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The governor general officially dissolved Parliament on Sunday, kicking off the process that will lead to elections on October 17.
The 52nd Parliament is now considered “dissolved” and will not meet again. A new Parliament will meet after the general elections.
However, the Government, which is essentially a creature of the 52nd Parliament, remains in full power until the election.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary Phillip O’Shea signs the proclamation document.
Parliament was due to be dissolved in August, but this was delayed after Auckland’s Covid-19 community group emerged the day before dissolution.
Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy was not present at the dissolution, which was held indoors due to inclement weather, in the former upper house of Parliament.
The procedure was socially distanced.
The Extraordinary Herald of Arms of New Zealand, Phillip O’Shea, read Reddy’s proclamation dissolving Parliament, a power that he has as representative of the Queen according to a procedure established in the Constitution Act of 1986. He then signed it.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
The socially estranged ceremony took place in the former Upper House of Parliament. From left to right are Deputy Secretary Suze Jones, Secretary David Wilson, New Zealand Herald of Arms Extraordinary Phillip O’Shea and Parliament’s Tumu Whakarae, Kura Moeahu.
While the proclamation is made by the sovereign, it is installed in parliamentary garb: O’Shea was ushered into the building by Sergeant-at-Arms of Parliament Steve Streefkerk, a role dating back to the medieval English House of Commons.
The document was witnessed by Secretary of Parliament David Wilson, Deputy Secretary Suze Jones, and Senior Secretary (Procedure) David Bagnall.
This was the first time in 124 years that the dissolution took place over a weekend, and the first time it took place on a Sunday, as far as the Parliamentary Library could tell.
THE ROAD TO ELECTION DAY
After dissolution, the governor general must issue the “commandment,” a formal order that elections be held, within seven days.
It is scheduled to take place next Sunday, September 13.
The parties and candidates then have five days for their nominations to be included on the ballot in the Electoral Commission.
Voting abroad will begin on September 30, while early voting will begin on October 3.
ROBERT KITCHEN / Things
This was the first time that the event took place on a Sunday, as far as the Parliamentary Library could tell.
Dissolution takes the role of delaying the election out of the hands of the Government, if it so wished.
However, the election director, Alicia Wright, may delay the election for short periods if she believes that holding it would not be safe, for the entire nation or defined areas.
Wright has the power to unilaterally delay elections for three days and up to a week in consultation with the prime minister and leader of the opposition.
If Election Day is delayed in a part of the country, the results will not be released until that part of the country has voted.
Most of the parties have started their campaigns in some form, with leaders visiting different parts of the country.
However, neither Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern nor National Opposition Leader Judith Collins have public events scheduled for Sunday.
The first leaders debate will be held on September 22 on TVNZ. Newshub will host a debate on September 30 and Things / The Press it will host a debate on October 6.
The final debate will be held by TVNZ on October 15, two days before Election Day.
