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updated after last election
|chancellor =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Helen Clark
|pm =John Key
|pm-raw =
|pm-raw =
|area =150,871 sq. miles
|area =150,871 sq. miles
There is no written constitution: the Constitution Act 1986 is the principal formal statement of New Zealand's constitutional structure. 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 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.
The current Prime Minister is [[Helen Clark]], leader of the Labour Party. Since 17 October 2005 Labour has been in formal coalition with Jim Anderton, the Progressive Party's only MP. In addition to the parties in formal coalition, New Zealand First and United Future provide confidence and supply in return for their leaders being ministers outside cabinet. A further arrangement has been made with the Green Party, which has given a commitment not to vote against the government on confidence and supply. Since early in 2007, Labour has also had the proxy vote of Taito Phillip Field, a former Labour MP. These arrangements assure the government of a majority of seven MPs on confidence.
The current Prime Minister is [[John Key]], leader of the National Party. Following the 8th of November 2008 election, the National Party signed confidence and supply agreements with the ACT, the Maori Party and United Future, allowing them to form a government. This entitled some members of the above parties to inisterial positions outside of cabinet.
The Leader of the Opposition, is National Party leader John Key. The ACT party and the Māori Party are both also in opposition. The Greens, New Zealand First and United Future all vote against the government on some legislation.
The Leader of the Opposition, is Labour Party leader Phil Goff. The Green party and the Progressive party are both also in in opposition.
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 and civil matters, and 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 and civil matters, and the Court of Appeal, and subordinate courts.
*Chief of State--Queen Elizabeth II
*Chief of State--Queen Elizabeth II
*Governor General--His Excellency Honourable Anand Satyanand
*Governor General--His Excellency Honourable Anand Satyanand
*Prime Minister--Rt. Hon. Helen Clark
*Prime Minister--Rt. Hon. John Key
*Foreign Minister--Rt. Hon. Winston Peters
*Foreign Minister--Rt. Hon. Murray McCully
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Rosemary Banks
*Ambassador to the United Nations--Rosemary Banks