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Constitution Act 1986

The Legislature - Parliament

18: Summoning, proroguing, and dissolution of Parliament

You could also call this:

"The Governor-General's power to start, stop, or delay Parliament meetings"

Illustration for Constitution Act 1986

The Governor-General can call a meeting of Parliament by making a special announcement, which is called a Proclamation. You can think of a Proclamation like an official notice that tells everyone what is happening. The Governor-General decides where and when Parliament meets, even if Parliament was already scheduled to meet on a different date. If the usual meeting place is not safe, the Governor-General can change it by making another Proclamation. The Governor-General has the power to delay or end a meeting of Parliament by making a Proclamation. A Proclamation about Parliament takes effect when it is officially published, which is called being gazetted, or when it is read out loud by someone the Governor-General chooses, in front of certain people, whichever happens first.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM94243.

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Part 3The Legislature
Parliament

18Summoning, proroguing, and dissolution of Parliament

  1. The Governor-General may by Proclamation summon Parliament to meet at such place and time as may be appointed therein, notwithstanding that when the Proclamation is signed or when it takes effect Parliament stands prorogued to a particular date.

  2. The Governor-General may, by Proclamation, change the place of meeting of Parliament set out in the Proclamation summoning Parliament if that place is unsafe or uninhabitable.

  3. The Governor-General may by Proclamation prorogue or dissolve Parliament.

  4. A Proclamation summoning, proroguing, or dissolving Parliament shall be effective—

  5. on being gazetted; or
    1. on being publicly read, by some person authorised to do so by the Governor-General, in the presence of the Clerk of the House of Representatives and 2 other persons,—
        1. whichever occurs first.

      1. Every Proclamation that takes effect pursuant to subsection (3)(b) shall be gazetted as soon as practicable after it is publicly read.

      Notes
      • Section 18(1A): inserted, on , by section 117 of the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002 (2002 No 33).