Below is a brief outline of the key dates that have been announced by Government regarding the constitutional review since 16 November 2008.
2014
Cabinet has six months to respond to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Māori Affair’s final report on the Consideration of Constitutional Issues (the Ministers’ final report). Learn more here.
End of 2013 - Scheduled
The Ministers’ final report is submitted to the Cabinet Domestic Policy Committee (DOM). Learn more here.
September 2013 - Scheduled
The Constitutional Advisory Panel (CAP) complete their review. The CAP’s final report identifies broad areas of public consensus and recommends where further work is nedeeded. Their report is submitted to the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Māori Affairs, who consult with the cross-party reference group of Members of Parliament on its recommendations. Learn more here.
1 July 2013
Public submissions to the Constitutional Advisory Panel close.
February 2013
The Constitutional Advisory Panel launches the Constitution Conversation website. It provides a platform for engagement with the Constitutional Review until 1 July 2013.
15 June 2012
The CAP releases its engagement strategy for the Consideration of Constitutional Issues. The engagement plan is in five stages: Whakaoho i te tāngata, Preparing the Ground; Whakamārama, Understanding; Wānanga, Thinking Together; Wānanga, Deliberation; Whakapūrongo, Reporting. Learn more here.
December 2011
The CAP proposes strategies for implementing the initial stages of the Consideration of Constitutional Issues and for managing interaction with other government projects. Learn more here.
11 December 2011
Relationship Accord and Confidence and Supply Agreement between the National Party and the Māori Party agrees to continue to progress the review of constitutional arrangements. Learn more here.
4 August 2011
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Minister of Māori Affairs Pita Sharples announce the 12 appointees to the CAP. As at June 2012, the panel is co-chaired by Emeritus Professor John Burrows and Sir Tipene O’Regan. The other members are: Peter Chin; Deborah Coddington; Sir Michael Cullen; Hon. John Luxton; Bernice Mene; Dr Leonie Pihama; Hinurewa Poutu; Professor Linda Smith; Peter Tennent, and Emeritus Professor Ranginui Walker. Learn more here.
18 April 2011
Cabinet releases a second paper on the constitutional review and updates the terms of reference for the CAP.
8 December 2010
Deputy Prime Minister Bill English and Minister of Māori Affairs Pita Sharples announce they will jointly lead a Consideration of Constitutional Issues. This announcement includes the terms of reference for the review. Learn more here.
6 December 2010
Cabinet meets and decides to establish a ‘Consideration of Constitutional Issues’, as agreed in the 2008 Confidence and Supply Agreement. It is decided that the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Māori Affairs will:
(1) jointly lead the development of a programme to inform and engage with New Zealanders on constitutional issues, and consider matters arising from that engagement and will be supported by a CAP;
(2) consult with a cross-party reference group of Members of Parliament from all parties across the House, on major findings and reports, before reports are made to Cabinet;
(3) report to the DOM at six monthly intervals and submit a final Ministers’ report by the end of 2013 summarising the views of New Zealanders on constitutional issues.
16 November 2008
The National and Māori parties sign a Confidence and Supply Agreement, in which the two parties agree to the establishment (including its composition and terms of reference) of a group to consider constitutional issues, including Māori representation, by no later than early 2010. Learn more here.