than the country as a whole; and/or
• are required by law to give effect to a determination of a statutory body (e.g. a scheme or a determination of the Local Government Commission under the Local Government Act 2002).

Items going directly to EC that are drafted by a department must also have a covering memorandum signed by the department’s office solicitor. Both the item and the covering memorandum must be submitted to the Cabinet Office by the Minister’s office in hard copy by 10am on the preceding Thursday for a Monday EC meeting.

Refer to the following pages for more information

• The Executive Council role in the regulations process
• About the Administrator of the Government
• Advice for Ministers attending the Executive Council meetings
• About the New Zealand Gazette
• About the Seal of New Zealand