New Zealand

House of Representatives

Political system
Parliamentary system
Structure of parliament
Unicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Parliamentary mandate

Start and end of mandate

Start of the parliamentary mandate for newly elected members
Other

Notes: On the day after the day of the return of the writ

Sources: Electoral Act 1993, s54

Start of the parliamentary mandate for appointed members
Not applicable
End of the parliamentary mandate
On the day of new elections

Speaker

Mode of designation of the Speaker
The Speaker is elected from among the members of parliament/chamber
Authority that designates the Speaker when the Speaker is designated from outside parliament.
Not applicable
Rank of the Speaker in the hierarchy of the State
Third
Speaker becomes interim Head of State in the event of the latter’s death or incapacity
No
Speaker's mandate continues between legislatures
Yes

Speaker terms

The term of the Speaker is different from the term of the house
No
Speaker's term
3 Years
Fixed election date for the Speaker, if any
No information available

Immunity and code of conduct

Parliament’s authorization is required for the detention or prosecution of members
No
There is a Code of conduct for members
Yes

Salaries and allowances

Members are paid salaries by parliament
Click for historical data
Basic salary, per year
163,961 NZD
(2023)

Notes: In April 2020, a temporary decrease was applied to the salaries of the Prime Minister, Government Ministers and public service chief executives as a consequence of Covid-19 budgetary restrictions. The nominal 20% pay cut over 6 months was equivalent to a 10% reduction over 12 months: https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-ministers-and-chief-executives-take-pay-cut.

Basic salary, per year in PPP
112,302
(2023)
Basic allowances
Click for historical data
Basic allowance in PPP
12,043
Names of the basic allowances

Expense allowance for out-of-pocket spending

Amounts for leadership posts:

Prime Minister $22,606

Speaker $21,136

Members pay income tax on salaries
Yes
Members pay income tax on allowances
No
Members can have remunerated employment outside parliament
Yes
Members are required to declare income from other employment to parliament
Yes
Salary of the Speaker
No information available
The parliamentary salary is determined in reference to another salary scale
No
Reference scale used for parliamentary salaries
Click for historical data

Notes: The salaries must strike a fair relativity with the levels of remuneration received elsewhere. They must be fair to both MPs and the taxpayers who fund the salaries, and be at an appropriate level to recruit and retain competent people. The Remuneration Authority reviews MPs’ salaries every year.

Information on salaries and allowances on the parliamentary website
Year data was last reported

2020

Facilities, services and allowances for constituency work
Personal staff to work directly for the parliamentarian
Yes
Office at parliament
Yes
Constituency office
Yes
Housing
Yes
Other cash or in-kind allowances for constituency work
Yes

Notes: Members receive separate funding for undertaking activities undertaken in their role and function as members of Parliament. That information is detailed in the Speaker’s Directions, along with how it can be used – see https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/parliamentary-rules/directions-determinations/speaker-s-directions-2020/

Additional salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Additional salaries and allowances provided for leadership positions
Yes

Notes:

Chair of a Select Committee - $179,713 per annum.

Deputy chair - $168,992 per annum.

Additional leadership positions receive additional salaries

Sources: https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/parliamentary-rules/directions-determinations/parliamentary-salaries-and-allowances-determination-no-2-2020

List of salaries and allowances for leadership positions
Salary Allowances
Speaker Yes
Yes
Committee Chair Yes
No

Participation in the government

Members of the government must also be members of parliament
Must be a member of parliament
Number of members of the parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
28
(2021)
Percentage of members of parliament/chamber who are also members of the government
Click for historical data

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No