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New Zealand Honours

 

The title "The Honourable" and the Privy Council


THE TITLE "THE HONOURABLE"

Her Majesty The Queen has approved the following rules for the use and grant of the title “The Honourable” in New Zealand:

  1. The title “The Honourable” (abbreviated to “The Hon”) may be used by the Governor-General (if he or she does not already enjoy the title or is not a Member of The Most Honourable Privy Council) while in office and may be retained for life.

  2. The title “The Honourable” may used by former Governors-General (who do not already enjoy the title or who are not Members of The Most Honourable Privy Council) from the date of this notice and may be retained for life.

  3. The title “The Honourable” may be used by the following (if not Privy Counsellors) while in office:
    • Prime Minister
    • Members of the Executive Council
    • Speaker of the House of Representatives
    • Chief Justice
    • Judges of the Supreme Court
    • Judges of the Court of Appeal
    • Judges of the High Court

  4. On relinquishing, or retirement from office, the holders of the offices listed above in paragraph three shall be eligible to be recommended for retention of the title for life.

  5. The Governor-General may, under authority delegated by The Queen and on the advice of the Prime Minister or a Minister of the Crown acting for the Prime Minister, approve the retention of the title “The Honourable” for life by the holders of those offices listed in paragraph three.

 

The rules relating to the use and grant of the title “The Honourable” in New Zealand that were approved by Her Majesty The Queen in 1974 are hereby cancelled.

 

THE PRIVY COUNCIL

Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council is the Sovereign’s inner advisory committee on executive matters of state in the United Kingdom.

Appointments to the Council are made by The Queen on the advice of the British Prime Minister. Persons appointed to the Council have usually held high political, ecclesiastical, or judicial office, or achieved eminence in public affairs in the United Kingdom or Commonwealth, or in both. The Judicial Committee of the Council acts as a Court of Appeal in certain proceedings from courts in the United Kingdom , New Zealand, and certain other Commonwealth countries.

See the list of current New Zealand Members of the Council.

In New Zealand, the Prime Minister, senior and long-serving Ministers of the Crown, the Chief Justice and Judges of the Court of Appeal are usually appointed to the Council.

Privy Counsellors may use the title "The Right Honourable" (abbreviated to "The Rt Hon") before their name (members of the British Peerage who are Privy Counsellors may use the letters "PC" after their name).