EventTUESDAY 5 DECEMBER 2023COMMISSION OPENING OF PARLIAMENTThe Fifty-fourth Parliament opened at 11 a.m. on Tuesday 5 December 2023 in the City of Wellington pursuant to a Proclamation dated 27 November 2023 issued by Her Excellency the Governor-General.The Usher of the Black Rod announced the presence of His 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: CINDY KIRO Charles The Third by the Grace of God King of New Zealand and His 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 27th day of November 2023 Our Governor-General of New Zealand The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro 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 5th day of December 2023: 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 Counsellor The Right Honourable Dame Helen Diana Winkelmann Dame Grand Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit and Our Trusty and Well-beloved The Honourable Mark Leslie Smith Cooper and The Honourable Susan Elizabeth Thomas do 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 said The Right Honourable Dame Helen Diana Winkelmann The Honourable Mark Leslie Smith Cooper and The Honourable Susan Elizabeth Thomas or 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 27th day of November in the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty Three and in the 2nd Year of Our Reign. Witness Our Trusty and Well-beloved The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro 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. Christopher Luxon By Her Excellency's Command. The Proclamation summoning Parliament was then read by the Chief Commissioner as follows: ProclamationCHIEF COMMISSIONER (Rt Hon Dame Helen Winkelmann): DAME CINDY KIRO Governor-GeneralA PROCLAMATIONWhereas by Proclamation published on 8 September 2023 the Parliament of New Zealand was summoned to meet on 21 December 2023: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 Cindy Kiro 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 5 December 2023. Given under the hand of Her Excellency the Governor-General and issued under the Seal of New Zealand on 27 November 2023.CHRISTOPHER LUXON Prime Minister.GOD SAVE THE KING!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 6 December 2023 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 5 December 2023 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.