How Parliament works

Office of the Speaker

The Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives is the highest officer elected by the House. The position is third most important in New Zealand, after the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. The Office of the Speaker supports the Speaker in this role.

Role of the Speaker

The Speaker plays an important role both inside and outside the Chamber and must fulfil this role without bias to any political party. The articles in this section provide background information on the position of Speaker. Role of the Speaker

Speeches

50 years of the Ombudsman in New Zealand	02 Oct 12
Legislative Accountability: Getting the balance right -the availability of House time for the Government’s legislative programme	09 Jan 12
Launch of the AtoJsOnline	19 Aug 10
The role of the Speaker: New Zealand Centre for Public Law public lecture	12 May 10
Launch of Simultaneous Interpretation in the House	09 Feb 10
Speech to Commonwealth Parliamentary Association - 18th Australian and Pacific Regional Seminar	03 Nov 09
Foreword to Commonwealth Parliamentary Association 18th Australian and Pacific Regional Seminar, Wellington	02 Nov 09
The New Zealand Parliament, the Parliamentary process and the Role of the Speaker	06 May 09
Speech prepared for delivery at the ANZAC Day Commemoration Service	25 Apr 09
Europe in the Changing World challenges, priorities and research collaboration	26 Sep 08

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Press releases

Myanmar Speaker visits Parliament	27 Mar 13
New Zealand MPs participate in Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly	20 Mar 13
New Zealand Members of Parliament Support Pacific Women in Parliamentary Partnerships Forum	08 Feb 13
New Zealand parliamentarians to undertake bilateral visit and attend regional parliamentary forum	23 Jan 13
New Zealand young people attend the Fifth Commonwealth Youth Parliament in London	03 Dec 12
New Zealand Parliamentarians attend Regional Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference	21 Nov 12
New Zealand Parliament hosts study programme for Pacific parliamentary staff	09 Nov 12
Nicky Wagner MP to attend International Parliamentary Conference on Gender and Politics	02 Nov 12
Paul Goldsmith MP to attend Study Group on Public Accounts Committees	02 Nov 12
Parliamentarians need to “share the vision” with indigenous peoples	26 Oct 12
New Zealand Parliamentarian elected to Middle East Diplomacy Committee	25 Oct 12
New Zealand MPs participate in Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly	19 Oct 12
New Zealand Parliament hosts study programme for Speaker of the Parliament of the Cook Islands	19 Oct 12
Parliamentary delegation to learn about Australian political process	06 Oct 12
New Zealand MPs Travel to Darwin for Australasian Study of Parliament Group Annual Conference	03 Oct 12
Visit by the Australian National Broadband Network Committee	21 Sep 12
New Zealand parliamentarians support women's agenda at Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference	14 Sep 12
NZ MPs join parliamentarians to ensure a relevant Commonwealth for the future	07 Sep 12
Hon Tau Henare to attend Pacific Parliaments Workshop	04 Aug 12
Assistant Speaker to attend regional conference in the Solomon Islands	20 Jul 12

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Events

The Speaker represents the House to international and other important visitors to Parliament. It is usual for delegations from other parliaments and ambassadors to call on the Speaker. This page presents a photographic record of these events. Events

Press gallery

Only press gallery members may report the proceedings in the House and select committees. To become a member of the press gallery, journalists must apply to be accredited to the Chair of the press gallery and then to the Speaker. Read Information for the press | Press gallery

Corporate documents

Corporate documents relating to the Office of the Speaker are available to download here. Corporate documents

New Zealand Parliament

How Parliament works

Office of the Speaker