Cabinet of New Zealand

The Cabinet of New Zealand (Māori: Te Rūnanga o te Kāwanatanga o Aotearoa) is a council of senior Ministers of the Crown, responsible to the New Zealand Parliament. Cabinet meetings, chaired by the Prime Minister, occur once a week where vital issues are discussed and government policy formulated. The Cabinet has significant power in the New Zealand political system and nearly all bills proposed by the Cabinet in Parliament are enacted.

All Cabinet ministers also serve as members of the Executive Council. Outside the Cabinet, there is an outer ministry and also a number of non-Cabinet ministers, responsible for a specific policy area and reporting directly to a senior Cabinet minister.

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.^[1]

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 first tenure as Premier (1856–1861). Stafford, a long-time advocate of responsible government in New Zealand, believed the colonial government should have full control over all its affairs, without the intervention of the Governor. Because the Governor chaired the Executive Council, Stafford intentionally met with his ministers without the Governor present.

Members

All ministers have the style of "The Honourable", except for the Prime Minister, who is styled "The Right Honourable".^[2]

Powers

The lack of formal legislation establishing Cabinet leaves the powers of its members only loosely defined. The Cabinet generally directs and controls policy (releasing government policy statements) and is responsible to Parliament. It also has significant influence over lawmaking. Convention regarding the Cabinet's 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). But the Governor-General can dismiss a minister at any time, conventionally on the advice of the Prime Minister, so ministers are largely obliged to work within a 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 ministers who do not exercise their respective powers in a manner compatible with Cabinet's decision risk losing those powers. This has become known as the doctrine of collective responsibility.^[3] Problems arise when the Prime Minister breaches collective responsibility. Since ministerial appointments and dismissals are in practice in the hands of the Prime Minister, the Cabinet can not directly initiate any action against a Prime Minister who openly disagrees with his government's policy. On the other hand, a Prime Minister who tries to act against concerted opposition from his Cabinet risks losing the confidence of his party colleagues. An example is former Prime Minister David Lange, who publicly spoke against a tax reform package which was sponsored by then-Finance Minister Roger Douglas and supported by Cabinet. Lange dismissed Douglas, but when the Cabinet supported Douglas against Lange, Lange himself resigned as Prime Minister.

Meetings

The Ministers of the Fifth Labour Government in 2005, with then Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, 20 October 2005.

The Cabinet typically meets weekly in the Beehive (the executive wing of the Parliament Buildings),^[2] where it discusses important political issues. The Prime Minister usually chairs the meeting and sets the agenda.

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.

Portfolios represented

Currently, significant ministers include:

• Prime Minister
• Deputy Prime Minister
• Minister of Finance

Other ministers (some outside Cabinet) include:

• Minister for ACC
• Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
• Attorney-General
• Minister for Biosecurity
• Minister for Building and Construction
• Minister for Climate Change Issues
• Minister of Corrections
• Minister of Defence
• Minister for Economic Development
• Minister of Education
• Minister of Energy and Resources
• Minister for the Environment
• Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Minister of Forestry
• Minister of Health
• Minister of Housing
• Minister for Infrastructure
• Minister of Justice
• Minister of Māori Affairs
• Minister of Police
• Minister for Primary Industries
• Minister of Railways
• Minister for Sport and Recreation
• Minister of State Owned Enterprises
• Minister of State Services
• Minister of Tourism
• Minister of Transport
• Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations
• Minister of Veterans' Affairs

Members and other ministers

The tables below list New Zealand's cabinet ministers and ministers outside Cabinet as of December 2015.

Party Key		National Party
		United Future NZ
		Māori Party
		ACT

Cabinet Ministers

Portfolio and Responsibilities	Incumbent		Contact Phone Number[4]
Prime Minister Minister for National Security and Intelligence Minister of Tourism Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services		The Rt. Hon. John Key MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Helensville)
Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Finance Minister Responsible for Housing New Zealand Corporation		The Hon. Bill English MP	[phone] (Parliament)
Leader of the House Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister of Defence Minister Responsible for the Earthquake Commission		The Hon. Gerry Brownlee MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Ilam)
Minister for Economic Development Minister for Regulatory Reform Minister of Science and Innovation Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Responsible for Novopay Associate Minister of Finance		The Hon. Steven Joyce MP	[phone] (Parliament)
Minister for Climate Change Issues Minister for Social Housing Minister of State Services Associate Minister of Finance Associate Minister of Tourism		The Hon. Paula Bennett MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Waitakere)
Minister of Health Minister for Sport and Recreation		The Hon. Dr Jonathan Coleman MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Northcote)
Minister of Justice Minister for Courts Minister of Broadcasting Minister for Communications		The Hon. Amy Adams MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Selwyn)
Attorney General Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Minister in Charge of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service Minister Responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau Associate Minister for Māori Development		The Hon. Chris Finlayson QC MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Rongotai)
Minister of Energy and Resources Minister of Transport Deputy Leader of the House Associate Minister for Climate Change Issues Associate Minister of Justice		The Hon. Simon Bridges MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Tauranga)
Minister of Education		The Hon. Hekia Parata MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Mana)
Minister for Social Development		The Hon. Anne Tolley MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Gisborne) [phone] (Whakatane)
Minister for the Environment Minister for Building and Housing		The Hon. Dr Nick Smith MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Nelson)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Associate Minister for Sport and Recreation		The Hon. Murray McCully CNZM MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (East Coast Bays)
Minister of Corrections Minister of Police		The Hon. Judith Collins MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Papakura)
Minister for Primary Industries Minister for Racing		The Hon. Nathan Guy MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Levin) [phone] (Paraparaumu)
Minister for Accident Compensation Corporation Minister of Civil Defence Minister for Youth Associate Minister of Education		The Hon. Nikki Kaye MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Auckland Central)
Minister of Immigration Minister of Revenue Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety		The Hon. Michael Woodhouse MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Dunedin)
Minister of State Owned Enterprises Minister of Trade Associate Minister of Foreign Affairs		The Hon. Todd McClay MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Rotorua) [phone] (Kawerau) [phone] (Te Puke)
Minister for Ethnic Communities Minister of Local Government Minister for Pacific Peoples Associate Minister of Health		The Hon. Peseta Sam Lotu-Liga MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Maungakiekie)
Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister of Conservation Minister for Senior Citizens		The Hon. Maggie Barry ONZM MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (North Shore)

Ministers outside Cabinet

Portfolio and Responsibilities	Incumbent		Contact Phone Number[5]
Minister for Small Business Minister of Statistics Minister of Veterans' Affairs Associate Minister of Immigration Associate Minister of Transport		The Hon. Craig Foss MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Tukituki)
Minister for the Community and Voluntary Sector Minister for Food Safety Associate Minister for Primary Industries Associate Minister for Social Development		The Hon. Jo Goodhew MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Timaru) [phone] (Ashburton)
Minister of Customs Minister for Disability Issues Associate Minister for Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Associate Minister of Conservation		The Hon. Nicky Wagner MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Christchurch Central)
Minister for Land Information Minister for Women Associate Minister of Local Government Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment		The Hon. Louise Upston MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Cambridge) [phone] (South Waikato) [phone] (Taupo)
Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Associate Minister for Accident Compensation Corporation		The Hon. Paul Goldsmith MP	[phone] (Parliament) [phone] (Epsom)

Ministers outside Cabinet from other parties with confidence and supply agreements

Portfolio and Responsibilities	Incumbent		Contact Phone Number[6][7][8]
Minister of Internal Affairs Associate Minister of Conservation Associate Minister of Health		The Hon. Peter Dunne MP	[phone] (Parliament)
Minister for Māori Development Minister for Whanau Ora Associate Minister for Economic Development		The Hon. Te Ururoa Flavell MP	[phone](Parliament) [phone](Whakatane) [phone](Rotorua)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Education Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister for Regulatory Reform		David Seymour MP	[phone](Newmarket) [phone](Epsom)

References

1. "Cabinet Manual". cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz. Cabinet Office of New Zealand. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
2. "Cabinet government". Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
3. "Cabinet Manual: Cabinet". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
4. "National MPs". National.org.nz. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
5. "National MPs". National.org.nz. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
6. "Contact | United Future Parliamentary". Unitedfuture.org.nz. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
7. "Māori Party | Te Ururoa Flavell". Maoriparty.org. 2005-09-17. Retrieved 2015-09-19.
8. "Contact | ACT New Zealand". Act.org.nz. Retrieved 2015-09-19.