New Zealand House of Representatives

*For the current New Zealand Parliament, see 19th New Zealand Parliament.*

 Type
 Term limits
 New session started
 Speaker
 Majority Leader
 Minority Leader
 Majority Whip
 Seats
 Political groups
National (93)
**Minority (85)**

 Voting system
 Last election
 Next election
 Redistricting
 House of Representatives Chamber
New Zealand Parliament, Wellington, New Zealand

The **New Zealand House of Representatives** is the lower house of the New Zealand Parliament, the Senate being the upper house. Together they compose the national legislature of the New Zealand.

The composition of the House is established by the New Zealand Constitution. The House is composed of representatives who sit in districts that are drawn based on population as measured by the New Zealand Census, with each district entitled to one representative. All representatives are directly elected. The total number of voting representatives is fixed by law at 178.

The House is charged with the passage of federal legislation, known as bills, after which are sent to the Senate. In addition to this basic power, the House has certain exclusive powers, among them the power to initiate all bills related to revenue; the impeachment of federal officers and the power to appoint

The presiding officer is the speaker of the House, who is elected by the members of the House. The speaker and other floor leaders are chosen by the caucus of the party in the majority, depending on whichever party has more voting member.

## History

Labour won the 2017 election under Mihirangi Whatiri in a coalition government with New Zealand First and the Green Party. After the election, Labour and National agreed to participate in a Constitutional Convention.

The Convention saw the creation of a codified Constitution for New Zealand and the creation of a new electoral system which included a new bicameral parliament, the creation of a Prime Minister who acts as the Head of State and appoints members of the legislature to also be part of the executive.

After the announcement of the new system a referendum was held. Despite active opposition from minority parties and activists the new Constitution was passed on May 26, 2018 in a binding referendum with 83.2% of New Zealanders supporting the change.

In the inaugural elections in late 2018, Labour took control of the House of Representatives and Senate with John Burnside becoming the first majority leader.

## Support Services

#### **New Zealand Parliamentary Library**

The New Zealand Parliamentary Library (Māori: *Te Whare Pukapuka o te Paremata*; formerly the General Assembly Library) is the libraryand information resource of the New Zealand Parliament. The current library building in Wellington was completed in 1899 and is the oldest of the extant buildings in the Parliament complex. It stands to the north of Parliament House (to its right, looking from the front).

#### **Parliamentary Support Staff**

*Main article: Parliamentary Staff*

Congressional Representatives recieve funding for staff to support their work both at Parliament and in their District. The quantity of funding available to members depends on their seniority, committee assignments and whether their party is in the majority or minority.

#### **Parliamentary Offices**

*Main article: Parliamentary Offices*

Congressional Representatives have office space within the Parliamentary precinct, but also recieve funding for offices within their District. Most representatives with will recieve funding for one office, however those with large constituencies that recieve additional staffing also recieve additional office funding. A full list of offices is available.

## Quorum and Voting

The Constitution specifies that a majority of members constitutes a quorum to do business in each house. The rules of each house provide that a quorum is assumed to be present unless a quorum call demonstrates the contrary. Representatives and senators rarely force the presence of a quorum by demanding quorum calls; thus, in most cases, debates continue even if a majority is not present.

Both houses use voice voting to decide most matters; members shout out "aye" or "no," and the presiding officer announces the result. The Constitution, however, requires a recorded vote on the demand of one-fifth of the members present. If the result of the voice vote is unclear, or if the matter is controversial, a recorded vote usually ensues.

In a recorded vote, the House uses an electronic device. The Senate uses roll-call votes; a clerk calls out the names of all the senators, each senator stating "aye" or "no" when his or her name is announced. In the case of a tie, the motion in question fails.

In both the House and Senate, proxy voting is allowed where a recorded vote is required. Absent members may give another member either a role call or blanket proxy vote. A role call proxy vote requires the member to register the vote of the absent member in line with instructions given. The proxy vote is only held for motions or bills listed meaning that on any other matters, the absent member is recorded as did not vote. In contrast, a blanket proxy vote assigns the absent member's vote to a member who can vote on legislation at their discretion. This means that in effect one members carries multiple votes on all matters during the time period specified in the blanket proxy vote.

Member's can assign another member a role call or blanket proxy vote by contacting the clerk of their chamber. In 2036, 46 members of the House wrote to the Speaker to request that the House establish a less bureaucratic system of assigning proxy votes. In the House a Representative cannot carry more than 5 proxy votes on any given motion or bill while in the Senate a Senator can carry no more than 2 proxy votes.

## Sitting Days

The House of Representatives traditionally sits for two weeks each month except for June and December. The period over June when the House does not sit is known as the winter recess whilst the corresponding period in December is known as the summer recess. Previously, January has also been included in the summer recess although in recent years it is more common for the house to sit in the last two weeks of January instead of spending another full month in recess.

#### **Sitting Days in 2037**

16, 26, 27, 28,
29 and 30