New Zealand

House of Representatives

Political system: Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Oversight tools

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government: Yes

Sources: s 242(1) of the Legislature Act 1908; http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/cabinet/ministers/executive See also: 2008 Cabinet Manual at: http://www.cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/1.18
Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials: Yes

Sources: Standing Orders of the House of Representatives 2011, §193 and 194
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments: No
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments: Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year: 47,811

(2022)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year: 47,811

(2022)

Notes:
Figures include both oral and written questions.

Under the Standing Orders, Ministers must lodge a reply to a written question no more than 6 working days after the question was lodged. A small number of oral questions are not answered each year, this is either because the member asking the question withdrew it, or, in an election year because answers were outstanding when the House dissolved.
Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year: 100.0%

(2022)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries: Yes

Sources: Standing Order 186(2)
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year: 21

(2022)

Notes: In the New Zealand parliamentary context it is common for select committee inquiries to range over a number of years, and sometimes between Parliaments. In answering this question, we have given numbers for any inquiry that was active (i.e. an inquiry that commenced, continued or completed) in the given calendar year.

Head of State and/or Government

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government: Other

Notes: The House is an electoral college which translates the will of the people, as expressed at a general election, into a Government (a “Ministry”) composed of a Prime Minister and Ministers. The member of the House who commands majority support from the other members is asked by the Governor-General to form a Government by taking office as Prime Minister and recommending to the Governor-General the appointment of other members as Ministers of the Crown. There is no legal or political necessity for this action to be ratified or confirmed by the House when it meets, though the justification for the choice of the Government is constantly tested throughout the life of the Parliament.

Sources: Constitution Act 1986
The Head of Government is also the Head of State: No
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State: Other

Notes: The Head of State of New Zealand (Queen Elizabeth II) who is represented by the Governor-General. The Governor-General is appointed by the Sovereign on the Prime Minister's recommendation for a term of five years.

Sources: Letters Patent 1983

Impeachment and confidence motions

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: No

Impeachment procedure

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: Other

Notes:

The Governor-General formally effects a Minister’s departure from office by accepting the Prime Minister’s advice on the Minister’s resignation or dismissal, both from individual portfolios and from the Executive Council.

Prime Ministers have advised the dismissal of Ministers for a range of reasons. Procedurally, all that is required is for the Governor-General to execute an advice sheet that has been signed by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is not legally required to give grounds for dismissing a Minister.

Sources: Cabinet Manual, 2008, 2.18-2.19; Constitution Act 1986.

No confidence processes

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: The whole Government

Sources: Cabinet Manual, 1.12; see also McGee, David, Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, 3rd ed., 2005, pp. 94-97.

Updated at	Number of written questions asked, per year
2023-01	No information available
2022-01	47,811
2021-01	58,112
2020-01	19,733
2019-01	46,658
2018-01	41,253
2017-01	20,563
2016-01	15,680
2015-01	16,180
2014-01	9,999
2013-01	16,115

Updated at	Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
2023-01	No information available
2022-01	47,811
2021-01	58,112
2020-01	17,598

Updated at	Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
2023-01	No information available
2022-01	100.0%
2021-01	100.0%
2020-01	89.2%

Updated at	Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
2023-01	No information available
2022-01	21
2021-01	13
2020-01	10
2019-01	20
2018-01	24
2017-01	11
2016-01	13
2015-01	11
2014-01	No information available
2013-01	14

New Zealand

House of Representatives

Oversight

Oversight tools

Head of State and/or Government

Impeachment and confidence motions

Impeachment procedure

No confidence processes

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for Number of written questions asked, per year

Historical data for Number of written questions answered by the government, per year

Historical data for Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year

Historical data for Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year