New Zealand Government

This article is about the executive branch of government in New Zealand. For the wider political system, see Politics of New Zealand. For a listing of successive governments, see List of New Zealand governments.

New Zealand Government
Māori: Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa
Overview
Established30 June 1852; 172 years ago (1852-06-30)[1]
CountryNew Zealand
LeaderPrime Minister Christopher Luxon
Appointed byGovernor-General
Cindy Kiro[2]
Main organ
Ministries32 ministries and departments[5]
Responsible toHouse of Representatives[6]
Annual budgetNZ$119.3 billion (2018–19)[7]
HeadquartersThe Beehive and other locations across Wellington[8]
Website
Politics of New Zealand
Constitution
The Crown
Executive Government
Legislature
54th New Zealand Parliament
Elections
Judiciary
Local government
Foreign relations
Ideology
History
Related topics
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The New Zealand Government (Māori: Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa[9]) is the central government through which political authority is exercised in New Zealand. As in most other parliamentary democracies, the term "Government" refers chiefly to the executive branch, and more specifically to the collective ministry directing the executive.[10] Based on the principle of responsible government, it operates within the framework that "the [King] reigns, but the government rules, so long as it has the support of the House of Representatives".[11] The Cabinet Manual describes the main laws, rules and conventions affecting the conduct and operation of the Government.

Executive power is exercised by ministers, all of whom are sworn into the Executive Council and accountable to the elected legislature, the House of Representatives.[12] Several senior ministers (usually 20) constitute a collective decision-making body known as the Cabinet, which is led by the prime minister[13] (currently Christopher Luxon). A few more ministers (usually junior or supporting) are part of the Executive Council but are outside Cabinet. Most ministers have a portfolio of specific responsibilities such as departments or policy areas, although ministers without portfolio can be appointed.

The position of prime minister belongs to the person who commands the confidence of the majority of members in the House of Representatives. The position is determined also by several other factors, such as support agreements between parties and internal leadership votes in the party that leads the Government. The prime minister and other ministers are formally appointed by the governor-general (who is the King's personal representative in New Zealand).[12] By convention, the governor-general acts on the advice of the prime minister in appointing ministers.

  1. ^ 30 June 1852 is the date the Constitution Act 1852 was assented to. See "New Zealand's first Constitution Act passed 165 years ago", New Zealand Parliament, 30 June 2017, retrieved 25 May 2020
  2. ^ "Prime Minister". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 24 June 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  3. ^ "The Executive Council". The Governor-General of New Zealand. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  4. ^ "What is cabinet?". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Shaw was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ "Parliament Brief: Government Accountability to the House". New Zealand Parliament. 21 March 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Revenue and expenditure". The Treasury. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Contact us". New Zealand Government. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa – New Zealand Government". Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  10. ^ "How government works". New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  11. ^ Sir Kenneth Keith, quoted in the Cabinet Manual. Archived 9 October 1999 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ a b "Constitution Act 1986 No 114 (as at 17 May 2005), Public Act – New Zealand Legislation". Parliamentary Counsel Office. Archived from the original on 23 December 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  13. ^ Dowding, Keith; Dumont, Patrick (2014). The Selection of Ministers around the World. Routledge. pp. 27–28. ISBN 9781317634454.