EventWEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2020COMMISSION OPENING OF PARLIAMENTThe Fifty-third Parliament opened at 11 a.m. on Wednesday 25 November 2020 in the City of Wellington pursuant to a Proclamation dated 6 November 2020 issued by Her Excellency the Governor-General.Sandra McKie Acting Usher of the Black Rod announced the presence of Her Majesty's Commissioners. The Bar was raised and the Commissioners took their places at the head of the Table.CHIEF COMMISSIONER (Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann): E te Whare Pāremata e tū neiE ōna rangatira katoaKia tahuri mai ō koutou taringaMembers of the House of Representatives:Her Excellency the Governor-General not thinking fit to be present here in person has caused Letters Patent to be passed under the Seal of New Zealand appointing me and my fellow Commissioners to open this Parliament of New Zealand. This is more fully set out in the Letters Patent which I ask that the Clerk of the House now read.Letters PatentCLERK: PATSY REDDYElizabeth The Second by the Grace of God Queen of New Zealand and Her Other Realms and Territories Head of the Commonwealth Defender of the Faith:To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting!Whereas by a Proclamation made on the 6th day of November 2020 Our Governor-General of New Zealand The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy GNZM QSO proclaimed that the Parliament of New Zealand should meet in the parliamentary precincts in the City of Wellington at 11.00 am on the 25th day of November 2020:And Whereas Our said Governor-General does not think fit to be present at the opening of the said session:Now know that We trusting in the discretion fidelity and care of Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved CounsellorThe Right Honourable Dame Helen Diana Winkelmann Dame Grand Companion of The New Zealand Order of Meritand Our Trusty and Well-beloved The Honourable Sir William Gillow Gibbes Austen Young Knight Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit andThe Honourable Dame Susan Gwynfa Mary Glazebrook Dame Companion of The New Zealand Order of Meritdo by these presents give and grant unto them or any two of them full power in Our name to open the said Parliament in Our behalf and to do all things necessary to be done in Our name or in the name of Our Governor-General of New Zealand in and about the opening of the said Parliament commanding also all whom it concerns to meet in the said Parliament and that the saidThe Right Honourable Dame Helen Diana WinkelmannThe Honourable Sir William Gillow Gibbes Austen Young andThe Honourable Dame Susan Gwynfa Mary Glazebrookor any two of them diligently attend in the premises at the opening of the said Parliament.In Testimony Whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and issued under the Seal of New Zealand at Wellington on the 6th day of November in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty and in the 69th Year of Our Reign.Witness Our Trusty and Well-beloved The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy Chancellor and Dame Grand Companion of Our New Zealand Order of Merit Principal Companion of Our Service Order Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over the Realm of New Zealand.Jacinda ArdernBy Her Excellency's Command.ProclamationCHIEF COMMISSIONER (Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann): PATSY REDDY Governor-GeneralA PROCLAMATIONWhereas by Proclamation published on 7 September 2020 the Parliament of New Zealand was summoned to meet on 24 December 2020:And whereas I have thought fit to summon it to meet on an earlier day:Now therefore pursuant to section 18 of the Constitution Act 1986 I The Right Honourable Dame Patsy Reddy Governor-General of New Zealand summon the Parliament of New Zealand to meet in the parliamentary precincts in the City of Wellington at 11.00 a.m. on 25 November 2020. Given under the hand of Her Excellency the Governor-General and issued under the Seal of New Zealand on 6 November 2020.JACINDA ARDERN Prime Minister.GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!E ngā rangatira o te Whare e tū nei:Members of the House of Representatives:We have it in command from Her Excellency the Governor-General to inform you that on 26 November 2020 at 10.30 a.m. Her Excellency the Governor-General will declare to you in person the cause of her summoning this Parliament to meet.But since it is necessary that a Speaker of the House of Representatives be first chosen Her Excellency requests that you members of Parliament now proceed to choose one of your members to fill that high and important office and that having chosen that person you present that person at 1.45 p.m. today 25 November 2020 at Government House at Wellington for Her Excellency's confirmation.E te Whare koinei te kupu a Te KāwanaTuruturu ō whiti whakamaua kia tina!Tina!Haumi e hui e!Tāiki e!The Commissioners then withdrew.