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New Zealand Parliament

Premata Aotearoa
50th New Zealand Parliament
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Unicameral
Houses House of Representatives
History
Founded 24 May 1854
Leadership
Monarch
Elizabeth II
since 6 February 1952
Governor-General
Sir Jerry Mateparae
since 31 August 2011
Speaker of the House of Representatives
David Carter, National Party
since 1 February 2013
Leader of the House of Representatives
Gerry Brownlee, National Party
since 9 December 2008
Seats 120 Representatives
Meeting place
Parlamento da Nova Zelndia.jpg
Parliament House, Wellington, New Zealand
Website
www.parliament.nz/en-NZ
The New Zealand Parliament (in Mori: Premata Aotearoa) consists of the Queen of Ne
w Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and, until 1951, the New
Zealand Legislative Council. The House of Representatives is often referred to a
s "Parliament". Until 1986, the formal name for the Parliament of New Zealand wa
s the General Assembly of New Zealand.
The House of Representatives usually consists of 120 members of parliament (MPs)
, sometimes more due to overhang seats. 70 MPs are elected directly in electorat
e seats and the remainder are filled by list MPs based on each party's share of
the party vote. New Zealand has universal suffrage but does not allow sentenced
prisoners to vote.[1] The form of New Zealand government essentially follows the
Westminster system, and the government is led by the Prime Minister and cabinet
who are chosen from amongst the members of the House of Representatives.
The House of Representatives meets in the Parliament Buildings located in Wellin
gton, the capital city of New Zealand since 1865.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Country quota
2 Sovereignty
3 Houses
3.1 New Zealand House of Representatives
3.2 Upper house
3.2.1 Legislative Council
3.2.2 Senate proposals
4 Passage of legislation
4.1 House of Representatives
4.2 Royal Assent
5 Terms of Parliament

6 See also
7 Notes
8 References
9 External links
History[edit]
The parliament was established by the British New Zealand Constitution Act 1852
which established a bicameral legislature officially called the General Assembly
, but usually referred to as Parliament. This produced a parliament very similar
to Britain's, with a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an u
pper house, called the Legislative Council. The members of the House of Represen
tatives were elected under the First Past the Post system, while those of the Co
uncil were appointed by the Governor. Originally Councillors were appointed for
life, but later their terms were fixed at seven years. This change, coupled with
responsible government (whereby the Premier advised the Governor on Council app
ointments) and party politics, meant that by the 20th century, the government us
ually controlled the Council as well as the House, and the passage of bills thro
ugh the Council became a formality. In 1951, the Council was abolished altogethe
r, making the New Zealand legislature unicameral.
Under the Constitution Act, legislative power was also conferred on New Zealand'
s provinces (originally six in number), each of which had its own elected Legisl
ative Council. These provincial legislatures were able to legislate for their pr
ovinces on most subjects. However, New Zealand was never a federal colony or dom
inion like Canada or Australia; Parliament could legislate concurrently with the
provinces on any matter, and in the event of a conflict, the law passed by Parl
iament would prevail. Over a twenty-year period, political power was progressive
ly centralised, and the provinces were abolished altogether in 1876.
Parliament received progressively more control over New Zealand affairs, through
the passage of Imperial laws such as the Colonial Laws Validity Act, constituti
onal amendments, and an increasingly hands-off approach by the British governmen
t. Finally, in 1947, the Statute of Westminster Adoption Act gave Parliament ful
l power over New Zealand law, and the New Zealand Constitution Amendment Act 194
7 (UK) allowed Parliament to regulate its own composition. In 1986 a new Constit
ution Act was passed, restating the few remaining provisions of the 1852 Act, co
nsolidating the legislation establishing Parliament and officially replacing the
name "General Assembly" with "Parliament".
Country quota[edit]
Main article: Country quota
One historical speciality of the New Zealand Parliament was the country quota, w
hich gave greater representation to rural politics. From 1889 on (and even earli
er in more informal forms), districts were weighted according to their urban/rur
al split (with any locality of less than 2,000 people considered rural). Those d
istricts which had large rural proportions received a greater number of nominal
votes than they actually contained voters as an example, in 1927, Waipawa, a dis
trict without any urban population at all, received an additional 4,153 nominal
votes to its actual 14,838 having the maximum factor of 28% extra representation
. The country quota was in effect until it was abolished in 1945 by a mostly urb
an-elected Labour government, which went back to a one man, one vote system.[2]
Sovereignty[edit]
New Zealand
Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
New Zealand
Constitution
Monarchy[show]
Executive (Queen-in-Council)[show]

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The New Zealand Parliament is sovereign with no institution able to over-ride it
s decisions. The ability of Parliament to act is, legally, unimpeded. For exampl
e, the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act is a normal piece of legislation, it is no
t superior law as written constitutions are in some other countries. The only th
ing Parliament is limited in its power are on some "entrenched" issues relating
to elections. These include the length of its term, deciding on who can vote, ho
w they vote (via secret ballot), how the country should be divided into electora
tes, and the make up of the Representation Commission which decides on these ele
ctorates. These issues require either 75% of all MPs to support the bill or a re
ferendum on the issue. (However, the entrenchment of these provisions is not its
elf entrenched. Therefore, Parliament can repeal the entrenchment of these issue
s with a simple majority, then change these issues with a simple majority.)[3]
Houses[edit]
New Zealand House of Representatives[edit]
New Zealand Parliament Buildings
Main article: New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives has been the New Zealand Parliament's s
ole chamber since 1951. It is democratically elected every three years, with eig
hteen select committees to scrutinise legislation.[4]
Upper house[edit]
The New Zealand Parliament does not have an upper house; it is unicameral rather
than bicameral. There was an upper house up to 1950, and there have been occasi
onal suggestions to create a new one.[4]
Legislative Council[edit]
Main article: New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council was the first legislature of New Zealand, established by
the Charter for Erecting the Colony of New Zealand on 16 November 1840,[5] whic
h saw New Zealand established as a Crown colony separate from New South Wales on
1 July 1841.[5] Originally, the Legislative Council consisted of the Governor,
Colonial Secretary and Colonial Treasurer (who consisted the Executive Council)
and three justices of the peace appointed by the Governor.[6] The Legislative Co
uncil had the power to issue Ordinances, statutory instruments.[7]
With the passing of the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, the Legislative Counc
il became the upper house of the General Assembly. The Legislative Council was i
ntended to scrutinise and amend bills passed by the House of Representatives, al
though it could not initiate legislation or amend money bills. Despite occasiona
l proposals for an elected Council, Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) we
re appointed by the Governor, generally on the recommendation of the Prime Minis
ter. At first, MLCs were appointed for life, but a term of seven years was intro
duced in 1891. It was eventually decided that the Council was having no signific
ant impact on New Zealand's legislative process, and the terms of its members ex
pired on 31 December 1950. At the time of its abolition it had fifty-four member
s, including its own Speaker.
Senate proposals[edit]
In September 1950, the National government of Sidney Holland set up a constituti

onal reform committee to consider an alternative second chamber, chaired by Rona


ld Algie. A report produced by the committee in 1952 proposed a nominated Senate
, with 32 members, appointed by leaders of the parties in the House of Represent
atives, in according to their strength in that House, Senators would serve for t
hree-year-terms, and be eligible for reappointment.[8] The Senate would have the
power to revise, initiate or delay legislation, to hear petitions, and to scrut
inise regulations and Orders in Council but this was rejected by the Prime Minis
ter, and the Labour opposition, which had refused to nominate members to the com
mittee.[9]
The National government of Jim Bolger proposed the establishment of an elected S
enate when it came to power in 1990, thereby reinstating a bicameral system, and
a Senate Bill was drafted. Under the Bill, the Senate would have 30 members, el
ected by STV, from six senatorial districts, four in the North Island and two in
the South Island. Like the old Legislative Council, it would not have powers to
amend or delay money bills.[10] The House of Representatives would continue to
be elected by FPP.
The intention was to include a question on a Senate in the second referendum on
electoral reform. Voters would be asked, if they did not want a new voting syste
m, whether or not they wanted a Senate.[11] However, following objections from t
he Labour opposition, which derided it as a red herring,[12] and other supporter
s of MMP,[13] the Senate question was removed by the Select Committee on Elector
al Reform.
In 2010, the New Zealand Policy Unit of the Centre for Independent Studies propo
sed a Senate in the context of the 2011 referendum on MMP. They proposed a propo
rtionally-elected upper house made up 31 seats elected using a proportional list
vote by region, with the House of Representatives elected by FPP and consisting
of 79 seats.[14]
Passage of legislation[edit]
The New Zealand Parliament's model for passing Acts of Parliament is similar (bu
t not identical) to that of other Westminster System governments.
Laws are initially proposed in Parliament as bills. They become Acts after being
approved three times by Parliamentary votes and then receiving Royal Assent fro
m the Governor-General. The majority of bills are promulgated by the government
of the day (that is, the party or parties that have a majority in Parliament). I
t is rare for government bills to be defeated, indeed the first to be defeated i
n the twentieth century was in 1998. It is also possible for individual MPs to p
romote their own bills, called member's bills; these are usually put forward by
opposition parties, or by MPs who wish to deal with a matter that parties do not
take positions on.
House of Representatives[edit]
Further information: New Zealand House of Representatives Passage of legislation
Within the House of Representatives, bills must pass through three readings and
be considered by both a Select Committee and the Committee of the Whole House.
Royal Assent[edit]
Further information: Royal Assent New Zealand
If a Bill passes its third reading, it is passed by the Clerk of the House of Re
presentatives to the Governor-General, who will (assuming constitutional convent
ions are followed) grant Royal Assent as a matter of course. Some constitutional
lawyers, such as Professor Philip Joseph, believe the Governor-General does ret
ain the power to refuse Royal Assent to Bills in exceptional circumstances speci
fically if democracy were to be abolished.[15] Others, such as former law profes
sor and Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Matthew Palmer argue any refusal
of Royal Assent would lead to a constitutional crisis.[16]

Refusal of Royal Assent has never occurred under any circumstances in New Zealan
d. Once Royal Assent has been granted, the Bill then becomes law.
Terms of Parliament[edit]
Parliament is currently in its 51st term.
Term
Elected in
Government
Pre-party era
1st Parliament 1853 election No Parties
2nd Parliament 1855 election
3rd Parliament 1860 election
4th Parliament 1866 election
5th Parliament 1871 election
6th Parliament 1875 election
7th Parliament 1879 election
8th Parliament 1881 election
9th Parliament 1884 election
10th Parliament 1887 election
Liberal Party era
11th Parliament 1890 election Liberal
12th Parliament 1893 election
13th Parliament 1896 election
14th Parliament 1899 election
15th Parliament 1902 election
16th Parliament 1905 election
17th Parliament 1908 election
Multi-party era
18th Parliament 1911 election Reform
19th Parliament 1914 election
20th Parliament 1919 election
21st Parliament 1922 election
22nd Parliament 1925 election
23rd Parliament 1928 election United
24th Parliament 1931 election United-Reform Coalition
25th Parliament 1935 election First Labour
Two-party era
26th Parliament 1938 election First Labour
27th Parliament 1943 election
28th Parliament 1946 election
29th Parliament 1949 election First National
30th Parliament 1951 election
31st Parliament 1954 election
32nd Parliament 1957 election Second Labour
33rd Parliament 1960 election Second National
34th Parliament 1963 election
35th Parliament 1966 election
36th Parliament 1969 election
37th Parliament 1972 election Third Labour
38th Parliament 1975 election Third National
39th Parliament 1978 election
40th Parliament 1981 election
41st Parliament 1984 election Fourth Labour
42nd Parliament 1987 election
43rd Parliament 1990 election Fourth National
44th Parliament 1993 election
Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) era
45th Parliament 1996 election Fourth National (in coalition)
46th Parliament 1999 election Fifth Labour (in coalition)
47th Parliament 2002 election

48th Parliament 2005 election


49th Parliament 2008 election Fifth National (in coalition)
50th Parliament 2011 election
51st Parliament 2014 election
See also[edit]
New Zealand Parliament Buildings
New Zealand general election
Constitution of New Zealand
Independence of New Zealand
Politics of New Zealand
List of legislatures by country
Notes[edit]
Jump up ^ Prisoners and the Right to Vote
Jump up ^ McKinnon, Malcolm (ed.) (1997). New Zealand Historical Atlas. David Ba
teman. p. Plate 90.
Jump up ^ Electoral Act 1993 s268
^ Jump up to: a b Wilson 1985, p. 147.
^ Jump up to: a b Paul Moon (2010). New Zealand Birth Certificates 50 of New Zea
land's Founding Documents. AUT Media. ISBN 9780958299718.
Jump up ^ "Crown colony era the Governor-General". 30 August 2012. Retrieved 13
October 2012.
Jump up ^ "NO. 21. CHARTER FOR ERECTING THE COLONY OF NEW ZEALAND, AND FOR CREAT
ING AND ESTABLISHING A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AND FOR GRA
NTING CERTAIN POWERS AND AUTHORITIES TO THE GOVERNOR FOR THE TIME BEING OF THE S
AID COLONY". Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
Jump up ^ The New Zealand Legislative Council : A Study of the Establishment, Fa
ilure and Abolition of an Upper House, William Keith Jackson, University of Otag
o Press, page 200
Jump up ^ Memoirs: 19121960, Sir John Marshall, Collins, 1984, 15960
Jump up ^ "Senate Bill : Report of Electoral Law Committee". 7 June 1994. Archiv
ed from the original on 24 July 2007.
Jump up ^ New Zealand Legislates for the 1993 Referendum on its Electoral System
Jump up ^ New Zealand Hansard: Tuesday, December 15, 1992 ELECTORAL REFORM BILL
: Introduction
Jump up ^ Submission: Electoral Reform Bill (February 1993)
Jump up ^ Luke Malpass and Oliver Marc Hartwich (24 March 2010). "Superseding MM
P: Real Electoral Reform for New Zealand". Centre for Independent Studies.
Jump up ^ Philip Joseph (2002). Constitutional and Administrative Law in New Zea
land (2nd edition ed.). Brookers. ISBN 978-0-86472-399-4.
Jump up ^ Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Matthew Palmer (2004). Bridled Power: New Zeal
and's Constitution and Government (4th edition ed.). Oxford University Press. IS
BN 0-19-558463-5.
References[edit]
Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [First ed. published 1913]. New Zealand Parliamentar
y Record, 18401984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer. OCLC 15428310
3.
External links[edit]
Parliament of New Zealand
Images from around Parliament Buildings
Parliament Today
Parliament at Radio New Zealand
Digitised reports from selected volumes of the Appendix to the Journals of the H
ouse of Representatives
[show] v t e
New Zealand topics
[show] v t e
Parliaments of Oceania
Categories: Parliament of New ZealandConstitution of New ZealandParliaments by c

ountryUnicameral legislaturesDefunct bicameral legislatures1854 establishments i


n New Zealand
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