New Zealand, Government of. New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. The official head of state is the United Kingdom’s monarch. A governor general, who is recommended by New Zealand’s prime minister, represents the monarch. The governor general’s main function is to arrange for the leader of the political party with the most support in Parliament to form a government. The governor general’s consent is also required before bills can become law, but this requirement is normally a formality. The legislature, prime minister, and Cabinet run the government.
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New Zealand is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, an association of independent countries and other political units that live or have lived under United Kingdom law and government. The New Zealand government also has some responsibility for foreign affairs and defense of the self-governing Cook Islands and the self-governing island of Niue. The government also administers the Pacific Island territory of Tokelau and the Ross Dependency, a part of Antarctica.
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The constitution.
New Zealand has no formal written constitution. The country’s unwritten constitution is a combination of precedent (tradition) and written material closely modeled on the constitutional practices of the United Kingdom. Written parts of New Zealand’s constitution include Magna Carta, a 1215 document that put the king of England under the rule of law, and the Habeas Corpus Act of 1679, which protects people from being imprisoned unjustly. See Habeas corpus; Magna Carta.
The prime minister and Cabinet.
The leader of the political party that wins the most seats in a parliamentary election usually becomes prime minister. A leading party may also form a coalition government with other parties if it does not gain a majority in Parliament.
On the advice of the prime minister, the governor general appoints the Cabinet to run the various government departments. The Cabinet members, called ministers, are members of Parliament. The prime minister and the Cabinet are called the Government. In New Zealand and many other countries, the word government has two meanings. It may refer to the general system of ruling the country, as in the phrase the government of New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. Or it may refer to the administration itself.
The Government proposes most new legislation in Parliament. If Parliament votes in favor of the bill, it becomes law. The Government usually serves a term of three years but may call an earlier election before the current term of office has expired.
The legislature.
New Zealand’s Parliament consists of the monarch, represented by the governor general, and an elected House of Representatives, also called the Parliament. The House usually has 120 members. The size of the House may change slightly depending on the votes cast in a general election. Voters directly elect 72 House members. Several of the directly elected seats are reserved for Māori, a Polynesian people who are New Zealand’s largest minority group, though additional Māori candidates can be elected. The rest of the House is chosen on the basis of proportional representation. Under this method, each political party that receives at least 5 percent of the popular vote gets a number of seats determined by the percentage of the vote it receives. A parliamentary election must be held every three years, but may be held sooner. All citizens and permanent residents 18 years of age or older are eligible to vote in a general election.
Courts.
The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the country’s highest court. It consists of a chief justice and four other judges. The Court of Appeal hears mainly cases that have been appealed from a lower court.
Below the Court of Appeal in New Zealand are the High Court and district courts. The High Court deals with major crimes, important civil claims, and appeals from lower courts. It also reviews administrative actions. District courts serve specific regions. Justices of the peace and community magistrates hear traffic and minor criminal charges. A number of courts also have special functions, such as the Coroners Court, Environment Court, Family Court, Māori Land Court, and Youth Court.
Local government.
New Zealand has a unitary system of government, in which Parliament has the power to create and authorize local governments. The country’s local government structure provides for 11 elected regional councils and 67 territorial authorities. Agencies created by the central government provide community services, such as land-use planning, water supply and waste disposal, recreation, and cultural facilities. Private companies deliver some of these services.
Ombudsman
is an official selected by Parliament to investigate complaints by citizens against government departments and related organizations. If an ombudsman believes a complaint is justified, he or she reports it to the department concerned along with any recommendation for action. See Ombudsman.
Political parties.
The largest political parties are the National Party and the Labour Party. Traditionally, the Labour Party has favored government control and public regulation of industry. The National Party has favored free enterprise, a system that allows people to carry out most economic activities free from government control. Since 1984, both Labour and National governments have adopted similar economic policies.
Armed forces
of New Zealand are called the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF). The NZDF consists of a navy, army, and air force, together with civilian employees. Military service is voluntary.
