EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
27 May 2024
S Smith
[FYI request #26794 email]
Ref: OIA OIA-2023/24-0858
Tēnā koe S Smith
Official Information Act request: Warrants and cancellation of Royal Honours
Thank you for your Official Information Act (the Act) request received on 14 May 2024.
You requested:
“I would like to request any draft, template or copies of warrants for the
appointment to the fol owing Royal Honours:
- New Zealand Order of Merit (any class)
- Order of New Zealand
- Queens/Kings Service Order
- Queens/Kings Service Medal
I would also like to request any draft, template or copies of orders cancel ing
appointments for the fol owing Royal Honours:
- New Zealand Order of Merit (any class)
- Order of New Zealand
- Queens/Kings Service Order
- Queens/Kings Service Medal
I am aware that communications with the Sovereign are excluded under the
OIA, so I am not seeking material that would be covered under that section.
However this should not exclude any drafts or templates that do not form
communication with the Sovereign.”
Response to your request
The first part of your request is for warrants appointing individuals to the identified Orders.
In making your request you have specified that you are not requesting any material that
is a communication with the Sovereign. I note that warrants are necessarily a
communication from the King. This is reflected in their drafting and the fact they are
signed by the King. While warrants, whether draft or final, are classified as
communications from the Sovereign, I have decided to release templates of the
appointment warrants on this occasion. Please find attached templates of the fol owing
warrants of appointment:
Item Document Description
1. Template for warrant of appointment to the Queen’s Service Order
2. Template for certificate for the award of the Queen’s Service Medal
4880267
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz
3. Template for warrant of appointment as a Dame Companion of the New
Zealand Order of Merit
4. Template for warrant of appointment to the Order of New Zealand
With regard to the second part of your request, there is no formal instrument, such as
an Order, used in the forfeiture of Royal Honours. I must therefore refuse this part of
your request under section 18(e) of the Act on the grounds the information does not
exist. Instead of a formal instrument, His Majesty The King’s approval is recorded in
correspondence. As you indicated in your request, you are not seeking such material.
Forfeitures of Royal Honours are notified in the Gazette. You can find previous notices
at the fol owing address:
http://www.gazette.govt.nz/home/NoticeSearch/?keyword=forfeiture&year=&pageNumb
er=¬iceNumber=&dateStart=&dateEnd=¬iceType=vr&act=
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under
section 28(3) of the Act.
This response wil be published on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s
website during our regular publication cycle. Typical y, information is released monthly,
or as otherwise determined. Your personal information including name and contact
details wil be removed for publication.
Nāku noa, nā
Nicola Purvis
Acting Clerk of the Executive Council
4880267
CABINET OFFICE, PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS, WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND
Telephone: +64 (4) 830 5010. Email: [email address]
www.dpmc.govt.nz