About the New Zealand Gazette

Laws usually come into effect only after their publication (with the exceptions being matters of national security or matters of particular commercial or legal significance where time is an overriding factor).

The Parliamentary Counsel Office's (PCO’s) Guide contains information on gazettal and publishing legislative instruments.

An EC item is usually published or notified in the Gazette on the Thursday following the EC meeting on the Monday. PCO sends legislative instruments and other instruments drafted by it directly to the New Zealand Gazette Office in the Department of Internal Affairs. Items not drafted by PCO that need to be gazetted must be sent by the department to the Gazette Office.

Where a legislative instrument must come into effect before the next regular issue of the Gazette, an additional (special) Gazette may be arranged, working with the Gazette Office and PCO. Departments will usually be charged for this publication.

Refer to the following pages for more information

• The Executive Council role in the regulations process
• Process for items that go directly to the Executive Council