Mō tō tātou Pāremata

Ngā mahi i te Pāremata

Find out about our system of government, what Parliament does, how we choose our members of Parliament, and how laws are made. Discover the important jobs people do in Parliament and what special rules, privileges, and powers apply.

Tō tātou pūnaha kāwanatanga

Governor-General reads the speech from the throne at the State Opening of Parliament.

Governor-General reads the speech from the throne at the State Opening of Parliament. Photo: Office of the Clerk.

Our Government is formed from a democratically elected House of Representatives. The Government advises our head of State who is the Queen. By convention, the Queen, the source of all executive legal authority in New Zealand, acts on the advice of the Government in all but the most exceptional circumstances. This system is known as a constitutional monarchy. Tō tātou pūnaha kāwanatanga

Tari o te Rangatira

The Speaker preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms in procession to the debating chamber.

The Speaker preceded by the Serjeant-at-Arms in procession to the debating chamber. Photo: Parliamentary Service Collection.

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. Tari o te Rangatira

Ngā kawenga Pāremata

Members of Parliament in the debating chamber.

Members of Parliament in the debating chamber.

Waihanga ture ai te Pāremata, ā, here ai i te Kāwanatanga ki te tikanga o āna kaupapa here, āna mahi, āna whakapaunga pūtea hoki.

Ko te Ariki Tapairu (ko te Kāwana Tianara tērā, tana māngai i Aotearoa nei) me te Whare o ngā Māngai te Pāremata. He rite tahi te tiketike o ō rāua mahi. Ngā kawenga Pāremata

E pēnei ana ngā ture te waihanga

Bound volumes of bills.

Bound volumes of bills.

Tīmata mai ai ngā ture hōu hei tuhinga, ā, karangahia ai he pire. Ko ngā pire nei he kape o ngā pire hōu kei te marohitia. He huhua ngā momo pire rerekē me ōna wāhanga ōkawa e whakaaroarohia ana e te Pāremata. Ki te puta ngā pire i aua wāhanga katoa kua noho mai hei ture hōu, ā, karangahia ai he Ture Pāremata. E pēnei ana ngā ture te waihanga

Ngā tāngata i te Pāremata

The Speaker, Clerk, Deputy Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms in procession to meet the Governor General.

The Speaker, Clerk, Deputy Clerk and Sergeant-at-Arms in procession to deliver an Address from the House to the Governor General. Photo: Photography by Woolf.

Some people have specific duties in Parliament — the Governor-General, the Speaker, the Prime Minister, ministers and other members with special roles, the Clerk of the House, the Serjeant-at-Arms, and the historical office of Usher of the Black Rod. Their titles and functions are set out here. Ngā tāngata i te Pāremata

Ngā tikanga pāremata

Volumes of Standing orders and Speakers' rulings.

Standing orders and Speakers' rulings. Photo: Parliamentary Service Collection.

Certain rules apply to the House and its committees. These are called Standing Orders and Speakers’ Rulings. The rules ensure that our parliamentary processes allow for fair and reasonable consideration before final decisions are made. Ngā tikanga pāremata

Whakaruru pāremata

Parliamentary privilege ensures that the House of Representatives, as the people's elected House, can go about its business effectively and without outside interference. Whakaruru pāremata

Ngā hononga ki ētahi atu pāremata

The New Zealand Parliament supports and promotes the development of parliamentary democracy overseas, particularly in the Pacific region. It does this though a programme of inward and outward inter-parliamentary visits, membership of international inter-parliamentary organisations, the establishment of Parliamentary Friendship Groups, and hosting and contributing to parliamentary conferences, workshops and study programmes. Ngā hononga ki ētahi atu pāremata

Tikanga Pāremata i Aotearoa

McGee, David, Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, 3rd ed., Dunmore Publishing Limited, Wellington, 2005.

McGee, David, Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, 3rd ed., Dunmore Publishing Limited, Wellington, 2005. Read more about this publication. Tikanga Pāremata i Aotearoa

Puka meka

Fact sheets cover a variety of subjects about our Parliament. Puka meka

Ngā ārahi mō te huarahi

This page provides pdf versions of each of the parliamentary procedural guides listed. Hard copies of those prepared for the general public and public servants are available free of charge from the Office of the Clerk. Ngā ārahi mō te huarahi