Publications

1 This circular sets out the requirements for Ministers and agencies developing government regulatory proposals. Government agencies and Ministers should not see regulation as the first resort for problem solving.

1 This circular sets out the requirements for bids for bills seeking placement on the 2025 Legislation Programme.

1This circular sets out the requirements for developing and maintaining Performance Plans.

1 In December 2023, Cabinet Circular CO (23) 13 asked Ministers and agencies to submit bids for bills seeking places on the 2024 Legislation Programme.

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.

1 This circular sets out the principles that guide Ministers’ access to the records of the previous administration.

1 This circular supersedes Cabinet Office circular CO (19) 6, and gives effect to Cabinet’s intention to:

1.1 make the best investment choices for current and future generations;

1 In January this year the Cabinet Office issued guidance on government decision making in the pre-election period1. That guidance noted that the government has the right to govern as usual until the election.

1 This circular provides guidance on the management of parliamentary business after Parliament has been dissolved. The key points are as follows:

1 This circular sets out the requirement for public service agencies to identify and justify the use of paid external resources (such as consultants or contractors) engaged in the development of policy advice to Cabinet.

1 This circular sets out guidance agreed to by Cabinet for Ministers and officials dealing with inside information relating to listed issuers (including mixed ownership model companies and other companies in which the Crown has an ownersh

1 This circular sets out the requirements and procedures for the proactive release of Cabinet material (Cabinet and Cabinet committee papers and minutes).

Cabinet Office circulars which have been superseded or cancelled over the last 10 years.

This circular contains the revised Attorney-General's Protocol for Release of Draft Government Legislation outside the Crown and replaces CO(14) 4

This circular sets out guidelines and requirements agreed by Cabinet for Ministers and departments involved in contemporary Treaty of Waitangi issues.

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.

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.

This circular sets out the Cabinet Directions for the Conduct of Crown Legal Business. Their primary purpose is to identify core Crown legal matters, to set out how those matters are conducted by Government, and to set out the Law Officers’ oversight of such legal matters.

This Circular replaces Cabinet Office Circular CO (06) 6 Whole of Government Directions under the Crown Entities Act 2004.

This Circular sets out requirements for issuing a direction under section 107 of the Crown Entities Act 2004. Cabinet approval must be secured to undertake consultation and issue the direction.

This circular outlines what disclosure will be required during the initial administrative period of legislation development. Ministers and Chief Executives should ensure that all staff involved in the preparation of legislation are familiar with the advice in this circular.