Politics of New Zealand.ppt

1、Maria, Jane,Politics of New Zealand,Content,From Colony to Nation System of Government The Leagal System,From Colony to Nation,New Zealand as a colony In 1840 Britain made New Zealand initially a dependency of New South Wales, and at the end of that year it became a separate colony. New Zealand beco

2、mes self-governing In 1852 the British Parliament passed the New Zealand Constitution Act which provided for an elected House of Representatives and an appointed Legislative Council. The General Assembly first met in 1854.,A unitary state The 1852 Constitution Act stipulated,some responsibilities an

3、d powers were held by provincial governments. Since1876, New Zealand has had a unitary system of government, with Parliament the single and supreme source of power.,Steps to full independence In 1907, New Zealand was styled a dominion rather than a colony. In 1947 New Zealand adopted the Statute of

4、Westminster,the Parliament had the power to make laws for the country. In 1986 the Constitution Act ended residual British legislative powers, making New Zealand formally responsible for its own system of government. In 2003 the right of appeal from New Zealand courts to the British Privy Council wa

5、s abolished.,The constitution There is no written constitution,the country is governed by the Parliament or by conventions. Political parties Labour Party (50 seats) , National Party (48 seats) ACT New Zealand (2 seats), Green Party (6 seats), Jim Andertons Progressive Party (1 seat), Mori Party (4

6、seats), New Zealand First (7 seats) United Future (3 seats).,The overall background is blue The colors on the New Zealand flag represent the following: White - peace and honesty Red - hardiness, bravery, strength Proposals that will affect the governments financial position, or important financial c

7、ommitments; Matters concerning the machinery of government; Proposals involving new legislation or regulations; Government responses to select committee recommendations;,Matters concerning the portfolio interests of a number of Ministers (particularly where agreement cannot be reached); Controversia

8、l matters; All but the most minor public appointments; International treaties and agreements; The release of public discussion documents, or reports of a substantive nature affecting government policy or government agencies,The Legal System,Separation of powers In New Zealand,the judiciary is separa

9、te from both legeslature and the executive. Judidiary:interprets and enforces the countrys laws Legeslature(Parliament):makes the law Executive:runs the law,The trial group,judges, jury,lawyers.,The law As a former British colony, the New Zealand legal system is heavily based on the English law,but

10、there are also important differences. Before 1840 Before 1840 there was no formal legal system in New Zealand. Mori chiefs held the power to punish people for misdeeds.,The Treaty of Waitangi The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840, at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands.It is an agreement between the British Crown and Maori. The Treaty had three articles: that the Queen (or king) of Great Britain has the right to rule over New Zealand; that Maori chiefs would keep their land and their chieftainships, and would agree to