Venu Menon
Wellington, September 8,2023
New Zealand’s 53rd Parliament was dissolved on Friday, 8 September 2023, with the public reading of a Proclamation signed by the Governor-General.
The public gathered on the steps of Parliament House in Wellington to witness a team of officials, led by the Sergeant-at-Arms, as they descended the steps of Parliament House, amid a Maori chant.
After the bugles had fallen silent, the New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary to The King, Phillip O’Shea, as the authorised representative of the Governor–General, then read the proclamation dissolving Parliament.
In a resonant, limpid voice under a cloudless blue sky, O’Shea read out the proclamation on behalf of the Governor-General:
“I, The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor –General of New Zealand, under Section 18 of the Constitution Act 1986 dissolve the Parliament of New Zealand.”
This was followed by Clerk of the House of Representatives David Wilson, along with Deputy Clerk Suze Jones and Clerk Assistant James Picker signing the document to certify that the proclamation to dissolve the 53rd Parliament “was read in our presence.”
That concluded the ceremony for the dissolution of Parliament.
O’Shea then noted the first anniversary of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, and the accession of King Charles III, King of New Zealand.
A Maori elder then delivered a haunting incantation, urging:
“Let us put to sleep the challenging times, let us dissolve and rest. Let us put to sleep the 53rd Parliament of New Zealand.”
Since 2014, local Maori iwi have played a role in the ceremony, with karanga (welcome) and waiata (songs) performed by a local kapa haka (dance troupe).
The dissolution of Parliament is a key step in the lead-up to the general election. New Zealand’s Parliament is dissolved every three years, at the end of each Parliamentary term.
The House of Representatives met for the last time as the 53rd Parliament on 31 August 2023.
Parliament must be dissolved before the Governor-General can officially instruct the Electoral Commission to hold a general election.
The next step in the election process is for the Governor-General to issue a writ directing the Chief Electoral Officer to hold a general election of members of the House of Representatives.
The 2023 general election is scheduled to be held on 14 October 2023.
The Governor-General issues a fresh proclamation summoning the new Parliament to meet within weeks of the final election results.
The 54th Parliament with newly elected members will then decide on resuming the business of the previous Parliament, such as bills that were being debated or examined by a select committee.
New Zealand’s Parliament, established in 1854, is one of the longest running in the world.
Venu Menon is an Indian Newslink reporter based in Wellington
