Clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives

Last updated

Clerk of the NZ House of Representatives
Incumbent
David Wilson
since 6 July 2015
Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives (Te Tari o te Manahautū o te Whare Māngai)
Reports to Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives
Seat New Zealand Parliament Buildings Wellington
NominatorSpeaker of the House after consultation with Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, et al
Appointer Governor-General of New Zealand
On the recommendation of the Speaker of the House
Term length Seven years
Eligible for reappointment
Constituting instrument Clerk of the House of Representatives Act 1988
Formation1854
First holder James Coates
DeputySuzanne Jones, Deputy Clerk of the House
Website http://www.parliament.nz

The clerk of the New Zealand House of Representatives is an officer of the New Zealand House of Representatives and is the principal officer (chief executive) of the Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives. [1]

Contents

Role

The clerk of the House of Representatives advises the speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives and members of parliament on matters of parliamentary procedure. Other functions of the clerk of the House include: to record the proceedings and decisions of the House, to certify bills ready for royal assent, to issue the Order Paper (order of business) for each sitting day, to administer the oath or affirmation of allegiance for members of Parliament after a general election, and to oversee the provision of secretariat services for the House and its committees. [2]

Clerk David Wilson took office on 6 July 2015 following the retirement of Mary Winifred Harris. [3]

List of Clerks of the New Zealand House of Representatives

NamePortraitTerm of office
1 James Coates [4] 1854
2 Francis Eastwood Campbell [5] Portrait of Francis Eastwood Campbell, second Clerk of the NZ House of Representatives.jpg 1882.jpg 1854–1889
3 George Friend [6] Photograph of George Friend 3rd Clerk of the NZ House of Representatives.jpg 1889–1898
4 Henry Otterson [7] Henry Otterson.jpg 1898–1915
5 Alexander Francis Lowe [8] Alexander Francis Lowe.jpg 1915–1919
6 Edward William Kane [9] Edward William Kane.jpg 1920–1929
7 Thomas Donald Horn Hall [10] TDH Hall 1935 (cropped).jpg 1930–1945
8 Grafton Francis Bothamley [11] 1945–1946
9 Henry Nelson Dollimore [12] 1946–1971
10 Eric Roussell [13] 1971–1976
11 Charles Philip Littlejohn [14] [15] 1976–1985
12 David McGee [16] [17] David McGee 2007 (cropped).jpg 1985–2007
13 Mary Winifred Harris [18] [19] Mary Harris - Clerk of the House (cropped).jpg 2007–2015
14 David Wilson [20] 2015–present

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References

  1. "Clerk of the House of Representatives Act 1988". Archived from the original on 12 October 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  2. People in Parliament: Clerk of the House
  3. David Wilson appointed as Clerk of the House
  4. Votes and Proceedings of the House of Representatives, 1854, Session I-II
  5. Notice of Appointment, NZ Government Gazette, No 17, 2 August 1854, page 85
  6. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, No 64, 14 November 1889, page 1168
  7. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, No 59, 4 August 1898, page 1256
  8. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, No 77, 24 June 1915, page 2124
  9. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, No 61, 24 June 1920, page 2027
  10. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, 27 February 1930, page 681
  11. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, No 46, 5 July 1945, page 875
  12. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, No 65, 19 September 1946, page 1270
  13. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, No 22, 25 March 1971, page 526
  14. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, 4 March 1976, page 455
  15. 'Years at hub of politics ending', The New Zealand Herald, 1 June 1985, page 12
  16. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, No 150, 15 August 1985, page 3506
  17. Notice of resignation, NZ Gazette, 18 October 2007
  18. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, 13 December 2007
  19. Clerk's retirement marked in Parliament
  20. Notice of appointment, NZ Gazette, 8 May 2015