Commission Opening of Parliament 
Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume 
Commission Opening of Parliament 
[Sitting date: 20 December 2011. Volume:677;Page:1. Text is incorporated into the Bound Volume.] 
Tuesday 20 December 2011 
Commission Opening of Parliament 
The Fiftieth Parliament opened at 11.00 a.m. on Tuesday 20 December 2011 in the city of Wellington pursuant to a proclamation dated 14 December 2011 issued by His Excellency the Governor-General. 
Mr David Baguley Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod announced the arrival of Her Majesty’s Commissioners. The Bar was raised and the Commissioners took their places at the head of the Table. 
The Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias Dame Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit Chief Justice of New Zealand the Chief Commissioner said—  
Members of the House of Representatives: 
His Excellency the Governor-General not thinking fit to be present here this day in person has been pleased in relation to the opening of the Fiftieth Parliament of New Zealand to cause Letters Patent to be passed under the Seal of New Zealand constituting us 
The Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias Dame Grand Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit Chief Justice of New Zealand 
The Honourable Mark Andrew O’Regan President of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand and  
The Honourable Helen Diana Winkelmann Chief High Court Judge of New Zealand 
to be Her Majesty’s Commissioners to do all things in Her Majesty’s name necessary to be performed at the opening of this Parliament. This will more fully appear by the Letters Patent themselves which must now be read. 
The Letters Patent were then read by the Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
The Proclamation summoning Parliament was then read by the Chief Commissioner as follows: 
Governor-General 
A PROCLAMATION 
Whereas by Proclamation published on 20 October 2011 the Parliament of New Zealand was summoned to meet on 27 January 2012: 
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 Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae 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 am on 20 December 2011.  
Given under the hand of His Excellency the Governor-General and issued under the Seal of New Zealand on 14 December 2011. 
Prime Minister 
God Save The Queen! 
The Chief Commissioner then said— 
Members of the House of Representatives: 
We have it in command from His Excellency the Governor-General to inform you that on 21 December 2011 at 11:00 am His Excellency the Governor-General will declare to you in person the cause of his summoning this Parliament to meet. 
But since it is necessary that a Speaker of the House of Representatives be first chosen His 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 2:00 pm today 20 December 2011 at Government House at Wellington for His Excellency’s confirmation. 
The Commissioners then withdrew.