New Zealand Parliament to be represented at Presiding Officers and Clerks’ Conference

30 June 2014

Deputy Speaker, Eric Roy, and Deputy Clerk, Debra Angus, will represent the New Zealand Parliament at the 45th Conference of Presiding Officers and Clerks which is being held in Apia, Samoa this week.

The Speaker of the House, The Rt Hon David Carter, said this annual conference attended by Presiding Officers and Clerks from the Australian and Pacific parliaments is an important opportunity for professional development and knowledge sharing.

“Through the presentation of papers by participants, Presiding Officers and Clerks from the Pacific are able to discuss parliamentary practice and procedure in their respective parliaments and learn from each other. The New Zealand Parliament is also supporting attendance from the Cook Islands, Niue and Tuvalu.”

During the conference Eric Roy and Debra Angus will present papers on the role of the Business Committee and recent developments in parliamentary privilege in New Zealand.

Alongside the conference two Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) meetings will be held to support regional engagement within the Commonwealth.

The Australian state parliaments have twinning arrangements with the Pacific parliaments in order to foster parliamentary cooperation, through the exchange of information, assistance with training, and exchanges of visits between parliaments. The New Zealand Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia are responsible for managing the twinning arrangements and providing advice and support; our attendance at this conference provides a valuable opportunity to discuss regional issues and enhance these important relationships.

The Legislative Assembly of Samoa will host the conference from 30 June to 4 July.

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