Constitution Act 1986

The Sovereign

3B: Exercise of powers and duties by Administrator

You could also call this:

"Administrator takes over Governor-General's job when needed"

The Administrator of the Government can do a job or make a decision that the Governor-General is supposed to do if the Governor-General's job is empty or if they are unable to do it. You can think of the Administrator as a backup person who helps when the Governor-General is not available. When the Administrator does something the Governor-General is supposed to do, it means they have the authority to do it, and that's the end of the matter.

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This page was last updated on 18 July 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM94214.

Topics:

Government and voting > Government departments

3A: Advice and consent of Executive Council, or

"The Governor-General can make decisions with help from a group of advisors, even if they're not there."

4: Regency, or

"What happens when someone else does the Queen or King's job in New Zealand"

Part 1The Sovereign

3BExercise of powers and duties by Administrator

The Administrator of the Government may perform a function or duty imposed on the Governor-General, or exercise a power conferred on the Governor-General, if—
the office of Governor-General is vacant; or
the Governor-General is unable to perform the function or duty or exercise the power.

The performance or exercise by the Administrator of the Government of a function or duty imposed, or a power conferred, on the Governor-General is conclusive evidence of the authority of the Administrator to perform the function or duty or exercise the power.

Notes

Section 3B: inserted, on 1 November 1999, by section 2 of the Constitution Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 86).