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EspañolNEW ZEALAND CABINET
The 'New Zealand Cabinet' functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the New Zealand government system. The Prime Minister and Ministers of the Crown serve as members of the Cabinet.
All Cabinet ministers also serve as members of the Executive Council, which "advises" the Governor-General.
No legislative act established the Cabinet. Rather, it exists purely by constitutional convention. This convention carries sufficient weight for many official declarations and regulations to refer to the Cabinet, and a government department exists with responsibility for supporting it (the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet). Although Cabinet lacks any direct legislative framework for its existence, the Cabinet Manual has become the official document which governs its functions, and on which its convention rests.
The structure of Cabinet has as its basis the formal institution known as the Executive Council. Most Ministers hold membership of both bodies, but some Executive Councillors — known as "ministers outside Cabinet" — do not have Cabinet positions. The convention of members of the Executive Council meeting separately from the Governor began during Edward Stafford's tenure as Premier. Stafford was a long-time advocate of responsible government in New Zealand, and believed the colonial government should have full control over all its affairs, without the intervention of the Governor. Because the Executive Council was chaired by the Governor, Stafford intentionally met with his ministers while the Governor was not present.
The lack of formal legislation establishing Cabinet leaves its powers loosely defined. However, convention regarding Cabinet authority has considerable force, and generally proves strong enough to bind its participants. Theoretically, each minister operates independently, having received a ministerial warrant over a certain field from the Crown (represented by the Governor General). However, because the Governor-General can withdraw warrants on the Prime Minister's recommendation, the system can compel ministers to act within certain framework.
Cabinet itself acts as the accepted forum for establishing this framework. Ministers will jointly discuss the policy which the government as a whole will pursue, and any minister who does not exercise their respective powers in a manner compatible with Cabinet's decision risks losing those powers. This has become known as the doctrine of collective responsibility. Problems can arise when the Prime Minister breaches collective responsibility, as occurred in 1988 when David Lange spoke out against a Cabinet decision in favour of Roger Douglas's radical economic reforms. The Cabinet cannot have the Prime Minister removed in the way that it can dismiss ordinary ministers, and Prime-Ministerial power remains secure unless the governing party or coalition itself decides to act.
Significant ministers include:
★ the Prime Minister
★ the Deputy Prime Minister
★ the Minister of Finance
★ the Minister of Foreign Affairs (usually a member of Cabinet)
★ the Attorney-General
Other Ministers (with lists of past ministers) are:
★ the Minister of Defence
★ the Minister of Health
★ the Minister of Justice
★ the Minister of Railways
★ the Minister of Māori Affairs
A Cabinet Committee comprises a subset of the larger Cabinet, consisting of a number of ministers who have responsibility in related areas of policy. Cabinet Committees go into considerably more detail than can be achieved at regular Cabinet meetings, discussing issues which do not need the input of ministers holding unrelated portfolios.
Cabinet Committees will often discuss matters referred to them by Cabinet itself, and then report back the results of their deliberation. This can sometimes become a powerful tool for advancing certain policies, as was demonstrated in the Lange government. Roger Douglas, Minister of Finance, and his allies succeeded in dominating the finance committee, enabling them to determine what it recommended to Cabinet. The official recommendation of the finance committee was much harder for his opponents to fight than his individual claims in Cabinet would be. Douglas was able to pass measures that, had Cabinet deliberated on them itself rather than pass them to Committee, would have been defeated.
Currently eight standing Cabinet Committees exist, of varying importance:
★ Policy Committee
★ Economic Development Committee
★ Social Development Committee
★ Legislation Committee
★ Government Expenditure and Administration Committee
★ Appointments and Honours Committee
★ External Relations and Defence Committee
★ Domestic and External Security Coordination Committee
Other Cabinet Committees may emerge on a temporary basis, with the purpose of investigating an issue of relevance at the time.
The table below lists the nineteen current members of Cabinet. Ministers appear in their official order of seniority along with the portfolios and responsibilities they hold.
'Ministers outside Cabinet'
'Ministers outside Cabinet from other parties with confidence-and-supply agreements'
All Cabinet ministers also serve as members of the Executive Council, which "advises" the Governor-General.
| Contents |
| Legislative basis |
| Powers |
| Cabinet Committees |
| Current members of Cabinet |
Legislative basis
No legislative act established the Cabinet. Rather, it exists purely by constitutional convention. This convention carries sufficient weight for many official declarations and regulations to refer to the Cabinet, and a government department exists with responsibility for supporting it (the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet). Although Cabinet lacks any direct legislative framework for its existence, the Cabinet Manual has become the official document which governs its functions, and on which its convention rests.
The structure of Cabinet has as its basis the formal institution known as the Executive Council. Most Ministers hold membership of both bodies, but some Executive Councillors — known as "ministers outside Cabinet" — do not have Cabinet positions. The convention of members of the Executive Council meeting separately from the Governor began during Edward Stafford's tenure as Premier. Stafford was a long-time advocate of responsible government in New Zealand, and believed the colonial government should have full control over all its affairs, without the intervention of the Governor. Because the Executive Council was chaired by the Governor, Stafford intentionally met with his ministers while the Governor was not present.
Powers
The lack of formal legislation establishing Cabinet leaves its powers loosely defined. However, convention regarding Cabinet authority has considerable force, and generally proves strong enough to bind its participants. Theoretically, each minister operates independently, having received a ministerial warrant over a certain field from the Crown (represented by the Governor General). However, because the Governor-General can withdraw warrants on the Prime Minister's recommendation, the system can compel ministers to act within certain framework.
Cabinet itself acts as the accepted forum for establishing this framework. Ministers will jointly discuss the policy which the government as a whole will pursue, and any minister who does not exercise their respective powers in a manner compatible with Cabinet's decision risks losing those powers. This has become known as the doctrine of collective responsibility. Problems can arise when the Prime Minister breaches collective responsibility, as occurred in 1988 when David Lange spoke out against a Cabinet decision in favour of Roger Douglas's radical economic reforms. The Cabinet cannot have the Prime Minister removed in the way that it can dismiss ordinary ministers, and Prime-Ministerial power remains secure unless the governing party or coalition itself decides to act.
Significant ministers include:
★ the Prime Minister
★ the Deputy Prime Minister
★ the Minister of Finance
★ the Minister of Foreign Affairs (usually a member of Cabinet)
★ the Attorney-General
Other Ministers (with lists of past ministers) are:
★ the Minister of Defence
★ the Minister of Health
★ the Minister of Justice
★ the Minister of Railways
★ the Minister of Māori Affairs
Cabinet Committees
A Cabinet Committee comprises a subset of the larger Cabinet, consisting of a number of ministers who have responsibility in related areas of policy. Cabinet Committees go into considerably more detail than can be achieved at regular Cabinet meetings, discussing issues which do not need the input of ministers holding unrelated portfolios.
Cabinet Committees will often discuss matters referred to them by Cabinet itself, and then report back the results of their deliberation. This can sometimes become a powerful tool for advancing certain policies, as was demonstrated in the Lange government. Roger Douglas, Minister of Finance, and his allies succeeded in dominating the finance committee, enabling them to determine what it recommended to Cabinet. The official recommendation of the finance committee was much harder for his opponents to fight than his individual claims in Cabinet would be. Douglas was able to pass measures that, had Cabinet deliberated on them itself rather than pass them to Committee, would have been defeated.
Currently eight standing Cabinet Committees exist, of varying importance:
★ Policy Committee
★ Economic Development Committee
★ Social Development Committee
★ Legislation Committee
★ Government Expenditure and Administration Committee
★ Appointments and Honours Committee
★ External Relations and Defence Committee
★ Domestic and External Security Coordination Committee
Other Cabinet Committees may emerge on a temporary basis, with the purpose of investigating an issue of relevance at the time.
Current members of Cabinet
The table below lists the nineteen current members of Cabinet. Ministers appear in their official order of seniority along with the portfolios and responsibilities they hold.
| Incumbent | Portfolios and responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Helen Clark | ★ Prime Minister ★ Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage ★ Minister in charge of the NZ Security Intelligence Service ★ Minister responsible for Ministerial Services ★ Minister responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) |
| Michael Cullen | ★ Deputy Prime Minister ★ Minister of Finance ★ Minister for Tertiary Education ★ Attorney General (Includes responsibility for the Serious Fraud Office) |
| Jim Anderton | ★ Minister of Agriculture ★ Minister for Biosecurity ★ Minister of Fisheries ★ Minister of Forestry ★ Minister responsible for the Public Trust ★ Associate Minister of Health ★ Associate Minister for Tertiary Education |
| Steve Maharey | ★ Minister of Broadcasting ★ Minister for Crown Research Institutes ★ Minister of Education ★ Minister of Research, Science and Technology ★ Minister responsible for the Education Review Office ★ Minister for Social Development and Employment |
| Phil Goff | ★ Minister of Defence ★ Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control ★ Minister of Pacific Island Affairs ★ Minister of Trade ★ Minister for Trade Negotiations ★ Associate Minister of Finance |
| Annette King | ★ Minister for Food Safety ★ Minister of Police ★ Minister of State Services ★ Minister of Transport |
| Trevor Mallard | ★ Minister for Economic Development ★ Minister for Industry and Regional Development ★ Minister for the Rugby World Cup ★ Minister for State-Owned Enterprises ★ Minister for Sport and Recreation ★ Associate Minister of Finance |
| Pete Hodgson | ★ Minister of Health |
| Parekura Horomia | ★ Minister of Māori Affairs ★ Associate Minister of Education ★ Associate Minister of Fisheries ★ Associate Minister of Social Development and Employment (Employment) ★ Associate Minister of State Services ★ Associate Minister of Youth Affairs |
| Mark Burton | ★ Minister of Justice ★ Minister of Local Government ★ Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations ★ Minister responsible for the Law Commission |
| Ruth Dyson | ★ Minister for ACC ★ Minister for Disability Issues ★ Minister of Labour ★ Minister for Senior Citizens ★ Associate Minister of Social Development and Employment (including Child, Youth and Family) |
| Chris Carter | ★ Minister of Conservation ★ Minister for Ethnic Affairs ★ Minister of Housing |
| Rick Barker | ★ Minister of Civil Defence ★ Minister for Courts ★ Minister of Internal Affairs ★ Minister of Veterans' Affairs |
| Lianne Dalziel | ★ Minister of Commerce ★ Minister for Small Business ★ Minister of Women's Affairs |
| Damien O'Connor | ★ Minister of Corrections ★ Minister for Rural Affairs ★ Minister of Tourism ★ Associate Minister of Health |
| David Cunliffe | ★ Minister of Communications ★ Minister of Immigration ★ Minister for Information Technology ★ Associate Minister of Economic Development |
| David Parker | ★ Minister of Energy ★ Minister for Land Information ★ Minister responsible for Climate-Change issues ★ Minister for Environment |
| Nanaia Mahuta | ★ Minister of Customs ★ Minister of Youth Affairs ★ Associate Minister for Environment ★ Associate Minister of Local Government |
| Clayton Cosgrove | ★ Minister for Building Issues ★ Minister of Statistics ★ Associate Minister of Finance ★ Associate Minister of Immigration ★ Associate Minister of Justice |
'Ministers outside Cabinet'
| Incumbent | Portfolios and responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Judith Tizard | ★ Minister for Auckland Issues ★ Minister of Consumer Affairs ★ Minister responsible for Archives NZ and the National Library ★ Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage ★ Associate Minister of Commerce ★ Associate Minister of Transport |
| Dover Samuels | ★ Minister of State ★ Associate Minister for Economic Development ★ Associate Minister of Housing ★ Associate Minister for Industry and Regional Development ★ Associate Minister of Tourism |
| Harry Duynhoven | ★ Minister for Transport Safety ★ Associate Minister of Energy |
| Mita Ririnui | ★ Minister of State ★ Associate Minister of Corrections ★ Associate Minister of Forestry ★ Associate Minister of Health ★ Associate Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations |
| Luamanuvao Winnie Laban | ★ Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector ★ Associate Minister for Economic Development ★ Associate Minister of Pacific Island Affairs ★ Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment |
| Mahara Okeroa | ★ Minister of State ★ Associate Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage ★ Associate Minister of Conservation ★ Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment |
'Ministers outside Cabinet from other parties with confidence-and-supply agreements'
| Incumbent | Portfolios and responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Winston Peters | ★ Minister of Foreign Affairs ★ Minister for Racing ★ Associate Minister for Senior Citizens |
| Peter Dunne | ★ Minister of Revenue ★ Associate Minister of Health |
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