Cabinet Manual

Updates

  • Paragraph 1.57 was amended on 1 February 2012 to reflect a change to the nomination process.

    Minor editorial changes to paragraphs 2.89, 4.3 and 6.1 were made in June 2008.
    The Cabinet Manual 2008 edition was first published in April of that year.

Welcome to the Cabinet Manual 2008. This is an authoritative guide to central government decision making for Ministers, their offices, and those working within government. It is also a primary source of information on New Zealand's constitutional arrangements, as seen through the lens of the executive branch of government. The Cabinet Manual guides Cabinet's procedure, and is endorsed at the first Cabinet meeting of a new government, to provide for the orderly re-commencement of the business of government.

The Cabinet Manual 2008 is also available in PDF format (1.9MB).

The Cabinet Manual is reviewed periodically. Any updates required before the next review (and book publication) will be incorporated into this website version and publicised in the "Updates" box on this page. From time to time the Cabinet Office may also issue Cabinet Office circulars to supplement or update guidance in the Cabinet Manual. These circulars will be publicised in the "Updates" box and available on the Cabinet Office website.

The Cabinet Manual focuses on principles. The CabGuide is an online resource containing detailed information about Cabinet and Cabinet committee processes. If the information you are looking for is not in the Cabinet Manual, please try the CabGuide.

ISBN 978-0-477-10067-0 (paperback)
ISBN 978-0-477-10068-7 (online version)