Representatives 2017 Pursuant to section 23 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013, I, the Rt Hon David Carter MP, after complying with the requirements of section 24 of that Act, give the following directions. Contents Page 1 Title 6 2 Commencement 6 Part 1 Preliminary provisions 3 Where these directions fit into the scheme of things 7 4 Interpretation 8 5 Meaning of parliamentary business 10 6 Overview of directions 12 Changes in circumstances during year and proportional entitlements 7 Changes in circumstances during year affecting eligibility for entitlements Principles to be applied in use of publicly funded resources by members and parties 8 Members required to disclose and manage potential conflicts of interest 9 Further principles to be applied in use of publicly funded resources by members and parties Part 2 Travel services Subpart 1 General matters Source of funds 10 Where costs under this Part to be met from 15 13 13 14 1
Subpart 2 Domestic travel services for members Public travel services 11 Travel on scheduled domestic travel services 16 Private travel services 12 Domestic travel on parliamentary business by taxi or rental car 16 13 Travel by rental car on journey between Wellington and home base 16 14 Mileage for travel on parliamentary business by private car 16 15 Self-drive car travel for Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Leader of 16 Opposition 16 Chauffeured car travel for Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of 16 Opposition, and leaders of certain parties 17 Access to chauffeured car travel for attendance at official functions 17 for other party leaders and deputies 18 Access to chauffeured car travel for attendance at important 17 official engagements for further party leaders 19 Travel on parliamentary business on other non-scheduled domestic travel services 17 Additional domestic travel service for Speaker and Leader of the Opposition 20 Non-Wellington meal expense payment for Speaker and Leader of the Opposition Subpart 3 International travel Costs of international travel for mixed purposes 21 Mixed parliamentary and personal purposes international travel under this subpart Rebates on international air travel based on length of time served in Parliament 22 Rebate on international air travel of members for parliamentary purposes International travel and international accommodation for parliamentary purposes 23 Meeting costs of international travel and international 19 accommodation services 24 Approval of member s international travel for parliamentary 19 purposes 25 Certifying compliance after travel 20 Leader of Opposition s official international travel entitlement 26 Leader of Opposition s official international travel services entitlement 18 18 18 20 2
Travel services for members and Parliamentary Service employees to participate in political exchange programme 27 Travel to participate in political exchange programme: members and Parliamentary Service employees Subpart 4 Travel services for qualifying electoral candidates 28 Travel services for qualifying electoral candidates 21 Subpart 5 Travel services for member on vacating seat 29 Travel services for members vacating seat during term, not standing for election, or not re-elected Part 3 Party and member support funding: its allocation and what it may be used for 30 Where costs under this Part to be met from 22 Allocation amounts 31 Allocation amounts for leadership funding 22 32 Allocation amounts for party and group funding 22 33 Allocation amounts for individual members support funding 23 34 Extra duties allocation to certain office holders 23 What party and member support funding may, and must not, be used for 35 What party and member support funding may be used for 24 36 What party and member support funding must not be used for 25 Part 4 Administrative and support services to support parliamentary operations Subpart 1 Administrative and support services provided to members Engaging support staff 37 Engaging support staff for members 25 Members parliamentary offices 38 Members parliamentary offices, fittings, and furniture 26 Members parliamentary operations outside Parliament 39 Requirements concerning members out-of-parliament offices for rent to be paid from Vote Parliamentary Service 40 Out-of-Parliament office security measures and health and safety compliant furniture 41 Prior approval required for purchases of fixtures, fittings, furniture, or equipment costing more than Scheduled amount 21 22 26 27 27 3
42 Prior approval required for purchase of equipment to be used primarily in private home 43 Out-of-Parliament support staff working from home: workplace requirements and costs Subpart 2 Administrative and support services provided to parties 44 Administrative and support services provided to parties 28 Subpart 3 Administrative and support services provided to qualifying electoral candidates 45 Administrative and support services for qualifying electoral candidates Part 5 Communications services Subpart 1 Communications services for members Communications technology 46 Use of Parliamentary Service networks and support services 29 47 Communications technology entitlements for members 29 Stationery and communication by mail 48 Stationery 30 49 Postage costs 30 Publicity 50 Requirements to be met for cost of publicity to be paid from 31 relevant Party and Member Support allocation 51 Parties and members may ask for pre-approval of publicity 31 Subpart 2 Communications services for qualifying electoral candidates (other than services including electioneering) 52 Communications services for qualifying electoral candidates 32 Subpart 3 Communications services for member on vacating seat 53 Communications services for members vacating seat during term, not standing for election, or not re-elected Part 6 Administration of support funding Subpart 1 Requirements to meet before payments made against claims to entitlement to party and member support funding 54 Policies to follow if claiming payment from funding entitlements 33 Purpose of monitoring, risk assurance, and certification processes 55 Monitoring and risk assurance 34 56 Certification of expenditure 34 28 28 28 33 4
Further provisions relating to claiming payments 57 Payment by purchase card, where available 34 58 Reimbursement of expenditure for goods and services 35 59 Payment of expenses to defend legal proceedings 35 Subpart 2 Management of funding entitlements by parties and members Budgeting and planning 60 Parties and members must prepare budgets 35 Monitoring 61 Parliamentary Service to make information available as to use of 36 funding entitlements 62 Monitoring of expenditure by party leaders and whips 37 63 Parliamentary Service to assist with planning, budgeting, and monitoring 37 Subpart 3 Transferring, reallocating, and using general purposes sub-allocation of, party and member support funding Transfers to other member or party 64 Transfers and reallocations of funding entitlements to other member or party Transfers across years of annual party and member support allocations 65 Transfer of party support allocation to proximate year not to exceed specified percentage of allocation 66 Transfer of member support allocation to proximate year not to exceed specified percentage of allocation 67 Transfer of ICT hardware allocation between years and its reallocation in third year Using annual general purposes sub-allocation for staff or non-staff sub-allocation purposes in same year 68 Using member s annual general purposes sub-allocation for staff or non-staff purposes Other conditions, restrictions, and requirements relating to transfers or reallocations under this subpart 69 Certain transfers and reallocations of entitlements must not be made without agreement of Parliamentary Service 70 Person responsible for issues relating to transfer or reallocation of entitlement to party or other member 38 38 39 39 40 40 40 5
cl 1 Directions by the Speaker of the House of Part 7 Miscellaneous Subpart 1 Additional support for members 71 Additional support for members 41 Subpart 2 Miscellaneous provisions relating to entitlements and use of allocations during certain periods 72 Entitlements of Speaker and Deputy Speaker to continue in period 41 from close of polling day and first meeting of House of Representatives after general election 73 Continuity of funding while seat vacant 41 Subpart 3 Revocation and transitional provision 74 Revocation 42 75 Transitional provision for party and member support funding 42 Schedule 1 Speaker and Leader of Opposition s non-wellington meal expense payment Schedule 2 Rebates on international air travel based on time served in Parliament Schedule 3 Leader of Opposition s official international travel services entitlement Schedule 4 Allocation amounts Schedule 5 Upper limit of fixtures, fittings, etc, purchases not requiring prior approval 43 43 43 44 48 1 Title Directions These directions are the Directions by the Speaker of the House of Representatives 2017. 2 Commencement These directions come into force on 24 September 2017. 6
Part 1 cl 3 Part 1 Preliminary provisions 3 Where these directions fit into the scheme of things (1) These directions are made under section 23 of the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013. (2) Section 23 provides for (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) travel services for members of Parliament and qualifying electoral candidates, as well as for a member of Parliament after vacating his or her seat; and international travel and international accommodation services for a member of Parliament travelling for parliamentary purposes; and international travel and international accommodation services for a spouse or partner of a party leader accompanying the party leader when he or she is travelling for parliamentary purposes; and travel services of members of Parliament and employees of the Parliamentary Service participating in the political exchange programme; and administrative and support services for members of Parliament, parties, and qualifying electoral candidates to support their parliamentary operations; and communications services (other than services including electioneering) for members of Parliament and qualifying electoral candidates, as well as for a member of Parliament after vacating his or her seat; and the allocation of each appropriation made by Appropriation Acts for party and member support funding; and how party and member support funding is administered. (3) These directions do not provide for the following: (d) (e) accommodation services within New Zealand for members of Parliament, qualifying electoral candidates, and Ministers, and their family members (see section 17 of the Act): travel services within New Zealand for Ministers that are additional or alternative to travel services provided under these directions (see section 27 of the Act): travel and accommodation services in respect of members participating in the official inter-parliamentary relations programme (see section 34 of the Act): travel services for former Prime Ministers and their spouses and partners (see section 44 of the Act): payments to a surviving spouse, partner, or dependent child of a member who dies in office (see section 45 of the Act): 7
Part 1 cl 4 Directions by the Speaker of the House of (f) any other services, salaries, allowances, annuities, or other matters (i) (ii) Compare: SD 2014 cl 3 4 Interpretation provided for elsewhere in the Act, for example, the travel entitlements of former members who are not former Prime Ministers (see section 39 of the Act); or otherwise determined under the Act, for example, the salaries and allowances to be paid to members of Parliament (see section 8 of the Act). (1) In these directions, unless the context otherwise requires, Act means the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013 appropriate person or persons, in relation to approval of a member s travel, means (d) the Deputy Speaker, in the case of the Speaker; or the Speaker, in the case of a party leader; or the Speaker and the party leader, in the case of a whip; or the Speaker and the member s party leader or whip, in the case of any other member connectability means the ability to connect to a network that the Parliamentary Service maintains or uses Deputy Speaker has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000 electioneering has the meaning given to it in section 3 of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000 home base, if the member is a member of the Executive, the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, or the Leader of the Opposition, means the place which he or she maintains, and in which he or she would normally live, if not required to spend continuous periods in Wellington on parliamentary business; or means Wellington, if (i) (ii) the member s constituency is predominantly within the Wellington commuting area; or the member lives permanently in the Wellington commuting area; or for any other member, means the place where the member normally lives when not engaged on parliamentary business in Wellington ICT means information and communications technology 8
Part 1 cl 4 ICT hardware includes computers, tablets, accessories, and mobile phones ICT services means ICT operating costs, and includes voice, data, and licence costs in-quota, in relation to the number of a member s out-of-parliament offices and to the number of his or her FTE support staff in the member s out-of-parliament offices, means the following: 3, for a large constituency member: 2, for any other constituency member: 1, for a list member large constituency means an electoral district constituted under the Electoral Act 1993 that is equal to or more than 11 500 square kilometres in land area Leader of the Opposition means the leader of the largest party in terms of its parliamentary membership that is not in Government or coalition with a Government party and who is recognised in accordance with Standing Orders member means a person who is currently a member of Parliament member of the Executive means a person who is currently a member of the Executive Council or a Parliamentary Under-Secretary ministerial business includes the performance or exercise of the role, functions, or powers of a Minister as set out in the Cabinet Manual, especially in paragraphs 2.22 and 2.23 (which relate to the role and powers of Ministers) official function means any function to which the member may have been invited by reason of his or her status as a member of Parliament parliamentary business has the meaning given to it in clause 5 Parliamentary Service has the meaning given to it in section 3 of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000 party leader means a member who is a leader or co-leader of a party personal purposes, in relation to a member, includes the member s private business purposes political exchange programme means a programme, between New Zealand and another country or its overseas agency, that is established under bilateral terms of exchange that have been agreed between the Speaker and a representative of the other country or the agency, and is intended to provide future political leaders of each country with exposure to the social, economic, and cultural systems of the other country; or to do both of the following: (i) (ii) to aid the participants personal development: to promote friendship and international cooperation between the peoples of the 2 countries 9
Part 1 cl 5 Directions by the Speaker of the House of private business purposes means purposes on behalf of a person s own business interests, or on behalf of the business interests of any other person, trust, company, or organisation publicity includes information intended to bring the parliamentary activities of a member or party to the attention of the public, whether communicated in print or 3-dimensional form or via the Internet, optical media, television, radio, or other means of communication scheduled domestic travel services includes the cost of carriage of a motor vehicle on vehicular ferries throughout New Zealand Speaker has the same meaning as in section 3 of the Parliamentary Service Act 2000 supportability, in relation to ICT hardware, ICT services, or telephony, means supported by the Parliamentary Service at the time of its use Wellington accommodation means the accommodation of a member within the Wellington commuting area when engaged on parliamentary business in Wellington Wellington commuting area means the cities of Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, and Porirua whip, in relation to a member, means the whip of that member s party and, if the member is a member of a party whose members in the House number not less than 25, includes any junior whip year means a period of 12 months ending on any anniversary of the date of the most recent general election. (2) In these directions, unless the context otherwise requires, the following terms have the same meaning as in section 5 of the Act: accommodation services, Assistant Speaker, family member, General Manager, Minister, Minister Responsible for Ministerial Services, ordinary member of Parliament, partner, party, polling day, qualifying electoral candidate, Remuneration Authority, and travel services; and any other terms or expressions used and not defined in these directions but defined in section 5 of the Act have, in these directions, the same meaning as in that section. Compare: SD 2014 cl 4 5 Meaning of parliamentary business In these directions, parliamentary business means the undertaking of any task or function that a member could reasonably be expected to carry out in his or her capacity as a member of Parliament, or a party could reasonably be expected to carry out in its capacity as a party, and that complements the business of the House of Representatives, and 10
Part 1 cl 5 includes any of the following in respect of a member: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) attending a sitting of the House; or attending a meeting of a select committee of the House of which the member is a member, or which the member is required to attend because of being in charge of a Bill or other matter under consideration by the committee, or because of any other valid reason relating to the business of the committee; or undertaking research or administrative functions that relate directly to the business of the House; or attending meetings or communicating by other means for the purpose of representing electors, explaining the application of policy, or receiving representations; or attending caucus meetings that are expressly for the purpose of enhancing the parliamentary process; or attending meetings of his or her party; or attending any ceremony or official function or national or international conference as a representative of Parliament or with the authority of the House; and includes, in respect of a party, undertaking any task or function for the purpose of supporting members in doing any of the things referred to in paragraph ; and includes, in respect of qualifying electoral candidates, (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) participating in processes related to the formation of a Government; or participating in party meetings relating to post-election strategies, internal policies and procedures, and the selection of office-holders or positions; or commencing or continuing representation of constituencies and other parliamentary duties, including meeting with constituents; or participating in preparing, critiquing, informing, and providing communications material on policies, views, activities, and services to the media, constituents, other communities of interest, and the general public; or initiating and participating in the ongoing administrative support arrangements at Parliament and elsewhere in New Zealand (for example, the selection of support staff and the establishment of out-of-parliament offices); or undertaking administrative responsibilities relating to services and funding entitlements; or 11
Part 1 cl 6 Directions by the Speaker of the House of (d) (vii) attending official functions, conferences, engagements, and ceremonies in the capacity as a candidate for election representing the party or the electorate as the member-elect; but does not include (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) Compare: SD 2014 cl 5 work undertaken for personal or private benefit; or work directly related to the administration or management of a political party; or electioneering; or personal purposes. 6 Overview of directions (1) This Part sets out preliminary matters, including where these directions fit into the scheme of things; and definitions; and certain provisions that apply generally throughout the directions, and relate to how changes in circumstances during a year affect eligibility to entitlements, and to some general requirements of members. (2) Part 2 deals with domestic and international travel, including travel services for members of Parliament and qualifying electoral candidates and any travel services that may continue to be provided for a member on vacating his or her seat; and travel services in respect of members and Parliamentary Service employees participating in the political exchange programme; and allowing the following to be met from the party and member support funding appropriated for a member s party as a charge against the party s leadership funding allocation: (i) (ii) the costs of a member s international travel services and international accommodation services, if the member is travelling for parliamentary purposes: the costs of the international travel and accommodation services of a spouse or partner of a party leader who accompanies the party leader when he or she is travelling for parliamentary purposes. (3) Part 3 deals with the party and member support funding that is required to support the leader s office, the whip s office, research operations, and members parliamentary operations, including the allocation amounts for leadership funding; and the allocation amounts for party and group funding; and the allocation amounts for individual members support funding; and 12
Part 1 cl 8 (d) (e) an extra duties allocation; and what party and member support funding may and must not be used for. (4) Part 4 deals with the administrative and support services that are required to enable the individual members of Parliament, parties, and qualifying electoral candidates to carry out their parliamentary responsibilities, including administrative and support services provided to members; and administrative and support services provided to parties; and administrative and support services for qualifying electoral candidates. (5) Part 5 deals with communications services for members and for qualifying electoral candidates (other than services that include electioneering) and any communications services that may continue to be provided for a member on vacating his or her seat. (6) Part 6 deals with the administration of support funding, including requirements to be met before payments are made against claims to entitlement to party and member support funding; and the management of funding entitlements by parties and members; and transfers and reallocations of funding entitlements. (7) Part 7 deals with miscellaneous matters. (8) This clause is only a guide to the general scheme and effect of these directions. Compare: SD 2014 cl 6 Changes in circumstances during year and proportional entitlements 7 Changes in circumstances during year affecting eligibility for entitlements (1) This clause applies if a person has an entitlement under these directions and, during a year, there is a change in the person s circumstances that affects the person s eligibility for that entitlement. (2) If this clause applies, the person may receive the entitlement in proportion to the period for which he or she qualified for the entitlement. Compare: SD 2014 cl 7 Principles to be applied in use of publicly funded resources by members and parties 8 Members required to disclose and manage potential conflicts of interest (1) This clause applies if a member proposes to obtain any goods or services from a related party and to pay for the goods or services by means of an entitlement under these directions; or 13
Part 1 cl 9 Directions by the Speaker of the House of acquire an interest in property (for example, a lease) from a related party and intends to pay for the interest by means of an entitlement under these directions. (2) If this clause applies, the member must disclose to the Parliamentary Service the member s connection to the related party; and ensure the member is obtaining value for money for the money proposed to be expended; and obtain comparative quotes from other suppliers that demonstrate the proposed transaction will be the most cost-effective option. (3) A related party includes any of the following: (d) the member s spouse, partner, or other family member: a dependant of the member: a trust, company, or organisation with which the member, or any of the persons referred to in paragraphs or, is connected: the member s political party, or an association affiliated with the political party, such as a local electoral committee. Compare: SD 2014 cl 8 9 Further principles to be applied in use of publicly funded resources by members and parties (1) In addition to the requirements in clause 8, members and parties must apply the principles set out in subclauses (2) to (7) in the use of publicly funded resources. (2) The principle of accountability, including that (d) ultimately, members are personally responsible for the way they and parties use the public resources entrusted to them; and this personal responsibility cannot be avoided, even though delegations may exist for others to incur costs on a member s or party s behalf; and records about a member s or party s use of public resources should be kept to facilitate scrutiny if required; and assets, including assets such as furniture, leasehold improvements, televisions, and ICT hardware, that are purchased from Vote Parliamentary Service funding belong to the Parliamentary Corporation on behalf of the Parliamentary Service. (3) The principle of appropriateness, including that expenditure must only be incurred in respect of parliamentary purposes. (4) The principle of openness, including that parties must be open in the use of public resources and disclose any conflict of interest in utilising entitlements, 14
Part 2 cl 10 whether that conflict is pecuniary, personal, familial, or as a result of any association. (5) The principle of transparency, including that the reasons for, and the circumstances surrounding, the use of public resources by individual members or parties should be available; and the process by which funds are expended should be publicly known. (6) The principle of value for money, including that, when using public resources entrusted to them to perform their official duties, members and parties must seek the appropriate value for money in the circumstances. (7) The principle of cost-effectiveness, including that members should, wherever reasonably practicable, use the most cost-effective alternative available. Compare: SD 2014 cls 9, 37 Part 2 Travel services Subpart 1 General matters Source of funds 10 Where costs under this Part to be met from (1) The costs of the entitlements in this Part must be met fully from the Vote Parliamentary Service, Travel of Members and Others appropriation, except (d) as provided in subclauses (2) and (3); or as this Part expressly provides otherwise; or to the extent that an entitlement is met from Vote Internal Affairs; or to the extent that an entitlement is met under a determination made under section 34 of the Act (which relates to services in respect of the official inter-parliamentary relations programme). (2) The following must be met from the party s Party and Member Support appropriation and are a charge against the leadership funding allocation: the costs of travel under clause 19 (which relates to a member s travel on parliamentary business on non-scheduled domestic travel services, other than by taxi or rental car): the costs of the travel and accommodation under clause 23 (which relates to international travel and international accommodation services). (3) This clause is subject to clause 21 (which relates to international travel for mixed parliamentary and personal purposes). Compare: SD 2014 cl 10 15
Part 2 cl 11 Directions by the Speaker of the House of Subpart 2 Domestic travel services for members Public travel services 11 Travel on scheduled domestic travel services A member is entitled to travel at any time on scheduled travel services throughout New Zealand. Compare: SD 2014 cl 11 Private travel services 12 Domestic travel on parliamentary business by taxi or rental car A member who is travelling on parliamentary business is entitled to travel by taxi or rental car. Compare: SD 2014 cl 12 13 Travel by rental car on journey between Wellington and home base A member may use a rental car for travel to enable a member to complete all or part of his or her journey between Wellington and his or her home base if a rental car is the only appropriate means, or is the cheapest means, of that travel. Compare: SD 2014 cl 13 14 Mileage for travel on parliamentary business by private car (1) A member is entitled to be reimbursed for mileage done and vehicle related operating costs, such as road tolls and parking expenses, when travelling by private car on parliamentary business. (2) The rate of reimbursement is the mileage rate set by the New Zealand Automobile Association. Compare: SD 2014 cl 14 15 Self-drive car travel for Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and Leader of Opposition The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition are each entitled to the use of 1 self-drive car, for use at the member s discretion, as if he or she were a Minister of the Crown. Compare: SD 2014 cl 15 16 Chauffeured car travel for Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Leader of Opposition, and leaders of certain parties The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the Leader of the Opposition, and the leader of a party with 25 or more members are each entitled to use a chauffeured car as if he or she were a Minister of the Crown. Compare: SD 2014 cl 16 16
Part 2 cl 19 17 Access to chauffeured car travel for attendance at official functions for other party leaders and deputies The following are entitled to use chauffeured cars for attendance at official functions: the leader of a party with between 13 and 24 members: the deputy leader of a party with 25 or more members. Compare: SD 2014 cl 17 18 Access to chauffeured car travel for attendance at important official engagements for further party leaders The leader of a party with between 6 and 12 members is entitled to use chauffeured cars for attendance at important official engagements, if this has been agreed to by the Speaker. Compare: SD 2014 cl 18 19 Travel on parliamentary business on other non-scheduled domestic travel services (1) A member who is travelling on parliamentary business is entitled to travel on any non-scheduled domestic travel service, other than taxi or rental car, if the travel is approved by the appropriate person or persons. (2) The appropriate person or persons must not give approval under subclause (1) unless satisfied, on the basis of the information specified in subclause (3) provided by the member, that the use of the non-scheduled domestic travel service is, in the circumstances, the cheapest means of transport; or the only appropriate means of transport; or necessary to meet exceptional needs. (3) The information referred to in subclause (2) that the member must provide is as follows: details of the parliamentary business to be attended to by the member when travelling: an itinerary that includes the dates of travel and the agenda: the details of any people accompanying the member, and where responsibility for their costs lies. Compare: SD 2014 cl 19 17
Part 2 cl 20 Directions by the Speaker of the House of Additional domestic travel service for Speaker and Leader of the Opposition 20 Non-Wellington meal expense payment for Speaker and Leader of the Opposition (1) The Speaker and the Leader of the Opposition are each entitled to have an evening meal (inclusive of alcohol) paid for if he or she is, in the course of travelling within New Zealand on parliamentary business, absent from the Wellington commuting area; and at least 80 km from his or her home base; and could not reasonably be expected to travel to his or her home base by conventional methods or safely. (2) The rate payable in respect of the meal is a sum equal to the actual and reasonable expenses of the meal, up to the amount specified in Schedule 1. Compare: SD 2014 cl 20 Subpart 3 International travel Costs of international travel for mixed purposes 21 Mixed parliamentary and personal purposes international travel under this subpart The member must meet personally the international travel costs under this subpart for travel services and for accommodation services that are incurred because of the member s personal purposes. Compare: SD 2014 cl 21 Rebates on international air travel based on length of time served in Parliament 22 Rebate on international air travel of members for parliamentary purposes (1) A member is entitled to a rebate on travel by air on scheduled international air services if the travel has been approved under clause 24. (2) The rebate is payable in accordance with the following rules: (d) the amount of rebate to which a member is entitled is the appropriate percentage of the fare that applies to that member as calculated in accordance with Schedule 2: the fare includes any tax and service fee payable in respect of the travel: the rebate is calculated on the fare for the journey undertaken at the class of travel used: the rebate does not include any amounts paid for cancellation fees or accommodation. Compare: SD 2014 cl 22 18
Part 2 cl 24 International travel and international accommodation for parliamentary purposes 23 Meeting costs of international travel and international accommodation services (1) The persons specified in subclause (2) are entitled to have the following costs met: (2) The persons are international travel services: international accommodation services. a member who is travelling for parliamentary purposes whose travel has been approved under clause 24; and the spouse or partner of a party leader who accompanies the party leader when he or she is travelling for parliamentary purposes and whose travel has been approved under clause 24. (3) Costs under this clause are met to the extent that they are not already being met under clause 22 (which relates to members rebates on international air travel); or clause 26 (which relates to the Leader of the Opposition s official international travel entitlement). Compare: SD 2014 cl 23 24 Approval of member s international travel for parliamentary purposes (1) A member who intends to travel overseas for parliamentary purposes must obtain the approval of the appropriate person or persons. (2) The appropriate person or persons must not give approval unless satisfied that the member has provided (d) (e) (f) details of the parliamentary purposes to be met by the proposed travel; and an itinerary that includes the dates of travel and the agenda; and an itemised breakdown of the anticipated costs involved, including the types of cost specified in subclause (3); and details of how the costs are to be met; and the details of any people accompanying the member, and where responsibility for their costs lies; and whether the travel is for mixed parliamentary and personal purposes, and, if so, the proportion of time the member expects to spend on the trip on personal purposes. (3) The types of costs to be itemised are as follows: 19
Part 2 cl 25 Directions by the Speaker of the House of (d) (e) (f) (g) meals: internal travel while overseas: any necessary preparatory costs: gifts: accommodation: expected hospitality costs: any other anticipated costs or expenses. Compare: SD 2014 cl 24 25 Certifying compliance after travel A member who has obtained approval under clause 24 must, on his or her return to New Zealand, certify to the appropriate person or persons who gave approval under that clause whether, or to what extent, the travel has complied with the information provided under that clause. Compare: SD 2014 cl 25 Leader of Opposition s official international travel entitlement 26 Leader of Opposition s official international travel services entitlement (1) In each parliamentary term, the Leader of the Opposition (whether or not the same individual if there is more than 1 Leader of the Opposition in that parliamentary term) may incur costs related to official international travel services. (2) The total costs incurred by the leader must not exceed the annual amount specified in Schedule 3. (3) The leader may be accompanied by 1 official. (4) A leader who intends to travel under this clause must notify the Prime Minister of (d) who is travelling; and where the leader and official (if any) are travelling; and the purpose of the travel; and when the travel will occur. (5) A leader whose travel costs are met under this clause is not required to seek approval under clause 24. Compare: SD 2014 cl 26 20
Part 2 cl 28 Travel services for members and Parliamentary Service employees to participate in political exchange programme 27 Travel to participate in political exchange programme: members and Parliamentary Service employees A member or Parliamentary Service employee who is nominated to participate overseas in a political exchange programme is entitled to have his or her travel services paid in respect of participation in the exchange. Compare: SD 2014 cl 27 Subpart 4 Travel services for qualifying electoral candidates 28 Travel services for qualifying electoral candidates (1) A person specified in item 1 of the first column of Schedule 1 of the Act has the same entitlements to travel services under this Part as if he or she were still a member of Parliament in the same office or position (for example, as an ordinary member of Parliament, or as an office holder) as he or she held immediately before the close of polling day in the general election concerned. (2) A person specified in any other item of the first column of Schedule 1 of the Act has the same entitlements to travel services under this Part as if he or she were holding the office that it is anticipated that the person will hold after declaration date; or in any other case, as if he or she were an ordinary member of Parliament immediately before the close of polling day in the general election or byelection concerned. (3) The Parliamentary Service must administer a person s entitlements under this clause in accordance with these directions as they relate to funding support services and administering the payment of funding entitlements, including any policies prescribed by the Speaker under clause 54, as if the person were a member of Parliament. (4) Clause 56 (which relates to the requirement to provide certification of expenditure) applies to qualifying electoral candidates. (5) No qualifying electoral candidate may be reimbursed for any expense unless the person was a qualifying electoral candidate at the time the expense was incurred; and the person certifies, in accordance with any policies prescribed by the Speaker under clause 54, that the expenditure to which certification relates has been incurred for parliamentary purposes. Compare: SD 2014 cl 28 21
Part 2 cl 29 Directions by the Speaker of the House of Subpart 5 Travel services for member on vacating seat 29 Travel services for members vacating seat during term, not standing for election, or not re-elected (1) For 4 weeks after he or she vacates the office of member of Parliament, a person has the same entitlements to travel services under this Part as he or she had immediately before vacating the office, if he or she vacates that office under section 54(1) or (2) of the Electoral Act 1993; or under section 55(1) of the Electoral Act 1993. (2) Travel services provided under this clause must be used for the purpose of enabling the member to attend to matters associated with leaving Parliament. (3) This clause is subject to clause 7 (which relates to pro-rating of entitlements). Compare: SD 2014 cl 28A Part 3 Party and member support funding: its allocation and what it may be used for 30 Where costs under this Part to be met from The allocation amounts in this Part are met from the relevant allocation of the Party and Member Support appropriation. Compare: SD 2014 cl 29 Allocation amounts 31 Allocation amounts for leadership funding (1) The annual allocation amounts for leadership funding are set out in item 1 of Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4, and are an amount allocated per party; and an amount calculated per non-executive caucus member. (2) This allocation is to fund the leader s office. Compare: SD 2014 cl 30 32 Allocation amounts for party and group funding The annual allocation amounts for party and group funding are set out in item 2 of Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4, and are an amount calculated per caucus member to fund the party s parliamentary operations, including the whip s office and research operations; and an amount calculated per non-executive caucus member for a party to use to provide staff to replace an executive assistant who is on leave. Compare: SD 2014 cl 31 22
Part 3 cl 34 33 Allocation amounts for individual members support funding (1) Individual members support funding allocations are divided into staff, nonstaff, and general purposes sub-allocations, and the sub-allocation amounts are set out in item 3 of Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4, for each large constituency member (i) (ii) who is not a member of the Executive; or who is a member of the Executive; and each other constituency member (i) (ii) who is not a member of the Executive; or who is a member of the Executive; and a list member (i) (ii) who is not a member of the Executive; or who is a member of the Executive. (2) An individual member s ICT hardware allocation for each parliamentary term is set out in item 1 of Part 4 of Schedule 4. (3) An individual member s support staff ICT hardware allocation for each parliamentary term is set out in item 2 of Part 4 of Schedule 4, for each large constituency member (i) (ii) who is not a member of the Executive; or who is a member of the Executive; and each other constituency member (i) (ii) who is not a member of the Executive; or who is a member of the Executive; and a list member (i) (ii) who is not a member of the Executive; or who is a member of the Executive. (4) A member is entitled to the allocation amounts referred to in subclauses (2) and (3) regardless of when, during the parliamentary term, the member is elected. (5) Subclause (4) overrides clause 7 (which relates to how changes in circumstances during a year affect eligibility for entitlements). Compare: SD 2014 cl 32 34 Extra duties allocation to certain office holders (1) In addition to the amounts referred to in clause 33, a member who holds any 1 or more of the following offices is entitled to the amount set out in item 4 of Parts 1 to 3 of Schedule 4 to meet additional staff costs for him or her: Speaker: 23
Part 3 cl 35 Directions by the Speaker of the House of (d) (e) Deputy Speaker: Assistant Speaker: Leader of the Opposition: party leader who is not a member of the Executive: (f) deputy leader, who is not a member of the Executive, of a party with 25 or more members: (g) (h) (i) senior whip of a party with 4 or more members: junior whip of a party with 25 or more members: additional junior whip of a party with 45 or more members. (2) However, if a member is a co-leader or deputy co-leader of a party that has 1 or more co-leaders or deputy leaders, there is no entitlement between the co-leaders or deputy leaders to more than 1 amount in respect of each of the positions specified in paragraphs (d) to (f). Compare: SD 2014 cl 33 What party and member support funding may, and must not, be used for 35 What party and member support funding may be used for (1) Party and member support funding may be used to provide services and resources for the purpose of supporting parties and members, and qualifying electoral candidates, in the following: (d) (e) (f) (g) (h) discharging their responsibilities as legislators and elected representatives: developing, researching, critiquing, and communicating policy: communicating with constituents and other communities of interest, including (i) (ii) (iii) promoting or providing details of services offered to the public: providing material of an informational nature to inform the recipient of parties or members views on public issues of the day: providing information about parties or members activities: meeting the operational needs of each party in fulfilling its parliamentary responsibilities: meeting the costs of ICT hardware for members direct use: meeting the costs of providing members support staff with ICT hardware and ICT services: meeting the costs of any additional ICT hardware, telephony, or ICT services under clause 47(4): meeting the costs of access to the parliamentary precincts for volunteers other than interns on recognised intern programmes. 24
Part 4 cl 37 (2) The services and resources must be provided in compliance with Part 2, and Parts 4 to 6. (3) Subclause (1) is subject to subclause (2) and clause 36. Compare: SD 204 cl 34 36 What party and member support funding must not be used for (1) Party and member support funding must not be used for anything that is not for a parliamentary purpose; or for ministerial business or anything undertaken in the capacity as a member of the Executive; or in circumstances where provision has already been made (i) (ii) under any of the determinations or directions referred to in clause 3(3) (which relates to matters not covered by these directions); or elsewhere in these directions. (2) Despite subclause (1), a member of the Executive may use ICT hardware purchased using the relevant allocation of the Party and Member Support appropriation for his or her ministerial business or in his or her capacity as a member of the Executive. Compare: SD 2014 cl 35 Part 4 Administrative and support services to support parliamentary operations Subpart 1 Administrative and support services provided to members Engaging support staff 37 Engaging support staff for members (1) Support staff for members must be engaged by the Parliamentary Service under either a contract of service or a contract for services; and in accordance with any relevant policies prescribed by the Speaker under clause 54. (2) Support staff must not be engaged without the written agreement of the Parliamentary Service. (3) Support staff engaged under a contract of service are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable Parliamentary Service collective agreement or agreements for support staff. (4) A person must not be engaged as a member s support staff if he or she is an employee of a political party; or 25
Part 4 cl 38 Directions by the Speaker of the House of is the spouse or partner of the member; or is financially dependent on the member. (5) The costs of support staff for members must be met from the staff or general sub-allocation of the member s individual support allocation, and include all financial obligations under the support staff s employment agreement, such as staff leave liabilities, PAYE tax payments, ACC costs, and employer contributions to superannuation or KiwiSaver schemes. Compare: SD 2014 cl 36 Members parliamentary offices 38 Members parliamentary offices, fittings, and furniture (1) Each member is provided with furnished office workspace for the member, the costs of which are met from Vote Parliamentary Service departmental appropriations for buildings and operations management. (2) The costs of any non-standard fixtures, fittings, furniture, and equipment necessary to enable a member to carry out his or her parliamentary operations and that are not met in accordance with clause 71 (which relates to additional support for members) are a charge, in relation to the office workspace of a party leader, against the relevant party s allocation of the Party and Member Support appropriation; and any other member, against the relevant member s allocation of the Party and Member Support appropriation. Compare: SD 2014 cl 38 Members parliamentary operations outside Parliament 39 Requirements concerning members out-of-parliament offices for rent to be paid from Vote Parliamentary Service (1) Rent for a member s out-of-parliament office may only be paid from Vote Parliamentary Service from the relevant allocation of the Party and Member Support appropriation if the office complies with the requirements in this clause and clause 40, and with any relevant policies prescribed by the Speaker under clause 54. (2) The office must not be in the home base of the member or Parliamentary Service staff member. (3) A member may apply to the Parliamentary Service for an exemption from subclause (2). (4) The office must not be used as a party political office, and any use of the office for non-parliamentary purposes must be in accordance with any policies pre- 26
Part 4 cl 41 scribed by the Speaker under clause 54 that relate to non-parliamentary use of out-of-parliament offices. Compare: SD 2014 cl 39(1), (3) (5) 40 Out-of-Parliament office security measures and health and safety compliant furniture (1) A member s out-of-parliament office must meet the minimum criteria for security and health and safety set out in any relevant policies prescribed by the Speaker under clause 54. (2) The Parliamentary Service must assess every out-of-parliament office for its compliance with the minimum criteria. (3) The Parliamentary Service must provide a security measure for use in a member s in-quota out-of-parliament office if it is satisfied, after assessment, that doing so is necessary to meet the minimum criteria; and the security measure otherwise complies with any relevant policies prescribed by the Speaker under clause 54. (4) The Parliamentary Service must provide health and safety compliant furniture for use by an in-quota support staff member in a single out-of-parliament office used by that staff member if it is satisfied, after assessment, that doing so is necessary to meet the minimum criteria; and the health and safety compliant furniture otherwise complies with any relevant policies prescribed by the Speaker under clause 54. (5) The costs of security measures and health and safety compliant furniture provided under subclauses (3) and (4) must be met from Vote Parliamentary Service departmental funding. (6) In addition to what is provided under subclauses (3) and (4), a member must provide any further security measures, health and safety compliant furniture, or both, that is assessed as needed to meet the minimum criteria for use by the member s support staff in any of the member s out-of-parliament offices. (7) The costs of security measures and health and safety compliant furniture provided under subclause (6) must be met from the member s sub-allocations (other than the staff sub-allocation) of the Party and Member Support appropriation. Compare: SD 2014 cl 39(2) 41 Prior approval required for purchases of fixtures, fittings, furniture, or equipment costing more than Scheduled amount (1) A member who wants to purchase fixtures, fittings, or an item of furniture or equipment costing more than the amount set out in Schedule 5 must have prior approval from the Parliamentary Service to make the purchase. 27