| New Zealand Government | |
|---|---|
| Māori:Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa | |
 | |
| Overview | |
| Established | 30 June 1852; 173 years ago (1852-06-30)[1] |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Leader | Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon |
| Appointed by | Governor-General Cindy Kiro[2] |
| Main organ | |
| Ministries | 32ministries and departments[5] |
| Responsible to | House of Representatives[6] |
| Annual budget | NZ$119.3 billion (2018–19)[7] |
| Headquarters | The Beehive and other locations acrossWellington[8] |
| Website | |
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Related topics |
 New Zealand portal |
TheNew Zealand Government (Māori:Te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa[9]) is thecentral government through whichpolitical authority is exercised inNew Zealand. As in most otherparliamentary democracies, the term "Government" refers chiefly to theexecutive branch, and more specifically to thecollective ministry directing the executive.[10] Based on the principle ofresponsible government, it operates within the framework that "the [King] reigns, but the government rules, so long as it has the support of theHouse of Representatives".[11] TheCabinet Manual describes the main laws, rules andconventions affecting the conduct and operation of the Government.
Executive power is exercised byministers, all of whom are sworn into theExecutive Council and accountable to the electedlegislature, the House of Representatives.[12] Several senior ministers (usually 20) constitute acollective decision-making body known as theCabinet, which is led by theprime minister[13] (currentlyChristopher Luxon). A few more ministers (usually junior or supporting) are part of the Executive Council but are outside Cabinet. Most ministers have aportfolio of specific responsibilities such as departments orpolicy areas, although ministers without portfolio can be appointed.
The position of prime minister belongs to the person whocommands the confidence of the majority ofmembers in the House of Representatives. The position is determined also by several other factors, such as support agreements betweenparties and internal leadership votes in the party that leads the Government. The prime minister and other ministers are formally appointed by thegovernor-general (who is the King's personal representative in New Zealand).[12] By convention, the governor-general acts on theadvice of the prime minister in appointing ministers.
In New Zealand, the termGovernment can have a number of different meanings. At its widest, it can refer collectively to the three traditional branches of government—namely, theexecutive branch,legislative branch (theKing-in-Parliament andHouse of Representatives) andjudicial branch (theSupreme Court and subordinate courts).[14] Each branch operates independently of the others in an arrangement described as "separation of powers".[15]
More commonly, the term is used to refer specifically to the executive branch.[15] The largest party orcoalition in the House of Representatives, with a sufficient number ofMPs to win crucial parliamentary votes, will form aCabinet—this is the sense intended when it is said that a political party "forms the government".[16][17] TheConstitution Act 1986, the principal part of New Zealand's constitution, locates the executive government in theExecutive Council,[12] which also includes ministers outside Cabinet.[18]
The Executive Wing ofParliament Buildings, commonly called the "Beehive" because of the building's shape, houses many government offices and is also where the Cabinet meets.[19] Thus the nameBeehive is sometimes usedmetonymically to refer to the New Zealand Government.[20]The official website of the New Zealand Government uses the web addressbeehive.govt.nz.[21]
The first constitution act was theNew Zealand Constitution Act 1846, though GovernorGeorge Grey was opposed to its implementation, specifically the proposed division of the country into European andMāori districts, and stated that settlers were not ready for self-government. As a result, almost all of the act was suspended pending the newNew Zealand Constitution Act 1852. New Zealand was at this time being governed as aCrown colony. Prior to the act, the basic document setting out the governance of New Zealand since the signing of theTreaty of Waitangi was the Charter for Erecting the Colony of New Zealand of 1840.[22][23]
New Zealand was grantedcolonial self-government in 1853 following theNew Zealand Constitution Act 1852, which was anact of theParliament of the United Kingdom. Governments were set up at both central andprovincial level, with initially six provinces.[24] The provinces were abolished by the Abolition of Provinces Act 1876, during thepremiership ofHarry Atkinson. For the purposes of the law, the provinces formally ceased to exist on 1 January 1877.[25]
TheSewell Ministry constituted the firstresponsible government, with control over all domestic matters other thannative policy.[24] Formed in 1856, it lasted from 18 April to 20 May. From 7 May onward,Henry Sewell was titled "colonial secretary", and is generally regarded as having been the country's first prime minister.[26] The first ministry that formed along party lines did not appear until 1891, whenJohn Ballance formed theLiberal Party and theLiberal Government.[27][28] The prime minister became the leader and public face of the governing party.[29] The status of the monarch's representative was upgraded from "governor" to "governor-general" in 1917letters patent.[24][30]
In short, there have been three distinctly different periods of New Zealand government—firstly, the period before responsible government; second, from 1856 to 1890, the period in which responsible government begins; and the third period starting with the formation ofpolitical parties in 1891.[31]
By convention, a distinct government is named after the largest party that leads it.[32][33][34]
The New Zealand Government is formally styled[His] Majesty's Government in theSeal of New Zealand Act 1977.[35] This is a reference to the monarch, KingCharles III, who is thehead of state under the Constitution Act 1986.[12] The legal authority of thestate that is vested in the monarch, known as "the Crown", which is the source of the executive power exercised by the Government.[15][36]Sovereignty in New Zealand has never rested solely with the monarch due to the EnglishBill of Rights 1689, later inherited by New Zealand, which establishes the principle ofparliamentary sovereignty.[37] Nonetheless, the Constitution Act describes the monarch as the "Sovereign".[12]
In many areas, the Crown possesses a body of powers known as theroyal prerogative.[38][39] For example, theRoyal Assent (the monarch's approval)[40] is required to enact laws and theroyal sign-manual gives authority toletters patent andorders in council.[41][42] The royal prerogative also includes summoning anddissolving the Parliament in order tocall an election,[43] and extends to foreign affairs: the negotiation and ratification of treaties, alliances, international agreements, theright to declare war and peace, and the deployment and armament of defence forces.[44][45]
The king rarely personally exercises his executive powers; since the sovereign does not normally reside in New Zealand, he appoints a governor-general to represent him and exercise most of his powers.[46] The person who fills this role is selected on the advice of the prime minister.[46] "Advice" in this sense is a choice without options since it would be highly unconventional for the prime minister's advice to be ignored—a convention that protects the monarchy. As long as the monarch is following the advice of his ministers, he is not held personally responsible for the decisions of the Government. The governor-general has no officialterm limit, and is said to serve "at His Majesty's pleasure".[47]
As per theconventional stipulations ofconstitutional monarchy, the king and his representative rarely intervene directly in political affairs.[46] Just as the sovereign's choice of governor-general is on the prime minister's advice, the governor-general exercises the executive powers of state on the advice of ministers.[12] For example, the governor-general's power to withhold the Royal Assent tobills of parliament has been rendered ineffective by the convention.[43]
Under the conventions of theWestminster system, the Government is accountable to the House of Representatives, the democratically elected component ofParliament, rather than to the sovereign. This is calledresponsible government.[14][15] For example, ministers are required to be members of the House, and they make statements andtake questions from other members in the House.[48] The Government is required by convention and for practical reasons to maintain the support, or confidence, of the House of Representatives. It also requires the support of the House for the maintenance ofsupply (by voting through the government'sbudgets) and in order to passprimary legislation.[49][50] By convention, if a governmentloses the confidence of the House then it must either resign or call for ageneral election.[15][51] Not since1928 has a government been defeated on a confidence vote and therefore been obliged to resign.[52]
The Constitution Act 1986 stipulates that general elections must be held at least every three years,[53] making this the maximum period of time that a government can serve without seeking renewal of itsmandate.[54] Upon the dissolution of Parliament (preceding a general election) ministers are no longer members of the House of Representatives; however, they can remain members of the Executive Council "until the expiration of the 28th day after the day on which that person ceases to be a member of Parliament".[12]
Also known as "ministers of the Crown", these are members of Parliament who hold ministerial warrants from the Crown to perform certain functions of government. This includes formulating and implementingpolicies and advising the governor-general.[55] Before 1996 nearly all ministers were members of the Cabinet, but since the introduction ofproportional representation, which has led to complex governing arrangements, there are currently three categories of minister: ministers in Cabinet, ministers outside Cabinet, and ministers fromsupporting parties.[56]
The Executive Council, established under theLetters Patent 1983, is a formal body that meets to give legal effect to decisions made by the Cabinet, and to carry out various other functions, such as the making of certain appointments to government agencies and boards. The Executive Council's primary function is to issueOrders in Council, which are legally binding regulations made by the Government.[47][57]
All ministers are members of the Executive Council, and are styled "The Honourable" while in office (or for life if the prime minister recommends it),[58] except for the prime minister, who is entitled to be styled "The Right Honourable" for life.[59] Although not a member of the Executive Council, the governor-general usually presides at Council meetings.[60]
Cabinet (Māori:Te Rūnanga) is the senior decision-making body of the Government.[61][62] Constitutional law, such as the Constitution Act 1986, does not recognise the Cabinet as a legal entity; it exists solely by constitutional convention.[63][64] Its decisions do not in and of themselves have legal force; however, it serves as the practical expression of the Executive Council, which is New Zealand's highest formal governmental body.[55]
The prime minister is responsible for chairing meetings of Cabinet.[29] The governor-general will appoint as prime minister the person most likely to receive the confidence of the House of Representatives to lead the Government. In practice, the appointment is determined by size of eachpolitical party, support agreements between parties, and leadership votes in the party that leads the Government.[29][65] The prime minister then advises the governor-general to appoint other ministers. Each minister is responsible for the general administration of at least oneportfolio, and heads a corresponding public service department(see§ Departments).[62][66] The most important minister, following the prime minister, is thefinance minister, while other high-profile portfolios includeforeign affairs,justice,health andeducation.
Traditionally, all members arecollectively responsible for the actions taken by Cabinet—typically all Cabinet ministers must publicly support the decisions of Cabinet.[67] However, since the introduction of themixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system in 1993,[68] processes were developed to allow different parties within acoalition cabinet to "agree to disagree" on some issues.[69]
Thelegislative agenda of Parliament is determined by the Cabinet. At the start of each new parliamentary term, the governor-general givesan address prepared by the Cabinet that outlines the Government's policy and legislative proposals.[70]
A few other ministers serve in the Executive Council but outside of Cabinet. Since the introduction of MMP, governments have been formed following agreements between a major party and smaller support parties. In such arrangements, government ministers from the support parties are often ministers outside Cabinet.[69] Non-Cabinet ministers may also be from the major governing party, as has been the case in recent governments.[71] Ministers outside the Cabinet have the same overall duties and responsibilities as their senior colleagues inside Cabinet.[62][13]
The currentministry, since November 2023, is theNational Party government led by Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon, forming a coalition withACT New Zealand andNew Zealand First.[72]
The table below lists all ministers, as of 31 May 2025[update].[73]
| National | |
| NZ First | |
| ACT |
Notes
New Zealand'spublic service includes 32 core government institutions—most haveministry ordepartment in their name, e.g.Ministry for Culture and Heritage, orDepartment of Internal Affairs—which are listed in the first schedule to theState Sector Act 1988.[74][5] Staffed by around 45,000 public servants,[75] they provide the government of the day with advice and deliver services to the public. Since the 1980s, the public service has beenmarketised.[76] Each department is headed by a chief executive who answers to a government minister for that department's performance. In turn, a minister bears the ultimate responsibility for the actions of their department, being answerable to the House of Representatives.[5] This principle is calledindividual ministerial responsibility.[56]
The wider state sector[74] also includes about 2,800Crown entities (including some 2,600 school boards of trustees), 17state-owned enterprises, three officers of Parliament, and theReserve Bank of New Zealand.[77]
There are two main tiers of elected local authorities—regional councils andterritorial authorities—in some places merged intounitary authorities. While thecentral government deals with issues relevant to New Zealand and its people as a nation, local government exists "to enable democratic local decision-making and action by, and on behalf of, communities", and "to meet the current and future needs of communities for good-quality local infrastructure, local public services, and performance of regulatory functions in a way that is most cost-effective for households and businesses."[78]
Beehive.govt.nz is the official website of the New Zealand Government.
The watershed election of 1890 put the Liberals, who were to become New Zealand's first 'modern' political party, into power.
The formal right to declare war was clearly part of the Royal Prerogative inherited from Great Britain in 1840 and it remains an acknowledged part of New Zealand law.
| Executives without power | |
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| Responsible government |
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| Governments along party lines |
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| International | |
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| Other | |
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