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Decisions and laws of the country

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Really big decisions are made by parliament

While the New Zealand government makes the day to day decisions, the really big decisions and new laws need to be made by parliament.  There, in the House of Representatives, Members of Parliament from around the country meet to make decisions on many things that affect New Zealanders’ lives.  Their job is to represent the views of all New Zealanders.  Their decisions affect things like how much you pay when you see a doctor, when and where highways get built, where schools are and what they teach, what support you might get if you’re out of work or are seriously ill, and what taxes you pay to cover the cost of the services government provides.

Your representatives: MPs

Representatives are called Members of Parliament (MPs) - each has a ‘seat’ in parliament.  Generally there are 120 MPs. Most MPs belong to a political party which, simply, is an organised group of people who share the same political ideas.

You get to choose who represents you.  Under New Zealand’s voting system you have two votes.  Your party vote helps decide each party’s overall share of seats in parliament, while your electorate vote chooses a representative – an MP – for your area.  Each party’s share of seats is filled first by any electorate MPs elected and then by taking candidates from a list it puts together before the election.

All MPs get to vote on the making of the country’s laws.  But because the government has the most MPs it usually wins the vote for things it proposes.  Often what’s put to parliament has already been shaped by discussion between parties.

The government runs things day-to-day

To be the government, a party has to be able to win important votes in parliament, like getting its budget approved or passing a law to make good on a major promise.  To do this it needs to:

  • have more than half the MPs in parliament by itself, or
  • join forces with other parties to gain more than half the MPs, or
  • if it doesn’t have more than half the MPs, gain agreement from a party that won’t vote for or against it (called an abstention) so the government can still win a vote.

The leader of the government is the prime minister.  The prime minister appoints senior MPs, called cabinet ministers, to oversee policy development, law changes, and the work of government departments (ministries) and agencies in their subject area, called a portfolio.

How a bill becomes law

  • Step 1.  A bill is first introduced to parliament.  This is the formal start to the process.
  • Step 2.  The bill goes through a first reading in parliament, where MPs decide if the bill goes to the next stage.  If they vote against it, the bill goes no further. If they vote for it…
  • Step 3.  The bill goes to a select committee, a group of six to 10 MPs from different political parties who study it and report back to parliament on any needed changes.  There are about 17 of these committees.  Each one looks after a particular subject such as health, transport or education.  This step is where you have a major opportunity to have your say on a bill.  Whether you agree or disagree with a bill, the committee wants to know what you think.  You do this through making a submission – where you write to the committee with your views. 
  • Step 4.  The bill comes back to parliament for a second reading after the select committee reports back with any changes it recommends.  Your views can still make a difference at this step but you’ll need the support of an MP.  MPs can propose changes when they debate the bill in the House after the second reading.
  • Step 5.  The bill goes through a third reading as the final stage of becoming law.  This is the last time MPs vote either for or against the bill. If more MPs vote for it than against it, the bill is said to have ‘passed’.  The bill is then presented to the Governor-General, New Zealand’s head of state, who signs it. Once signed, the bill becomes an act of parliament and part of the laws of this country.

Having your say

Lawmaking in New Zealand is wide open to your input.  You can influence what decision makers think as they look at issues and develop solutions.  You can also comment on draft laws before parliament.

Any MP can put forward proposals for new laws or changes to existing laws, though this is mostly done by the government.  These proposals are called bills.  Bills have to go through a number of steps before parliament decides whether they become law.  You get to have a say in that process.

When select committees are considering bills they call for submissions with public notices in newspapers and on parliament's website.

The government also makes decisions about what kind of services and support it provides through government departments and agencies and how public funds are to be gathered and spent.  The government is answerable to parliament for these decisions and actions.  And ministers are answerable to parliament for the decisions and actions of the departments and agencies in their portfolios.

You can contact your MP or even cabinet ministers at any time you want to express your views on government services and support. 

Government departments and agencies

Government departments and agencies carry out the work of government.  They advise the government on programmes and activities that will achieve the results it wants.  While they don’t make the laws they have a strong say in what the laws will be.  They also have to report to cabinet ministers and to parliament on their activities and progress in seeing laws carried out.

Shaping decisions

Many government departments use advisory panels to help them make decisions about policies, programmes and services.  These panels are groups of people from particular interests such as Mäori, Pacific peoples and other ethnic groups, disabled people, young people and older New Zealanders.  Departments and agencies are interested in hearing from people from these groups.

 

You have a right to question and discuss the activities of government departments and agencies with them.  You can do this by directly contacting the organisation or by contacting the cabinet minister responsible for the organisation.  You’ll find a lot of information about government departments and agencies on their websites, including publications like statements of intent and annual reports, which set out their responsibilities.  Often, they will be looking for public input on an issue through a consultation process, or inviting reaction to a discussion paper.

Under the Official Information Act you can request official information from government ministers and central government agencies.  Unless there is a reason not to tell you, government organisations and ministers must provide the information within 20 working days.  If they can’t, they must explain the reasons for the delay or refusal.  If you’re unhappy with the response you receive to an official information request (or you don’t get a response), you can complain to an ombudsman.

Don’t know which government department or agency to contact?  newzealand.govt.nz lists the different organisations providing government services: newzealand.govt.nz/agencies.  Or your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can help you identify the right department or agency.