Secretary of the Cabinet (New Zealand)
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=November 2016}}
{{Short description|Senior public servant}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Secretary of the Cabinet
| body = New Zealand
| native_name = {{nativename|mi|Te Hekeretari a te Rūnanga}}
| insignia = 120px
| insigniasize =
| insigniacaption = Coat of arms of New Zealand
| image = Rachel Hayward 2022 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| alt =
| incumbent = Rachel Hayward
| incumbentsince = 2 November 2022
| type =
| status =
| department = Cabinet Office (part of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet)
| reports_to = Governor-General of New Zealand
| residence =
| seat = Wellington
| nominator = Prime Minister
| appointer = Governor-General of New Zealand
| appointer_qualified = on the advice of the Prime Minister
| termlength = At the Governor-General's pleasure
| termlength_qualified =
| constituting_instrument =
| precursor =
| formation = January 1864
| first = William Gisborne
| last =
| abolished =
| succession =
| abbreviation =
| unofficial_names =
| deputy =
| website = {{url|https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual/1-sovereign-governor-4 | Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet}}
}}
{{Politics of New Zealand}}
The secretary of the Cabinet (or Cabinet secretary) is a senior public servant in New Zealand. The Cabinet secretary usually serves concurrently as the clerk of the Executive Council. The secretary is responsible for the impartial recording of Cabinet decisions, and as clerk of the Executive Council they are also a liaison between the Cabinet and the governor-general. The secretary is also responsible to Cabinet as a collective for ensuring the confidentiality of Cabinet proceedings, and the impartial and effective operation of the Cabinet system.{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual/5-cabinet-decision-making-5#5.83 |title=Secretary of the Cabinet and the Cabinet Office |author= |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=4 October 2021 |quote=}} The current Cabinet Secretary and Clerk of the Executive Council is Rachel Hayward.
Responsibilities and powers
The Cabinet secretary is a public servant who heads the Cabinet Office, which while a part of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, it is autonomous. The Cabinet secretary is formally appointed by the Governor-General by warrant under the {{url|https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual/appendix | Letters Patent Act}}, on the advice of the prime minister. The post has two principal roles that are designed to ensure continuity of constitutional government and provide support to administer the operations of the New Zealand Government.{{cite web |url=https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/public-law/publications/occasional-papers/pdfs/the-role-of-the-secretary-of-cabinet.pdf |title=The Role of the Secretary of the Cabinet – The View from the Beehive |publisher=Ko Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=5 October 2021}}
As the clerk of the Executive Council, they act on behalf of the governor-general by providing a channel of communication and liaison between the government and the governor-general, providing advice to the governor-general, and administering the New Zealand royal honours system.{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual/1-sovereign-governor-4 |title=Clerk of the Executive Council |author= |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=4 October 2021 |quote=}}
The Cabinet secretary is the steward of the Cabinet Manual. This document sets out clear descriptions of the key constitutional conventions observed in New Zealand, and describes the underlying structures, principles and values of government. The Cabinet Manual is endorsed at the first Cabinet meeting of a new government, to provide for the orderly re-commencement of the business of government.{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2020-10/Cabinet%20Manual%20speech%20to%20IPANZ.pdf |title=IPANZ Presentation: NZ Cabinet Manual |last=Webster |first=Michael |date=31 August 2017 |website=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=11 October 2021 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual |title=Cabinet Manual |author= |date=3 July 2017 |website=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |publisher=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=11 October 2021 |quote=}}
While similar to its British equivalent, the role has some key differences. For example, authority over the civil service is held by the State Services Commissioner, a separate official. The Cabinet secretary is highly influential in determining the Government decisions on public law and through their constitutional advice to Cabinet.{{cite journal |last1=Mclean |first1=Janet |date=January 2016 |title=The Unwritten Political Constitution and Its Enemies |url=https://academic.oup.com/icon/article/14/1/119/2526777 |journal=The International Journal of Constitutional Law |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=119–136 |doi=10.1093/icon/mow002 |access-date=11 October 2021|doi-access=free }}
History
File:William Gisborne, circa 1895.jpg
After the separation of New Zealand as a distinct Crown Colony from New South Wales New Zealand formed its first responsible government in 1856. By 1863 Cabinet had largely taken over the function of the Colonial Executive Council. This led to the establishment of the secretary to the Cabinet in 1864 with future colonial secretary William Gisborne being appointed.{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=J. O. |author-link= |date=1985 |title=New Zealand Parliamentary Record 1840-1984 |url= |location=Wellington |publisher=V. R. Ward Government Printer |page=53 |isbn=}}
The role required extensive knowledge of the colony and its constitutional underpinnings.{{cite news |author= |date=30 June 1880 |title=Parliament Legislative Council |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTIM18800630.2.17?items_per_page=10&page=28&phrase=2&query=secretary+of+the+cabinet&snippet=true |work=The New Zealand Times |location=Volume XXXV Issue 6006 Page 3 |access-date=6 October 2021}} In 1889 the role of clerk of the Executive Council was also assumed by then Cabinet Secretary Alexander Willis.{{cite news |author= |date=19 July 1890 |title=Parliament House of Representatives |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP18900719.2.42?items_per_page=10&page=26&phrase=2&query=secretary+of+the+cabinet&snippet=true |work=The Evening Post |location=Volume XL Issue 17 Page 4 |access-date=6 October 2021}} This protocol has been largely abided by since, with an only exception occurring at the conclusion of Cecil Jeffery's tenure in 1945 for a period of 24 years{{cite news |author= |date=29 September 1945 |title=Long Service Ends |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19450929.2.87?items_per_page=10&phrase=2&query=%22secretary+to+cabinet%22&snippet=true |work=The Evening Post |location=Volume CXL Issue 78 Page 8 |access-date=}} when Foss Shanahan assumed the role of Cabinet secretary and held the position until 1955.{{cite book |last=Martin |first=John |author-link= |date=2015 |title=The Seven Dwarfs and the Age of the Mandarins: Australian Government Administration in the Post-War Reconstruction Era |url=http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p319381/pdf/ch04.pdf |location= |publisher=ANU Press |page=98 |isbn=978-1925022322}}{{cite news |author= |date=13 June 1955 |title=NZ Mission in Singapore|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19550613.2.88?items_per_page=10&page=5&phrase=2&query=secretary+of+the+cabinet&snippet=true |work=The Press |location=Volume XCI Issue 27683 PAGE 10 |access-date=7 October 2021}} During this time, the role of clerk of the Executive Council was held briefly by William Harvey{{cite web |url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1946/87.pdf |title=The New Zealand Gazette |author= |date=12 December 1946 |website= |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=7 October 2021 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nzlii.org/nz/other/nz_gazette/1947/74.pdf |title=The New Zealand Gazette |author= |date=18 December 1947 |website= |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=7 October 2021 |quote=}} and then Thomas Sherrard. The roles would not be combined again until the departure of Cabinet Secretary Albert Perry in 1969 when the then Clerk of the Executive Council, Peter Brooks, assumed the role of Cabinet Secretary.{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_rHiAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22P+J+brooks%22+cabinet&pg=RA1-PA23 |title=New Zealand News 1972-1974 |author= |date=October 1972 |website= |publisher=New Zealand Embassy Washington DC |access-date=8 October 2021 |quote=}} In 1979 Cabinet Secretary Patrick Millen collated and published the first Cabinet Manual, which centralised the practise and procedures of Cabinet into a single document.{{cite web |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/zoomify/34352/the-cabinet-office-manual |title=Cabinet Manual |author= |date=23 January 1979 |website=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |publisher=Prime Ministers Department |access-date=11 October 2021 |quote=}}
When the Prime Minister's Department was established in 1926 then Cabinet Secretary Frank Thomson initially was appointed as its head.{{cite news |author= |date=19 January 1926 |title=The Changes Discussed A New Government Department |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AS19260119.2.136?items_per_page=10&page=13&phrase=2&query=%22secretary+to+cabinet%22&snippet=true |work=The Auckland Star |location=Volume LVII Issue 15 19 January 1926 Page 14 |access-date=7 October 2021}} Eventually the Head of the Prime Minister's Department would become a separate role, although until the 1960s the roles were interchangeable.
Despite the name, it was not initially a codified practice to have the secretary present at Cabinet meetings, and this was usually at the discretion of the prime minister. During the first 84 years, if the secretary was not present, minutes were rarely taken and the prime minister or another senior minister noted Cabinet's decisions on a Schedule for subsequent recording and distribution by the secretary. Starting in 1946, Foss Shanahan sought to make a number of significant administrative changes to the way Cabinet operated which initially saw him joining Cabinet informally in 1948 and the presence of the secretary was formally adopted in December 1949.{{cite book |last=Martin |first=John |author-link= |date=2015 |title=The Seven Dwarfs and the Age of the Mandarins: Australian Government Administration in the Post-War Reconstruction Era |url=http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p319381/pdf/ch04.pdf |location= |publisher=ANU Press |page=98 |isbn=978-1925022322}}{{cite web |url=https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/public-law/publications/occasional-papers/pdfs/the-role-of-the-secretary-of-cabinet.pdf |title=The Role of the Secretary of the Cabinet – The View from the Beehive |last=Shroff |first=Marie |date=31 July 2001 |website=Victoria University of Wellington |publisher= |access-date= 4 October 2021|quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://teara.govt.nz/mi/state-services-and-the-public-service-commission/page-6 |title=Whārangi 6. Cabinet Office |last=Shroff |first=Marie |date=31 July 2001 |website=Victoria University of Wellington |publisher= |access-date= 4 October 2021|quote=}} The Cabinet secretariat was set up by Shanahan for the purpose of co-ordination, continuity of action, and review, and to enable the smooth functioning of the work of Cabinet. As Cabinet deliberations are often investigatory or preliminary to action in other organs of Government, they are often informal. While ministers may remain anonymous in their advocacy or opposition to issues discussed, the Cabinet secretariat would record the agreed action.{{cite web |url=https://www3.stats.govt.nz/New_Zealand_Official_Yearbooks/1960/NZOYB_%201960.html |title=The Official New Zealand Year-Book, 1960 |author= |date=1 July 1960 |website=Statistics New Zealand |publisher=Statistics New Zealand |access-date=11 October 2021 |quote=}}{{cite web |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/5s11/shanahan-foss/print |title=Shanahan, Foss |last=McGibbon |first=Ian |date=2000 |website=The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |publisher=Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=11 October 2021 |quote=}}
Recent holders of the post have gone on to have successful public service careers. Marie Shroff served in the role from 1987 until 2003{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3525895 |title=Silent witness reflects on Cabinet |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=29 September 2003 |access-date=15 June 2020}} and went on to be the Privacy Commissioner.{{cite web |url=https://www.privacy.org.nz/about-us/introduction |title=About Us |publisher=Office of the Privacy Commissioner |date= |access-date=15 June 2020}} and then chair the New Zealand Electoral Commission.{{cite web |url=https://elections.nz/media-and-news/marie-shroff-new-electoral-commission-chair/ |title=Marie Shroff new Electoral Commission Chair |publisher=Electoral Commission |date=7 August 2019 |access-date=15 June 2020}} Rebecca Kitteridge served in the role from 2008 until 2013{{cite web |url=http://www.nzsis.govt.nz/about-us/directors-biography/ |title=Ms Rebecca Kitteridge, Director New Zealand Security Intelligence Service |publisher=NZSIS |access-date=7 June 2014}} and went on to be the director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.[http://www.adls.org.nz/for-the-profession/news-and-opinion/2015/5/8/the-trailblazing-women-who-guard-our-security/ "The Trailblazing Women Who Guard Our security"], 8 May 2015, ADLSI
List of Cabinet secretaries
{{Cleanup section|reason=use common names instead of full names|date=April 2022}}
File:Prime Minister-elect Keith Holyoake leaves Parliament Buildings.jpg leaves Parliament Buildings followed by the clerk of the executive council, Thomas James Sherrard, on 12 December 1960]]
List of Clerks of the Executive Council Prior to 1862
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://gg.govt.nz/office-governor-general/roles-and-functions-governor-general/constitutional-role/executive-council Executive Council]
- [https://dpmc.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2017-06/cabinet-manual-2017.pdf Cabinet Manual]