New Zealand House of Representatives and Related Topics

The General Assembly House in Auckland, 1861

New Zealand Parliament

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Chamber of the House of Representatives, c. 1900–1902

Queen Elizabeth II at the Opening of Parliament in 1963

House of Representatives crest, surmounted by a St Edward's Crown

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip at the Opening of Parliament, 13 November 1986

Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy giving Royal Assent to a bill for the first time. Government House, Wellington, 28 September 2016

The New Zealand Parliament (Pāremata Aotearoa) is the unicameral legislature of New Zealand, consisting of the Queen of New Zealand (Queen-in-Parliament) and the New Zealand House of Representatives.

Prime Minister of New Zealand

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Head of government of New Zealand.

Jacinda Ardern is sworn in as the 40th prime minister by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, 26 October 2017

The prime minister chairs meetings of Cabinet, where government policy is formulated.

Premier House in Wellington is the prime minister's residence.

Henry Sewell, regarded as New Zealand's first premier

Richard Seddon styled himself "Prime Minister" in 1901

The 37th and 38th prime ministers of New Zealand, pictured in 2009: John Key meets his predecessor, Helen Clark.

The convention stipulates that the governor-general must select as prime minister the person most likely to command the support, or confidence, of the House of Representatives.

New Zealand Legislative Council

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The upper house of the General Assembly of New Zealand between 1853 and 1951.

Unlike the elected lower house, the House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was wholly appointed by the governor-general.

Governor-General of New Zealand

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Viceregal representative of the monarch of New Zealand, currently Queen Elizabeth II.

Sir Keith Holyoake, a former prime minister, was a controversial choice as Governor-General.

Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy (right) takes the affirmation after being sworn in by the Chief Justice, Dame Sian Elias, on 28 September 2016

Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae performs a hongi with the Prime Minister at his swearing-in ceremony outside parliament, 31 August 2011

Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy presides over the swearing in of the new Sixth Labour Government on 26 October 2017

Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae reads a speech from the throne at the opening of parliament, 2011

Governor-General Sir Michael Hardie Boys receives US President Bill Clinton at Government House, Wellington, 11 September 1999

Government House, Wellington, the primary residence of the governor-general

The official vehicle of Government House in 2010, a Jaguar XJ8. During official travel it is the only vehicle in the country not required to use standard number plates.

Military personnel holding the governor-general's flag. This flag was first flown on 5 June 2008.

Lord Islington in the traditional ceremonial uniform

Document appointing William Hobson as Lieutenant Governor of New Zealand in 1839

William Hobson, first Governor of New Zealand

Sir George Grey, twice Governor of New Zealand and later Premier

Hercules Robinson, 1st Baron Rosmead Proclamation as Governor (1879)

Dame Catherine Tizard, the first female governor-general, appointed in 1990

Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne with Governor-General of Australia David Hurley and Linda Hurley in 2021

Although the governor-general's powers are in theory extensive, they are in practice very limited; most political power is exercised by the New Zealand Parliament (which is composed of the Governor-General-in-Parliament and the House of Representatives), through the prime minister and Cabinet.

New Zealand Government

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Central government through which political authority is exercised in New Zealand.

The Beehive, Wellington, is the seat of government (the executive branch)

Elizabeth II and her New Zealand Cabinet, photographed during the Queen's 1981 tour of the country

Chart showing the relationship between the executive Government and the Parliament. All ministers are MPs.

The ministers of the Sixth Labour Government, with Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy, 6 November 2020

Based on the principle of responsible government, it operates within the framework that "the Queen reigns, but the government rules, so long as it has the support of the House of Representatives".

The 2014 electoral boundaries showing electorates out of tolerance following the 2018 census and Māori electoral option. Orange electorates were more than 5% above quota and therefore had to drop population. Blue electorates were more than 5% below quota and therefore had to add population.

2020 New Zealand general election

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Held on Saturday 17 October 2020 to determine the composition of the 53rd parliament.

Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy (right) issues the writ for the election before the chief electoral officer, Alicia Wright (left), on 13 September 2020.

Election hoardings lining the Dunedin Northern Motorway, August 2020

Results of the 2020 general election. From left to right: general electorate winners, Māori electorate winners, and numbers of List MPs.

Map of party votes in each electorate. Labour won the most party votes in 71 of the 72 electorates, losing only Epsom.

Party affiliation of winning electorate candidates.

Parliamentary makeup prior to the 2020 election.
Government:
Labour (46)
NZ First (9)
Green (8)
Opposition:
National (55)
ACT (1)
Independent (1)

Voters elected 120 members to the House of Representatives, 72 from single-member electorates and 48 from closed party lists.

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives

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The Speaker, Ronald Algie (wearing a wig and robes), seated in the Chair in the debating chamber, 1966

Speaker Sir Arthur Guinness, wearing the speaker's wig, 1911. The formal wig fell into disuse some decades later.

In New Zealand, the speaker of the House of Representatives, commonly known as the speaker of the House (Te mana whakawā o te Whare), is the presiding officer and highest authority of the New Zealand House of Representatives.

The 1852 Constitution Act established the Provinces of New Zealand.

New Zealand Constitution Act 1852

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The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 (15 & 16 Vict.

The bicameral General Assembly (often referred to as Parliament, but not officially so called until 1986), consisting of the governor, a legislative council and a House of Representatives;