This page is about a bill. That means that it's not the law yet, but some people want it to be the law. It could change quickly, and some of the information is just a draft.

Parliament Bill

Parliamentary privilege

9: Outline of this Part

You could also call this:

"What is Parliamentary Privilege and How Does it Work?"

This Part of the bill is about parliamentary privilege. You will learn what parliamentary privilege is and how it works. It is divided into different sections, which are called Subparts. This bill proposes to set out the rules for parliamentary privilege. You can find more information about the purposes and interpretation of this Part in Subpart 1. It explains how to understand the rules. The bill also proposes to explain the purpose and content of parliamentary privilege in Subpart 2. It talks about what parliamentary privilege means and what it covers. You can also find information about the scope of parliamentary privilege in Subpart 3. The bill proposes to describe how parliamentary privilege protects people who communicate proceedings in Parliament in Subpart 4. It also proposes to cover other topics related to parliamentary privilege in Subpart 5. This includes things like contempt of Parliament and exemptions for members and officers of the House.

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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=LMS804096.

Topics:

Government and voting > Government departmentsRights and equality > Anti-discrimination

8: Act binds the Crown, or

"This law applies to the government and its departments."

10: Purposes of this Part, or

Part 2Parliamentary privilege

9Outline of this Part

This Part sets out provisions concerning parliamentary privilege.
Subpart 1 sets out the purposes of this Part, the manner in which it is to be interpreted generally, and specific interpretation provisions.
Subpart 2 contains the provisions relating to the purpose, content, and status of parliamentary privilege.
Subpart 3 contains provisions relating to the scope of the prohibition imposed by Article 9 of the Bill of Rights 1688 on the impeaching or questioning of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament, including specific prohibitions and exceptions.
Subpart 4 describes certain legal protections that apply to the communication of proceedings in Parliament.
Subpart 5 contains a number of miscellaneous provisions relating to parliamentary privilege, including provisions relating to contempt of Parliament, the expulsion of members, taking evidence from witnesses, and the exemption of members (including the Speaker) and officers of the House from an obligation to attend a court or tribunal.