New Zealand

The three branches

Head of state — The King, represented by the Governor-General

Acts on ministerial advice by convention.

Executive — Cabinet led by the Prime Minister

Drawn from and responsible to the House of Representatives.

Legislative — House of Representatives

Unicameral; 120 members elected by mixed-member proportional representation since 1996, including seven Māori electorates.

Judicial — Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court

Judges appointed by the Governor-General on the Attorney-General's recommendation.

Treaty settlement — Waitangi Tribunal

Inquires into Crown breaches of Treaty principles; recommendations are mostly non-binding.

How legislation is made

A bill has a first reading, select committee scrutiny (usually with public submissions), second reading, committee of the whole House, and third reading, followed by Royal assent. There is no upper house, so the select committee stage carries the weight that a second chamber would elsewhere. The Attorney-General must report to the House under section 7 of the Bill of Rights Act on any bill that appears inconsistent with protected rights, but the House may pass it anyway. Reserved provisions of the Electoral Act 1993 require either 75% of all members or a majority at referendum.

Enforcement institutions

New Zealand Police

Single national force; the Commissioner is statutorily independent in operational matters.

Crown Law Office and Crown Solicitors

Conduct prosecutions on behalf of the Crown under the Solicitor-General's Prosecution Guidelines.

Independent Police Conduct Authority

Investigates complaints against police.

Serious Fraud Office

Investigates and prosecutes complex financial crime.

Office of the Ombudsman

Investigates administrative conduct and enforces the Official Information Act 1982.