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The Cabinet Office is a ‘government secretariat’ that provides impartial support to central government decision-making processes. This section includes: the role of Cabinet and the Executive Council Ministerial portfolios the functions of the...

Appointed ministers are responsible for the actions, successes and failures of their departments. The Ministerial list contains information on the current Ministers of the Crown, and the portfolios and other responsibilities that they hold. The...

The Cabinet Manual is an authoritative guide to central government decision making for Ministers, their offices, and those working within government. It is also a primary source of information on New Zealand's constitutional arrangements, as seen through...

This directory provides information on ministerial portfolios and responsibilities (excluding Deputy and Associate Minister positions). Its purpose is to provide a record of the departments and other agencies, votes and legislation associated with each...

The Executive Council is the highest formal instrument of government. It is the part of the executive branch of government that carries out formal acts of government. By convention, the Executive Council comprises all Ministers of the Crown, whether...

Cabinet committees provide the forum for more detailed consideration and discussion of issues before reference to Cabinet. Most Cabinet committees are standing committees of Cabinet, and meet regularly. Unlike Cabinet, officials may be invited to attend...

These are the statutory and formal responsibilities of the Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council. The statutory and formal responsibilities of the Secretary of the Cabinet and Clerk of the Executive Council are to:...

New Zealand Gallantry Awards and criteria 1. The New Zealand Gallantry Awards are Royal honours. They are designed to recognise acts of gallantry carried out at risk to or sacrifice of life, by members of the New Zealand Armed Forces and support...

This page contains the relevant Cabinet papers and other documents relating to the process to consider changing the New Zealand Flag, undertaken from 2014–2016. The Responsible Minister was the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon Bill English, and the lead...

Badge of the Order of New Zealand, pictured suspended from a neck ribbon. Overview The Order of New Zealand is New Zealand’s most senior honour. The Order was instituted by Royal Warrant - dated 6 February (Waitangi Day) 1987 - "to recognise...

Background Insignia Background The New Zealand Order of Merit was instituted by Royal Warrant dated 30 May 1996. The Order is awarded to those “who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and...

History Structure of the Order The Queen’s Service Medal Royal warrants Insignia History The Queen’s Service Order (QSO) was instituted by Royal Warrant dated 13 March 1975 and in an amending Royal Warrant dated 15 October 1981, as a...

Background Design of awards Design and manaufacture of Gallantry and Bravery Awards Other issues relating to Gallantry and Bravery Awards Background The New Zealand Gallantry Awards are designed to recognise those military, and certain...

History The New Zealand Antarctic Medal was instituted as a New Zealand Royal Honour on 1 September 2006. The New Zealand Antarctic Medal replaced the (British) Polar Medal, which was instituted in 1904 under a British Royal Warrant and awarded to...

Background Eligibility Precedence Royal warrant and regulations Design and manufacture Other issues Background The New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration has been instituted as a New Zealand Royal Honour to recognise...

To be a Knight Grand Companion of the said Order: KEY, The Right Honourable John Phillip For services to the State The Right Honourable John Key was New Zealand’s 38th Prime Minister, holding the office from November 2008 until stepping down in...

To be a Dame Companion of the said Order: CHRISTIE, Mrs Julie Claire Molloy, ONZM For services to governance and the television industry Mrs Julie Christie was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2007 for her services to film and...

To be a Knight Companion of the said Order: DINGLE, Mr Graeme, ONZM, MBE For services to youth Mr Graeme Dingle was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to youth in 2001. Mr Dingle established the first Outdoor Pursuits...

To be a Companion of the said Order: AMA, Ms Mary Tupai For services to the arts and the Pacific community Ms Mary Ama is a New Zealand-Pacific artist, educator, cultural and community leader. Ms Ama founded and is lead artist and mentor for Pacifica...

To be an Officer of the said Order: ASHTON, Mr Desmond Albert (Des) For services to the New Zealand Defence Force and aviation Mr Des Ashton was Deputy Secretary Acquisition with the Ministry of Defence from 2008 to 2016, during which time he had...

To be a Member of the said Order: AITKEN, Mr Ross Alexander For services to conservation Mr Ross Aitken has been a member of the Auckland Conservation Board for the past five years, the last four as Chairperson. During this time the Board has...

The Queen's Service Medal ANDERSON, Mrs Clarice Lee For services to the blind and seniors Mrs Clarice Anderson has had a longstanding involvement with the Royal New Zealand Blind Foundation at a local level. Mrs Anderson helped establish the Central...

HEKE, Mr Randal Murray For services to New Zealand interests in Antarctica and historic preservation Mr Randal Heke was Chief Building Superintendent with the Ministry of Works and Development and oversaw the construction of a base headquarters (Scott...

GRANT, Staff Sergeant Tina Kathleen For services to the New Zealand Defence Force Staff Sergeant Tina Grant is the New Zealand Army’s liaison for families that have lost family members whilst in the service of the New Zealand Defence Force, whether it...

The system of Cabinet government is an essential element of New Zealand's democracy. Cabinet provides the forum in which Ministers collectively consider, debate, and decide on the key issues facing the nation. The operations of Cabinet are not set out in...

The Cabinet Manual has for many years been the authoritative guide to New Zealand's system of central government decision making. It is also a primary source of information on constitutional matters. Successive governments have recognised the need for...

The Rt Hon Sir Kenneth Keith, 1990, updated 2008 and 2017 A constitution: What is it? A constitution is about public power, the power of the state. It describes and establishes the major institutions of government, states their principal powers, and...

Introduction 1.1 This chapter covers: the formal and constitutional aspects of the role of the Sovereign and the office of the Governor-General; the powers, membership, and meeting procedures of the Executive Council; the role of the...

1.2 New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. The Sovereign in right of New Zealand is the head of state of New Zealand, and is known by the royal style and titles defined in statute from time to time. Upon the demise of a Sovereign, the transition to...

Office of Governor-General 1.5 The Governor-General is the representative of the Sovereign in the Realm of New Zealand. The office of Governor-General is constituted by the Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand 1983...

Powers 1.21 The Executive Council, which is constituted by the Letters Patent, is the highest formal instrument of government. It is the institution through which the government collectively and formally advises the Governor-General. 1.22Action by...

1.33 The Clerk of the Executive Council is formally appointed by the Governor-General by warrant under the Letters Patent, on the advice of the Prime Minister. The primary role of the Clerk is to provide impartial secretariat support for the Executive...

Items for consideration by Executive Council 1.38 Matters requiring Executive Council action include: regulations (which are made by Order in Council); other Orders in Council; for example, commencement orders (see paragraph 1.52) and...

1.50 Laws should enter into force only after their publication. The exceptions to this important constitutional convention are matters of national security or great commercial or legal significance where time is an overriding factor. Accordingly,...