 | GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS |
What does the Library hold and where can it be found?
Wide ranges of Government Publications are available in the New Zealand Collection on the 2nd floor of the Central Library. Most material is in book format and is located on the Victoria Street side of the 2nd floor. Some early material is kept in the Rare Books Room, or on microfiche. Most Government Publications are Reference Only, not available for loan.
Useful call numbers to consult on the Library Catalogue for books are shown below:
| Corporate plan | 354.062 NEW | |
| Directories of official information | 354.931 DIR | |
| Guide to Parliament | 328.931 | |
| Human rights amendment act | 342.085 NEW | |
| New Zealand land claims act (1840) | 346.0432 LOV | |
| NZ patents 1860-1890 | 929.3 HAM | |
| Public access to government information | 025.26 |
Please note - further books about the subjects are at these numbers.
Legislative Publications
1. Bills (Proposed legislation introduced into Parliament.)
There are 3 kinds :
Public - applies to the whole community
Local - applies to a particular locality
Private - applies only to a particular individual or group.
The progress of each Bill is found in the Bulletin. (see below 5a.)
2. Acts or Statutes (Final versions of the Bills which have become Laws of the country.)
These can be located in the
Acts can expire, be amended by subsequent Acts or repealed.
Substantially amended Acts can be reprinted with Amendments. These are located in
These are shelved to the south of the stairwell, south end of the 2nd floor.
There is an alphabetical list of the Acts at the end of the shelf.
3. Statutory Regulations and Bylaws
Finer details of Acts are not always decided by Parliament. Legislation can be delegated to Non-Parliamentary Bodies and Individuals.(1936 - current.)
It is a requirement by Law that regulations be published in the New Zealand Gazette, once effective with Titles, Date and Act under which they were made.
The regulations are shelved against the south wall on the 2nd floor.
Annual Reports
Government departments and ministeries table half-yearly reports at Parliament. These come in loose forms until they are bound in the Appendices to the Journals (A - Js). They are kept in boxes and arranged alphabetically, next to the bound A - Js. The Royal Commissions of Enquiries (I series) are now being catalogued.
Parliamentary papers contain most Government Departments' Annual Reports, Reports of Statutory Bodies (QUANGOS) & Reports of Offices of Parliament.
Arranged by Shoulder Number and Letter. The Letter denotes Government department and broad subject headings. Number is for individual papers.
Parliamentary Publications
1. Standing Orders and Speaker's Rulings : regulate activities in Parliament. (Kept at the 2nd floor enquiries desk, call number 328.931.
2. Publications giving the Daily Agenda of Parliament.
- Order Papers
- Notice Papers
- Written Replies
- Supplementary Order Papers
- Supplements to the Order Papers
3. Records of Parliament's activities are published in:
a. Journals : the minutes of Parliament
b. Appendix to the Journals (AJHR or A - Js) reports tabled before Parliament for its consideration Collectively known as Parliamentary Papers.(Call Number 328.931 NEW ; Bound volumes 1866 - 1996). There is a description of the A-Js at the end of the acts or statutes shelves.
c. Debates (Hansards) weekly publications giving text of Speeches and Debates in the House except, those made when the House in Committee. These are located on the south wall, 2nd floor.
4. Other Parliamentary Publications
The New Zealand Gazette is the official newspaper of the New Zealand Government published weekly by the Gazette Office of Internal Affairs. Contains official notices and proclamations. Usually has 3 editions, Customs, Commerce, Principal and Trade Registers, e.g. Marriage Celebrants, Occasional Trade and Industry edition.
5. Finding Aids
a. Parliamentary Bulletin Summarises the House business. Contains weekly progress of Legislation through the House and general Parliamentary business.
b. Capital Letter (Kept at Desk). A weekly digest and review of administration, legislation and law. (indexed)
c. List of Members of the House of Representatives.
d. Notes on Parliamentary Procedure.
Older Government Publications in the Rare Books Room
(2nd floor, Central Library)
Some early Government publications are shelved in the Rare Books Room, rather than the open shelves. All of this material is Reference Only, not available for load.
ID is required to be held at the 2nd floor enquiries desk.
It includes:
- Select Committee Reports (1850s)
- Parliamentary Debates (1850s & 1860s)
- Provincial Ordinances
- Journals to the House of Representatives (1860s)
- Appendices to the Journals
- Journals of Legislative Councils
- Votes and Proceedings of Legislative Councils and the House of Representatives
- Gazettes
Local Government Publications
What does the Library have?
The Central City Library holds annual reports from New Zealand Local Governments. District Council's, Regional Council's and City Council's annual reports are stored in grey steel filing cabinets to the right of the enquiries desk North end 2nd floor. These are not available for loan but can be photocopied.
Wellington City Council annual reports, strategic plans, draft annual plans, annual plans are located at call number 352.093141 WEL.
District Plans
District councils and City council's district plans:
711.4 KAP : Kapiti coast proposed district plan
711.4 WEL : Wellington city district plan
711.4 UPP : Upper Hutt transitional district plan
Ask for these at the 2nd floor Enquiries desk.
More information on local authorities can be found at 352.0052 DIR;(Kept at the 2nd floor enquiries desk), Local Government in New Zealand community (352.0931 LOC, Kept at the 2nd floor enquiries desk).
Most Local Governments have free web sites that can be accessed for up to date information.
Environmental issues put out by Local Authorities can be found at call number 333.72, in the New Zealand Collection for reference material and lending copies at the North end, 1st floor.
Any item kept at the Enquiries desk requires an ID to be left while looking at the item.
Online Resources
All New Zealand Government websites (sites ending in govt.nz) are free to use in the library. Sites include the main government portal www.govt.nz, State Services Commission and Office of the Ombudsmen. For more New Zealand resources available through the library, see Mygateway.info New Zealand.
