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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 briefing to incoming Minister of Communications gives an overview of the priorities of the cyber security policy, and identifies some of the more significant issues and opportunities. This briefing was prepared for the incoming Minister of...

The briefing to the incoming Prime Minister gives an overview of the priorities of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and identifies some of the more significant issues and opportunities. This briefing was prepared for the incoming Prime...

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,...

General 2.53 To protect the integrity of the decision-making process of executive government and to maintain public trust in the Executive, Ministers and Parliamentary Under-Secretaries must conduct themselves in a manner appropriate to their office...

2.82 In a democracy, everyone has the right to make representations to Ministers on matters that concern them. Ministers will receive a large number of requests for meetings with people and organisations seeking either to influence government policy,...

General 2.84 The Standing Orders require members of Parliament to disclose to the Registrar of Pecuniary and Other Specified Interests of Members of Parliament any gift received with an estimated market value of more than a prescribed amount (or...

Speaking engagements 2.94 Ministers receive many invitations to events and offers of speaking engagements. Ministers should consider carefully which invitations they will accept, and try to honour invitations from a variety of organisations. 2.95...

2.107 Governments have a responsibility to keep the public informed about important issues of the day. They may legitimately use public funds and resources for advertising and other publicity that explains their policies, informs the public of the...

Overseas travel 2.111 Overseas travel by Ministers or Parliamentary Under-Secretaries can provide important benefits to their portfolios and to New Zealand generally. 2.112To ensure that their travel is approved properly and undertaken in an...