New Zealand Parliament

The New Zealand Parliament (Māori: Pāremata Aotearoa) is the unicameral legislature of New Zealand. It includes the monarch, represented by the governor-general, and the New Zealand House of Representatives. Parliament started in 1854 and is one of the oldest legislatures in the world. It used to have two parts but now has just one. The capital of New Zealand, Wellington, has been where Parliament meets since 1865. Parliament has been in its current building, Parliament House, since 1922.

The House of Representatives usually has 120 members of Parliament (MPs). Sometimes there are more because of extra seats. 72 MPs are chosen directly by local groups called electorates. The other MPs are chosen from lists based on their party votes. Māori people have been in Parliament since 1867, and women could vote from 1893. Elections happen every three years, but they can sometimes happen earlier.

Parliament is the most important part of the government. It works closely with the leaders who run the country. The New Zealand Government includes a prime minister and other ministers. These leaders are chosen from the House of Representatives.

The monarch, King Charles III, and the governor-general do not take part in making laws, except to give approval to a bill that has passed the House. This approval is called the royal assent and is needed for a bill to become a law. The governor-general also starts and ends Parliament, which is needed to call a general election.

Terminology

In New Zealand, the word "parliament" can mean a few different things. It most often means the group of leaders called the legislature. This group includes the monarch, who is represented by the governor-general, and the House of Representatives, which is the main focus of this article. Sometimes people use "parliament" to talk only about the House of Representatives. It can also describe each group of leaders elected during a general election. For example, the 1st Parliament met from 24 May 1854 to 15 September 1855, and the current Parliament, beginning on 5 December 2023, is the 54th. Finally, "Parliament" can refer to a place, such as the debating chamber where leaders meet, the entire Parliament House, or the Parliament Buildings where they gather.

History

The New Zealand Parliament uses the Westminster system from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This system started with the "Model Parliament" in 1295. It helped limit the power of the monarchy and led to a constitutional monarchy. The Bill of Rights 1688 set up regular elections and gave parliament control over taxes and money.

New Zealand became a Crown colony in 1840. Settlers wanted more control, so the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 created the first New Zealand Parliament in 1854. It had two parts: the House of Representatives, whose members were elected, and the Legislative Council, whose members were chosen by the governor.

Over time, the Legislative Council was not very active. In 1951, it was removed, leaving only one house in Parliament. Today, the New Zealand Parliament has full control over its own laws and how it is organized.

Composition

The New Zealand Parliament began in 1852 with the governor, a Legislative Council, and the House of Representatives. The Legislative Council was removed in 1950. Today, the Parliament includes the monarch of New Zealand, represented by the governor-general of New Zealand, and the House of Representatives.

The monarch is currently King Charles III. The monarch’s role is to give royal assent to bills passed by the House of Representatives. Members of Parliament must promise loyalty to the monarch before they can start working.

The House of Representatives is the only part of Parliament now. It was set up as a lower house and has been the sole house since 1951. Elections use a mixed system to choose 120 members who serve for three years. These members work to make laws and watch over the government. They also form special groups to focus on specific topics.

The Legislative Council used to be part of Parliament until 1950. It was created in 1840 and later became the upper house. Its job was to check and change bills from the House of Representatives. Members were chosen by the governor, usually following the prime minister’s advice. The Council was eventually removed because it was not affecting law-making much. Since then, Parliament has not had an upper house, though sometimes people suggest creating one. The old Legislative Council Chamber is still used when Parliament opens, following British tradition.

Main article: New Zealand House of Representatives

Main article: New Zealand Legislative Council

Parliamentary sovereignty

The New Zealand Parliament can make laws about any topic. No special rules or higher laws can stop it from making laws. Even important laws, like the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act 1990, cannot limit what the Parliament can do.

Some rules about elections are hard to change. For example, rules about how long a government serves, who can vote, and how votes are counted need most members of Parliament to agree or a vote from the public in a referendum. But these rules can still be changed by a simple vote from members of Parliament if they decide to do so. The House of Representatives can also set its own rules for how it works.

Term of Parliament

Further information: Elections in New Zealand § Timing of elections

In New Zealand, Parliament can last up to three years. The Constitution Act 1986 says the governor-general can end, or dissolve, Parliament. This happens with a special announcement called a royal proclamation. After this, an election is held. When the election ends, the governor-general tells the new MPs to meet for the first time.

At the start of each new Parliament, there is a special event called the Opening of Parliament. During this, the governor-general reads a speech called the Speech from the Throne. This speech explains why Parliament has met and what the government plans to do. Sometimes, the monarch has opened Parliament and given this speech, like when Queen Elizabeth II did it in 1954, 1986, and 1990.

MPs are called to these events by the usher of the Black Rod. This person knocks on the doors of the House of Representatives, which are shut, to show that MPs have the right to keep anyone out, even the monarch.

Passage of legislation

Before a law can be made, it starts as a draft called a bill in Parliament. Most bills come from the government. Sometimes individual members of Parliament can introduce their own bills, called members' bills. All bills need to go through three readings in the House of Representatives before becoming a law, also known as an act of Parliament.

House and committees

Further information: New Zealand House of Representatives § Passage of legislation

Each bill has several steps to become a law. The first step is the first reading, where members discuss the idea of the bill. Then, it goes to a group called a select committee, where people can share their thoughts about the bill. After this, there is a second reading where members talk about the bill again. Next comes the committee of the whole house, where members look at each part of the bill. Finally, in the third reading, members discuss the final version of the bill. If most members vote yes, the bill becomes a law. If they vote no at any step, the bill stops.

Royal assent

If a bill passes its third reading, the clerk of the House of Representatives gives it to the governor-general, who usually approves it right away. Before a bill is introduced, the attorney-general checks it for any big problems.

List of parliaments

Further information: List of parliaments of New Zealand

Parliament is now in its 54th term.