New Revised Edition of Parliamentary Practice in NZ

A revised edition of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand has been published this week.

The publisher’s media release is copied below, and here is the news article on Parliament’s website: https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features/fourth-edition-of-parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand-launched-at-parliament/

Clerk of the House of Representatives David Wilson (centre) and former Clerks Mary Harris and David McGee launch the fourth edition of Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand.

Source: Office of the Clerk

 

The guide to how New Zealand’s Parliament works is now updated. http://www.oratia.co.nz/product/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/

Parliamentary Practice in New Zealand, David McGee’s monumental guide to the practice and procedure of the New Zealand House of Representatives, was last revised 12 years ago.

This new, fourth edition brings the work up to date, thanks to extensive revision by a team led by former Clerk of the House of Representatives Mary Harris and current Clerk, David Wilson, 

“I’m delighted to oversee the publication of this new edition, which reflects the knowledge and hard work of a large number of people,” commented Wilson. 

“Capturing changes in how Parliament works is vital because it helps the different people who interact with Parliament, allows us to provide the best advice possible, and points the way to how the institution will innovate and evolve in the future.”

In particular, the new edition reflects changes brought by the Parliamentary Privilege Act 2014, changes in committee conduct, and the use of extended sittings. 

Weighing in at 1.4 kg, the 896-page book features attractive design and enhanced indexing and references — and for the first time comes with a digital counterpart. The ebook version facilitates quick browsing and searching, and offers the ability to incorporate amendments at more regular intervals.

The authors:

David McGee was Clerk of the House of Representatives from 1985 to 2007.  Mary Harris occupied that position from 2007 to 2015, and David Wilson is the current Clerk of the House of Representatives.

The Rule of Law and War

To commemorate a century since the Great War, the Law Library has put up a display, focusing on the extraordinary War Regulations, and the socio-legal impact they had on the people of New Zealand.
The contents of the display includes the empowering Statute, the Regulations, some case law, and many newspaper clippings.

You are welcome to browse through the items on the table, and the shelf adjacent.

You will discover (we hope!):

•  The speed at which Orders in Council were Gazetted, and the tardiness of their repeals. For example the Act to exclude aliens from teaching was only repealed in 1927. 
• The judgment of Stout, C.J. (yes, that Stout) with regard to the illegal exportation of Cheese. Was it ultra vires? 
•  The Norwegian woman’s penalty for her ‘disloyal utterances’, and
• The 'interesting point' of whether a man born in NZ, of German heritage can be admitted to the Bar.

 

An Act to prohibit the Employment of Alien Enemies as Teachers, 1915

Parliamentary practice in New Zealand

David McGee's 2005 text is now available online at the NZ parliament website.
It's free (yes!) and searchable (yes!) but not necessarily updated - read the fine print
in the About this publication section.