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Parliament Bill

Clerk and Office of the Clerk - Clerk - Appointment, functions, duties, powers, and delegations

102: Appointment of Clerk

You could also call this:

"The Governor-General chooses a Clerk for the House of Representatives."

The Governor-General will appoint a Clerk of the House of Representatives. You will see this happen when the Speaker recommends someone for the job. The Speaker must talk to party leaders and other important members before making a recommendation. The Speaker has to consult with the leader of each party in the House of Representatives. They also have to talk to any other members they think should be involved. This is how the Speaker decides who to recommend for the Clerk job. There is one time when this rule does not apply. This is after a general election when everything is changing. At this time, the rule about appointing a Clerk does not have to be followed.

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This page was last updated on 9 November 2025

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS803898.

Topics:

Government and voting > Government departments

101: Outline of this Part, or

"About the Clerk and the Office of the Clerk"

103: Clerk’s functions, duties, and powers, or

"The Clerk's Jobs and Responsibilities"

Part 5Clerk and Office of the Clerk
Clerk: Appointment, functions, duties, powers, and delegations

102Appointment of Clerk

The Governor-General must, on the recommendation of the Speaker, appoint a Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Before making a recommendation, the Speaker must consult—
the leader of each party that is represented in the House of Representatives; and
any other members who the Speaker considers it desirable to consult.

This section does not apply during the period following a general election.