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== Government ==
== Government ==
[[File:Municipal Offices Public Library Timaru NZ PD.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Municipal Offices, Public Library, Timaru.]]
[[File:Municipal Offices Public Library Timaru NZ PD.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Municipal Offices, Public Library, Timaru.]]
New Zealand was a parliamentary [[democracy]]. During the [[CCP global pandemic]] it became a left-wing fascist totalitarian state. Under the Royal Titles Act (1953), Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of New Zealand and is represented as head of state by the Governor-General, currently Dame Patsy Reddy.
New Zealand is a parliamentary [[democracy]] based on the Westminster system. Under the Royal Titles Act (1953), Queen Elizabeth II is Queen of New Zealand and is represented as head of state by the Governor-General, currently Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro.
New Zealand is the only country in the world in which all the highest offices in the land have been occupied simultaneously by women: Queen [[Elizabeth II]], Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]], Speaker of the House of Representatives Margaret Wilson and Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias were all in office between March 2005 and August 2006. This has been repeated as of 2018 with Queen [[Elizabeth II]], Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister.
New Zealand is the only country in the world in which all the highest offices in the land have been occupied simultaneously by women: Queen [[Elizabeth II]], Governor-General Dame Silvia Cartwright, Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]], Speaker of the House of Representatives Margaret Wilson and Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias were all in office between March 2005 and August 2006. This has been repeated as of 2018 with Queen [[Elizabeth II]], Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and Jacinda Ardern as Prime Minister.
New Zealand's first woman prime minister was Jenny Shipley, however Helen Clark lays claim to be the first ''elected'' woman prime minister, as Jenny Shipley was appointed to the role by the National Party Caucus to replace the Prime Minister of the time, Jim Bolger, after a coup to remove him as leader was successful.
New Zealand's first woman prime minister was Dame Jenny Shipley, however Helen Clark lays claim to be the first ''elected'' woman prime minister, as Jenny Shipley was appointed to the role by the National Party Caucus to replace the Prime Minister of the time, Jim Bolger, after a coup to remove him as leader was successful.
The New Zealand Parliament<ref>[http://www.govt.nz/ Official government site]</ref> has only one chamber, the House of Representatives, which usually seats 120 Members of Parliament. Parliamentary general elections are held every three years under a form of [[proportional representation]] called Mixed Member Proportional. The 2005 General Election created an 'overhang' of one extra seat, occupied by the Māori Party, due to that party winning more seats in electorates than the number of seats its proportion of the party vote would have given it. The position of Prime Minister usually falls to the leader of the largest party in Parliament, however since 1996 all ruling parties have been ''minority'' parties which bolster their numbers by forming coalitions with minor parties.
The New Zealand Parliament<ref>[http://www.govt.nz/ Official government site]</ref> has only one chamber, the House of Representatives, which usually seats 120 Members of Parliament. Parliamentary general elections are held every three years under a form of [[proportional representation]] called Mixed Member Proportional. The 2005 General Election created an 'overhang' of one extra seat, occupied by the Māori Party, due to that party winning more seats in electorates than the number of seats its proportion of the party vote would have given it. The position of Prime Minister usually falls to the leader of the largest party in Parliament, however since 1996 all ruling parties have been ''minority'' parties which bolster their numbers by forming coalitions with minor parties.
[[Image:Auckland - New Zealand.jpg|thumb|300px|Auckland]]
[[Image:Auckland - New Zealand.jpg|thumb|300px|Auckland]]
There is no written constitution: the Constitution Act 1986 is the principal formal statement of New Zealand's constitutional structure. The rules regulating the running of the country are primarily constitutional conventions which are not codified and subject to evolution. Despite this unconventional approach to governance New Zealand is yet to have any major constitutional crises. The Governor-General has the power to appoint and dismiss Prime Ministers and to dissolve Parliament. The Governor-General also chairs the Executive Council, which is a formal committee consisting of all ministers of the Crown. Members of the Executive Council are required to be Members of Parliament, and most are also in Cabinet. Cabinet is the most senior policy-making body and is led by the Prime Minister, who is also, by convention, the Parliamentary leader of the governing party or coalition.
There is no written constitution: the Constitution Act 1986 is the principal formal statement of New Zealand's constitutional structure. The rules regulating the running of the country are primarily constitutional conventions which are not codified and subject to evolution. Despite this unconventional approach to governance New Zealand is yet to have any major constitutional crises. The Governor-General has the power to appoint and dismiss Prime Ministers and to dissolve Parliament, however that power is only used ceremonially. The Governor-General also chairs the Executive Council, which is a formal committee consisting of all ministers of the Crown. Members of the Executive Council are required to be Members of Parliament, and most are also in Cabinet. Cabinet is the most senior policy-making body and is led by the Prime Minister, who is also, by convention, the Parliamentary leader of the governing party or coalition.
The current Prime Minister is the far-left [[Jacinda Ardern]], leader of the New Zealand Labour Party .
The current Prime Minister is [[Jacinda Ardern]], leader of the New Zealand Labour Party.
Following the 8th of November 2008 election, the National Party had signed confidence and supply agreements with the ACT, the Māori Party and United Future, allowing them to form a government. This entitled some members of the above parties to ministerial positions outside of cabinet. Keys and his party retained power, able to form a minority government following the general election on 20 September 2014; however the General Election of September 2017 saw the Nationals defeated by the New Zealand Labour Party. Jacinda Ardern became leader of the party and subsequently, Prime Minister.
Following the 8th of November 2008 election, the National Party had signed confidence and supply agreements with the ACT, the Māori Party and United Future, allowing them to form a government. This entitled some members of the above parties to ministerial positions outside of cabinet. Keys and his party retained power, able to form a minority government following the general election on 20 September 2014; however the General Election of September 2017 saw the Nationals defeated by the New Zealand Labour Party. Jacinda Ardern had become leader of the Labour party due to two resignations (deputy leader Annette King, and just before the election, leader Andrew Little) and subsequently became Prime Minister.
The highest court in New Zealand is the Supreme Court of New Zealand. This was established in 2004 following the passage of the Supreme Court Act 2003, which also abolished the option to appeal to the Privy Council in London. The current Chief Justice is Dame Sian Elias. New Zealand's judiciary also includes the High Court, which deals with serious criminal offences, civil matters and judicial review. The court system also includes the Court of Appeal, and subordinate courts.
The highest court in New Zealand is the Supreme Court of New Zealand. This was established in 2004 following the passage of the Supreme Court Act 2003, which also abolished the option to appeal to the Privy Council in London. The current Chief Justice is Dame Sian Elias. New Zealand's judiciary also includes the High Court, which deals with serious criminal offences, civil matters and judicial review. The court system also includes the Court of Appeal, and subordinate courts.
[[File:Jacinda Ardern socialist news story.jpg|right|300px|thumb| Jacinda Ardern is the former president of the International Union of Socialist Youth.<ref>http://iusy.org/category/home/iusy-african-capacity-building/?lang=en</ref> Socialism is responsible for the mass extermination of at least 94 million human lives in the past 100 years. Ardern has never offered an apology, renounced, or disassociated herself from the genocidal ideology.<ref>http://iusy.org/category/home/iusy-african-capacity-building/?lang=en</ref>]]
[[File:Jacinda Ardern socialist news story.jpg|right|300px|thumb| Jacinda Ardern is the former president of the International Union of Socialist Youth.<ref>http://iusy.org/category/home/iusy-african-capacity-building/?lang=en</ref> ]]
The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. The defence forces hold commissions and warrants from the Queen, signed on her behalf by her representaddtive the Governor General. However command of the armed forces is by order of Parliament, rather than by the Queen.
The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. The defence forces hold commissions and warrants from the Queen, signed on her behalf by her representaddtive the Governor General. However command of the armed forces is by order of Parliament, rather than by the Queen.
In October 1990, the National Party again formed the government, for the first of three 3-year terms. In 1996, New Zealand inaugurated a mixed-member proportional (MMP) system to elect its parliament. The system was designed to increase representation of smaller parties in parliament and appears to have done so in the MMP elections to date. Since 1996, neither the National nor the Labour Party has had an absolute majority in parliament, and for all but one of those years, the government has been a minority one. The Labour Party won elections in November 1999 and again in July 2002. In 2002 Labour formed a coalition, minority government with the Progressive Coalition, an economically left-wing but socially conservative party holding two seats in parliament. The government relied on support from the centrist United Future Party to pass legislation.
In October 1990, the National Party again formed the government, for the first of three 3-year terms. In 1996, New Zealand inaugurated a mixed-member proportional (MMP) system to elect its parliament. The system was designed to increase representation of smaller parties in parliament and appears to have done so in the MMP elections to date. Since 1996, neither the National nor the Labour Party has had an absolute majority in parliament, and for all but one of those years, the government has been a minority one. The Labour Party won elections in November 1999 and again in July 2002. In 2002 Labour formed a coalition, minority government with the Progressive Coalition, an economically left-wing but socially conservative party holding two seats in parliament. The government relied on support from the centrist United Future Party to pass legislation.
Following a narrow victory in the September 2005 general elections, Labour formed a coalition with the one-seat Progressive Party. The government also entered into limited support agreements with the United Future New Zealand and NZ First Parties, whose leaders were respectively given the Revenue and Foreign Affairs ministerial positions outside of the cabinet. This gave Labour an effective one-seat majority with which to pass legislation in parliament. Labour also secured an assurance from the Green Party that it will abstain from a vote of confidence against the government. The 2005 elections saw the new Māori Party win four out of the seven reserved Māori seats. There are 121 current members of parliament, the additional seat the result of an overhang from 2005 elections. There are currently two independent members of parliament (MPs): a former Labour Party MP and a former United Future New Zealand MP, both of whom left their respective parties in 2007. The general election held in November 2008 resulted in a Minority National government led by John Key. In the election of November 2011 it resulted in the reelection of the minority National government, with confidence and supply agreements with the Māori party, ACT New Zealand and United Future. The elections of 2014 saw National gain a greater majority of the vote than it had in the previous 2 elections - something unheard of before in New Zealand politics. John Keywass now the most popular Prime Minister New Zealand has ever had and his ability to lead a stable, scandal free, government while achieving economic and social success stories are the envy of other governments. He stood down in December 2016 and was replaced by Bill English.
Following a narrow victory in the September 2005 general elections, Labour formed a coalition with the one-seat Progressive Party. The government also entered into limited support agreements with the United Future New Zealand and NZ First Parties, whose leaders were respectively given the Revenue and Foreign Affairs ministerial positions outside of the cabinet. This gave Labour an effective one-seat majority with which to pass legislation in parliament. Labour also secured an assurance from the Green Party that it will abstain from a vote of confidence against the government. The 2005 elections saw the new Māori Party win four out of the seven reserved Māori seats. There are 121 current members of parliament, the additional seat the result of an overhang from 2005 elections. There are currently two independent members of parliament (MPs): a former Labour Party MP and a former United Future New Zealand MP, both of whom left their respective parties in 2007. The general election held in November 2008 resulted in a Minority National government led by John Key. In the election of November 2011 it resulted in the reelection of the minority National government, with confidence and supply agreements with the Māori party, ACT New Zealand and United Future. The elections of 2014 saw National gain a greater majority of the vote than it had in the previous 2 elections - something unheard of before in New Zealand politics. John Key was now the most popular Prime Minister New Zealand has ever had and his ability to lead a stable, scandal free, government while achieving economic and social success stories are the envy of other governments. He stood down in December 2016 and was replaced by Bill English.
===Foreign Policy===
===Foreign Policy===