Tagged: New Zealand

According to Proexchangerates, the government of New Zealand is a parliamentary democracy and a constitutional monarchy. It is based on the Westminster system with a unicameral parliament called the House of Representatives. The head of state is the British Monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II, who appoints a Governor-General to represent her in New Zealand. The executive branch consists of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, who are appointed by the Governor-General on recommendation from the Prime Minister. The legislative branch is the Parliament which consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Legislative Council. Members are elected for three-year terms by universal suffrage through proportional representation. The House of Representatives makes decisions on legislation while the Legislative Council reviews and passes these bills into law. The judicial branch is headed by Supreme Court which hears appeals from lower courts and its rulings are considered binding across all other courts in New Zealand. It also serves as an advisory body to Parliament when requested to do so. Other court systems include District Courts, High Courts, Court of Appeal and Employment Court among others. New Zealand has several independent commissions such as Electoral Commission which supervises elections at all levels, Human Rights Commission which works towards protecting fundamental human rights etc., These commissions are tasked with ensuring that all citizens are able to exercise their fundamental rights without fear or prejudice while also promoting transparency in government operations through regular audits and reports on their activities. In order to ensure good governance in New Zealand there are several measures taken such as direct elections every three years, right to information act which allows citizens access to public records held by government departments, freedom of speech among others which allow New Zealander’s to speak out against any wrongdoings they may face from government officials or institutions without fear of reprisal or censorship. Furthermore there are initiatives such as national integrity strategy which works towards preventing corruption within public sector organisations etc., All these efforts have helped create a more transparent and accountable government in New Zealand which has resulted in better economic growth over past few years along with improved quality of life for its citizens. New Zealand’s foreign relations are based on the principles of peace, justice, and human rights. The country has a long history of being a good international citizen, having been an active member of the United Nations since its founding in 1945. It is also a member of numerous other international organizations including the Commonwealth of Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). New Zealand has a strong commitment to multilateralism and works closely with like-minded countries to promote global peace, security and economic prosperity. New Zealand’s closest diplomatic relationship is with Australia, with which it shares a long history as part of the British Empire. The two countries have strong economic ties and work together on defense issues as part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). New Zealand also has close relationships with other Pacific Island countries such as Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga through its membership in the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF). The country is an active participant in regional forums including ASEAN+3 (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus China, Japan and South Korea) and APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum). In addition, it plays an important role in international efforts to tackle climate change by working closely with other countries to develop effective policies for mitigating its effects. New Zealand is also involved in various global initiatives such as GAVI (the Global Alliance for Vaccines & Immunization) which aims to reduce vaccine preventable deaths; UN Women which works towards gender equality; and UNICEF which seeks to protect children’s rights around the world. Additionally, it contributes troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions around the globe. In conclusion, New Zealand’s foreign relations reflect its commitment to promoting peace, justice and human rights throughout the world. Its involvement in multilateral forums helps ensure global stability while its contributions to international initiatives such as GAVI or UNICEF help improve lives around the world. Through close relationships with neighboring countries such as Australia or Fiji as well as participation in regional organizations like ASEAN+3 or APEC, New Zealand seeks to build bridges between nations while advancing its own interests at home and abroad. See themotorcyclers for New Zealand defense and foreign policy.