New Zealand Order of Precedence

Argentina

Australia

Bangladesh

Barbados

Brazil

Canada

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

China

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Hong Kong

India

Isle of Man

Israel

Italy

Jamaica

Macao

Malaysia

Sabah
Sarawak

Malta

New Zealand

Norway

Pakistan

Poland

Poland-Lithuania (hist.)

Philippines

Romania

Spain

Sri Lanka

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United Kingdom

England and Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland

United States

The Order of precedence in New Zealand was approved by the Queen Elizabeth II on 9 January 1974, and amended to include former Governors-General on 10 September 1981. While the Queen herself is not listed in the order of precedence, as Queen of New Zealand she holds the highest precedence in New Zealand.

  1. The Governor-General or (whilst acting in the place of the Governor-General) the deputy of the Governor-General or the officer administering the Government
    • His Excellency Lieutenant General The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM QSO
  2. The Prime Minister
    • The Right Honourable John Key
  3. The Speaker of the House of Representatives
    • Dr The Right Honourable Lockwood Smith
  4. The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
    • His Excellency Mr Anthony Le Clerk Kgwadu Mongalo of South Africa
  5. The Deputy Prime Minister and Ministers of the Crown (ordered by ministerial rank; list as of 4 July 2012)
    • Hon Bill English (Deputy Prime Minister)
    • Hon Gerry Brownlee
    • Hon Steven Joyce
    • Hon Judith Collins
    • Hon Tony Ryall
    • Hon Hekia Parata, Lady Gardiner
    • Hon Chris Finlayson
    • Hon Paula Bennett
    • Hon David Carter
    • Hon Anne Tolley
    • Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman
    • Hon Tim Groser
    • Hon Phil Heatley
    • Hon Kate Wilkinson
    • Hon Nathan Guy
    • Hon Craig Foss
    • Hon Amy Adams
    • Hon Chris Tremain
    • Hon Maurice Williamson (outside cabinet)
    • Hon Jo Goodhew (outside cabinet)
    • Hon Chester Borrows (outside cabinet)
    • Hon Simon Bridges (outside cabinet)
    • Hon Peter Dunne (outside official coalition)
    • Hon John Banks CNZM QSO (outside cabinet)
    • Hon Dr. Pita Sharples (outside cabinet)
    • Hon Tariana Turia (outside official coalition)
  6. Former Governors-General
    • Dame Catherine Tizard ONZ, GCMG, GCVO, DBE, QSO, DStJ, 1990–1996
    • Sir Michael Hardie Boys GNZM, GCMG, QSO, KStJ, 1996–2001
    • Dame Silvia Cartwright PCNZM, DBE, QSO, DStJ, 2001–2006
    • Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM, QSO, 2006–2011
  7. The Chief Justice
    • The Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias GNZM, PC QC
  8. Ambassadors and High Commissioners in New Zealand for Her Majesty's Governments elsewhere, according to date of presentation of Letters of Credence or of assumption of duty, and Foreign Ministers and Envoys. See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs order of precedence page for a list.
  9. The Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of New Zealand
    • David Shearer MBE MSc (Hons)
  10. Privy Counsellors
    Until 1999 it was traditional for the Prime Minister, senior and long-serving Ministers of the Crown, the Chief Justice and Judges of the Court of Appeal to be appointed to the Privy Council. No appointments have been made since 2000 and in 2010 steps were taken to discontinue such appointments.
    • Rt Hon. Sir Owen Woodhouse ONZ, KBE, DSC, 16 October 1974
    • Rt Hon. Sir Ronald Davison GBE CMG QC, 31 May 1978
    • Rt Hon. Sir Ivor Richardson PCNZM Kt, 31 May 1978
    • Rt Hon. Sir Duncan McMullin, 30 April 1980
    • Rt Hon. Sir Geoffrey Palmer KCMG, AC, SC, 23 January 1985
    • Rt Hon. Bob Tizard CNZM, 23 December 1985
    • Rt Hon. Sir Thomas Eichelbaum GBE QC, 1 November 1989
    • Rt Hon. Jonathan Hunt ONZ, 1 November 1989
    • Rt Hon. Sir Michael Hardie Boys, 1 November 1989 (former Governor-General, see above)
    • Rt Hon. Helen Clark ONZ, 9 February 1990
    • Rt Hon. Mike Moore ONZ, 9 February 1990
    • Rt Hon. Jim Bolger ONZ, 16 April 1991
    • Rt Hon. Sir Don McKinnon ONZ GCVO, 8 April 1992
    • Rt Hon. Sir Bill Birch GNZM, 8 April 1992
    • Rt Hon. Sir Thomas Gault KNZM QC PC, 8 April 1992
    • Rt Hon. Sir Ian Lloyd McKay, 8 April 1992
    • Rt Hon. Sir John Henry KNZM QC, 19 November 1996
    • Rt Hon. Sir Ted Thomas KNZM, 19 November 1996
    • Rt Hon. Dame Jenny Shipley DNZM, 24 June 1998
    • Rt Hon. Winston Peters, 24 June 1998
    • Rt Hon. Sir Doug Graham KNZM, 24 June 1998
    • Rt Hon. Paul East, CNZM QC, 24 June 1998
    • Rt Hon. Sir Kenneth Keith ONZ KBE QC, 24 June 1998
    • Rt Hon. Sir Peter Blanchard KNZM, 24 June 1998
    • Rt Hon. Sir Andrew Tipping, 24 June 1998
    • Rt Hon. Wyatt Creech CNZM, 24 November 1999
    • Rt Hon. Dame Sian Elias, 24 November 1999 (Current Chief Justice, see above)
    • Rt Hon. Simon Upton, 14 December 1999
  11. Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives. There is no established order of precedence over members of parliament in general, although each party has its internal ranking.
  12. Judges of the Supreme Court
  13. President and puisne judges of the Court of Appeal
  14. Chief High Court Judge and other judges of the High Court
  15. "Mayors of cities and boroughs and chairmen of counties while in their own districts." In 1989, boroughs and counties were amalgamated into district councils. District mayors, and the Chatham Islands mayor could expect to be accorded this same precedence.
  16. Charges d'Affaires
  17. Former Prime Ministers (all living former Prime Ministers are members of the Privy Council and thus have higher precedence)
  18. Former Ministers of the Crown in New Zealand
    • The Hon. George Gair CMG QSO (1972), (1975-1984)
    • The Hon. Jim McLay CNZM QSO (1978–1981)
    • The Hon. Aussie Malcolm (1981-1984)
    • Hon. Sir Roger Douglas Kt. 1972-1975, 1984-1990
    • Rt Hon. Helen Clark 1987-2008 (Former Prime Minister and former Privy Counsellor refer above)
    • Hon. Sir Michael Cullen KCNZM 1987-1990, 1999-2008
    • Hon. James Sutton CNZM 1990-2006
    • The Hon. Sir Douglas Kidd KNZM (1991-1993)
    • Hon. Steve Maharey CNZM 1993, 1999-2007
    • The Hon. Warren Cooper QSO (1981-1984), (1990-1996)
    • The Hon. Roger Sowry ONZM (1996-2003)
    • The Hon. Max Bradford (1997-1999)
    • The Hon. John Luxton QSO (1990-2002)
    • The Hon. Tau Henare (1996-1999)
    • Hon. Brian Donnelly QSO 1997-1998
    • Hon. Clem Simich QSO 1998-1999
    • Hon. Georgina te Heuheu QSO 1998-1999, 2008-2011
    • Hon. Mark Gosche 1999-2003
    • Hon. Marian Hobbs 1999-2005
    • Hon. Dover Samuels 1999-2000, 2002-2007
    • Hon. Paul Swain QSO 1999-2005
    • Hon. Judith Tizard 1999-2008
    • Hon. Margaret Wilson DCNZM 1999-2004
    • Hon. George Hawkins 1999-2005
    • Hon. Pete Hodgson 1999-2008
    • Hon. Jim Anderton 1999-2008
    • Hon. Mark Burton 1999-2007
    • Hon. Chris Carter 2002-2008
    • Hon. Richard Barker 2002-2008
    • Hon. John Tamihere 2002-2004.
    • Hon. David Benson-Pope 2004-2007
    • Hon. Harry Duynhoven QSO 2004-2008
    • Hon. Mita Ririnui 2004-2008
    • Hon. Mahara Okeroa 2005-2008
    • Hon. Luamanuvao Winnie Laban 2005-2008
    • Hon. Darren Hughes 2007-2008
    • Hon. Stephanie Steve Chadwick 2007-2008
    • Hon. Rodney Hide 2008-2011
    • Hon. Dr. Wayne Mapp 2008-2011
    • Hon. Simon Power QSO 2008-2011
    • Hon. Richard Worth 2008-2009
    • Hon. Pansy Wong 2008-2010
    • Hon. John Carter QSO 2008-2011
    • Hon. Heather Roy 2008-2010
    • Hon. John Boscawen 2010-2011
    • and others
  19. The Clerk of the Parliament of New Zealand, Controller and Auditor-General and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Investigations (the Chief Ombudsman)
  20. The Chief of Defence Staff, the Chairman of the State Services Commission, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Heads of Civil Departments of State
    • Lieutenant General Rhys Jones (Chief of Defence Force since 24 January 2011)
    • and others
  21. Chiefs of Staff of the Defence Forces
    • Rear Admiral Jack Steer, ONZM (Vice Chief of Defence Force)
    • Rear Admiral Tony Parr, MVO (Chief of Navy)
    • Major General -- (Chief of Army)
    • Air Vice-Marshal Peter Stockwell, AFC, (Chief of Air Force)
  22. Consuls-General & Consuls of countries without diplomatic representation in New Zealand
  23. Heads of religious denominations in New Zealand
  24. Knights of the various orders and Knights Bachelor, according to their precedence in the United Kingdom

Famous quotes containing the words zealand, order and/or precedence:

    “Teasing is universal. Anthropologists have found the same fundamental patterns of teasing among New Zealand aborigine children and inner-city kids on the playgrounds of Philadelphia.”
    —Lawrence Kutner (20th century)

    “I don’t know but a book in a man’s brain is better off than a book bound in calf—at any rate it is safer from criticism. And taking a book off the brain, is akin to the ticklish & dangerous business of taking an old painting off a panel—you have to scrape off the whole brain in order to get at it with due safety—& even then, the painting may not be worth the trouble.”
    —Herman Melville (1819–1891)

    “It is difficult to separate the tapestry
    From the room or loom which takes precedence over it.”
    —John Ashbery (b. 1927)