Rt Hon Helen Clark    >>

Prime Minister Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage

Hon Jim Anderton    >>

Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Economic Development Minister for Industry and Regional Development Minister of Consumer Affairs

Hon Dr Michael Cullen    >>

Treasurer Minister of Finance Minister of Revenue

Hon Steve Maharey    >>

Minister of Social Services and Employment

Hon Phil Goff    >>

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister of Justice

Hon Annette King    >>

Minister of Health

Hon Sandra Lee    >>

Minister of Conservation Minister of Local Government

Hon Jim Sutton    >>

Minister of Agriculture Minister for Trade Negotiations Minister for Biosecurity

Hon Trevor Mallard    >>

Minister of Education Minister of State Services Minister for Sport, Fitness and Leisure Minister Responsible for the Education Review Office

Hon Pete Hodgson    >>

Minister of Energy Minister of Fisheries Minister of Forestry Minister of Research, Science and Technology Minister for Crown Research Institutes

Hon Margaret Wilson    >>

Attorney-General Minister of Labour Minister in Charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations

Hon Parekura Horomia    >>

Minister of Maori Affairs

Hon Matt Robson    >>

Minister of Corrections Minister for Courts Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control Minister for Land Information

Hon Lianne Dalziel    >>

Minister of Immigration Minister for Accident Insurance Minister for Senior Citizens

Hon George Hawkins    >>

Minister of Police Minister of Internal Affairs Minister of Civil Defence

Hon Mark Burton    >>

Minister of Defence Minister for SOEs Minister of Tourism Minister of Veterans' Affairs

Hon Paul Swain    >>

Minister of Commerce Minister of Communications Minister for Information Technology

Hon Marian Hobbs    >>

Minister for the Environment Minister of Broadcasting

Hon Mark Gosche    >>

Minister of Transport Minister of Housing Minister of Pacific Island Affairs

Hon Laila Harré    >>

Minister of Women's Affairs Minister of Youth Affairs Minister of Statistics

Ministers Outside Cabinet

Hon Judith Tizard    >>

Minister of State

Hon Ruth Dyson    >>

Minister of State Minister for Disability Issues

Hon Tariana Turia    >>

Minister of State

Parliamentary Under-Secretary

Hon Dover Samuels MP    >>

Parliamentary Under-Secretary

Mr John Wright MP    >>

Parliamentary Under-Secretary

Collectively they form the executive arm of government whose principal decision-making body is Cabinet which is chaired by the Prime Minister.

All major decisions are taken through the Cabinet process and Cabinet meetings are confidential.

Ministers have specific areas of responsibility called "portfolios" and may be assisted in these by Deputy or Associate Ministers or Parliamentary Under-Secretaries.

All Ministers are members of the Executive Council which is the highest formal instrument of government and is the institution through which the government as a whole advises the Governor-General, normally by recommendations to make Orders in Council. Apart from Acts of Parliament, Orders in Council are the main method of implementing government decisions requiring legal force.

See portfolios listed alphabetically >>