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This publication is part of the CabGuide.

DPMC is all about ensuring New Zealand is ambitious, resilient and well-governed, so naturally we’re involved in a wide range of work. Our vacancies   This includes: providing free and frank advice to the Prime Minister on constitutional...

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...

People in New Zealand can request government information (official information) and can expect it to be made available unless there is a good reason to withhold it. The Official Information Act 1982 (or OIA) enables citizens, permanent residents,...

There is no specific format or style you need to use to make your request. You do not need to mention the Official Information Act (or OIA) to make a request. How do I know if you are the right agency? What can I request? Can I request information...

What happens if we are not the right agency? What if we don’t understand your request? What happens if I need to change my request? How do we make a decision on a request? When will we withhold information? When will charges apply? What happens if...

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,...

1.53 The Governor-General or the Governor-General in Council may need to formally execute a decision to give effect to it (for example, an appointment decision). In such cases, Ministers should not pre-empt the outcome of this process by announcing...

General 1.55 The New Zealand Royal Honours system provides a way for New Zealand to thank and congratulate people who have served their communities and to recognise people's achievements. Further information on all aspects of the honours system is...

1.73The granting, confirmation, and control of armorial bearings (coats of arms) and other heraldic devices fall within the Sovereign's prerogative as the “Fount of all Honour”. Her Majesty's Lieutenants, in exercising this prerogative in New Zealand,...

1.77The Order of Precedence is approved by the Sovereign. It indicates the relative precedence of constitutional office holders, public officials, and certain others, on state, official, and other important occasions. Hosts and organisers of official...

2.1 This chapter covers: the appointment and roles of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers (including Associate Ministers, acting Ministers, and duty Ministers), Parliamentary Under-Secretaries, and Parliamentary Private...

Appointment 2.2 The Prime Minister is appointed by warrant by the Governor-General. In making this appointment, constitutional convention requires the Governor-General to: act on the outcome of the electoral process and subsequent...

2.13 The Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by warrant. If the Prime Minister is unavailable or unable to exercise the statutory or constitutional functions and powers of the office, the Deputy Prime Minister can, if necessary, exercise those powers...

Appointment 2.15 The Letters Patent (see the appendix), issued under the Sovereign’s prerogative power, empower the Governor-General: …to constitute and appoint under the Seal of New Zealand, to hold office during pleasure, all such Members of...

2.48 The Governor-General, under section 8 of the Constitution Act, may appoint any member of Parliament to be a Parliamentary Under-Secretary in relation to the ministerial office or offices specified in the warrant of appointment. The Governor-...

2.52 Parliamentary Private Secretaries are members of Parliament who may be appointed by the Prime Minister by letter to assist Ministers. Parliamentary Private Secretaries support the Minister by building relationships with relevant communities,...