NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 101 — 17 SEPTEMBER 2015

The Vice Chief of Defence Force, and Chiefs of Navy, Army and Air Force, and other statutory office holders.
Consuls-General and Consuls of countries without diplomatic representation in New Zealand.
Members of New Zealand and British orders, and holders of decorations and medals in accordance with the Order of Wear in New Zealand. (Note 8)

Administration

This Order of Precedence is administered by the Honours Unit, Cabinet Office, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The Order of Precedence in New Zealand dated 9 January 1974 and published in the New Zealand Gazette,
10 January 1974, No. 1, page 5, and amended on 10 September 1981, as published in the New Zealand Gazette,
17 September 1981, No. 108, page 2575, is revoked.

Dated this 15th day of September 2015.

Rt Hon JOHN KEY, Prime Minister.

Explanatory Notes

These Notes form part of the Order of Precedence approved by The Queen.

The "Order of Precedence" indicates the relative precedence of constitutional office holders, public officials and certain others on State, official and other important occasions. It is a guide to be followed as appropriate to the circumstances of the occasion. With the exception of the Sovereign and the Governor-General, the precedence of those listed varies from time to time and from national to local level, depending on the nature of the occasion. Individuals not specifically included in the Order of Precedence may also be accorded precedence ahead of some office holders who are listed, where that is appropriate to the occasion. The relationship between the host and the guests and the requirements of courtesy, hospitality and tikanga may override strict precedence.

The Sovereign

1. The precedence of the Sovereign is absolute.

2. Members of the Royal Family are accorded precedence appropriate to the occasion.

Governor-General

3. In the absence of the Sovereign, the precedence of the Governor-General (or Administrator) is absolute.

Seniority within certain positions in the Order of Precedence

4. Ministers of the Crown/Members of the Executive Council take precedence according to their relative seniority as may be prescribed by the Prime Minister from time to time.

5. Ambassadors and High Commissioners take precedence according to the date of presentation of Letters of Credence or of assumption of duty. The relative precedence of diplomatic representatives in New Zealand may be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Judicial seniority

6. All Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal are Judges of the High Court of New Zealand.
   Apart from the Chief Justice, the seniority of the Judges of the High Court (including Judges of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal) is determined by the seniority of the Court to which they are permanently appointed, and their seniority within that Court.
   A list of Judges in order of seniority by Court is available from the Ministry of Justice.

Public service and non-public service departments

7. Public service departments are those defined in Schedule 1 of the State Sector Act 1988. Non-public service departments are the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, New Zealand Defence Force, New Zealand Police, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service, Parliamentary Counsel Office, and Parliamentary Service.

Holders of Royal Honours and decorations

8. Members of the Order of New Zealand, New Zealand Order of Merit and Queen’s Service Order, and the various British Orders, and holders of New Zealand and British decorations take precedence in accordance with the Order of Wear. The Order of Wear is available from the Honours Unit, Cabinet Office, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

General Notes

Tikanga/kawa. The Order of Precedence does not specifically recognise Māori leaders who are widely recognised within a particular iwi or nationally. However, when these individuals attend an occasion where the Order is applied, they should be accorded appropriate precedence reflecting their seniority and the nature of the occasion.

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