On this page you’ll find documents that have been published under the Government’s policy requiring Ministers to proactively release Cabinet papers and related material.

The policy applies to papers lodged for consideration by Cabinet from 1 January 2019 onwards. Cabinet papers and minutes must be proactively published within 30 business days of final decisions being taken by Cabinet, unless there’s a good reason not to publish them (whether in part or in full), or to delay the release. The policy doesn’t apply to Cabinet papers concerning the appointment of individuals to statutory and other roles.

We publish the papers for the Ministers we support – the Minister of Justice, Minister for Courts, the Associate Ministers of Justice, and some papers relating to the Attorney-General.

For more information on the policy see:

CO (23) 4 - Proactive Release of Cabinet Material: Updated Requirements

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1. Proactive release - Amendments to the Property Law Act 2007 relating to commercial leases and mortgages [PDF, 678 KB]

   A Cabinet paper seeking agreement to amend the Property Law Act 2007 to support businesses and commercial landlords to manage situations where,because of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic, businesses are unable to pay their rent and landlords are unable to meet their mortgage payments.

2. Proactive release - Advice on commercial lease issues and the Property Law Act [PDF, 66 KB]

   A briefing that provides advice on work happening across government relating to commercial leases and mortgages, and provides advice on recommended changes to the Property Law Act 2007 to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

3. Proactive release - Property Law Act 2007: Amendments Relating to Commercial Leases [PDF, 671 KB]

   A Cabinet committee minute of decisions relating to amendments to the Property Law Act 2007 regarding commercial leases and mortgages.

4. Proactive release - Cabinet Minute - Family and Sexual Violence Action Plan in response to COVID-19

   A Cabinet Minute regarding the action plan to respond to family and sexual violence in the context of COVID-19.

5. Proactive release - Cabinet paper - Action plan for family violence and sexual violence in response to COVID-19

   A Cabinet paper seeking agreement for the Joint Venture on Family Violence and Sexual Violence to undertake key actions to minimise the impact of any violence which could occur during the COVID-19 pandemic.

6. Proactive release - Briefing on Family and Sexual Violence COVID-19 response

   A briefing paper to provide an update on the Joint Venture's proposed approach to take a system-wide view of the impact and response to family and sexual violence in the context of COVID-19.

7. Proactive release - High Court (COVID-19 Preparedness) Amendment Rules 2020 Cabinet minute

   A Cabinet minute of decisions to amend the High Court Rules to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

8. Proactive release - Proposals for justice-related modification orders under the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006

   This Cabinet paper seeks approval to develop immediate modification orders under the Epidemic Preparedness Act 2006 to modify provisions in legislation affecting justice services, harm minimisation, and access to justice.

9. Proactive release - High Court (COVID-19 Preparedness) Amendment Rules 2020 Cabinet paper

   A Cabinet paper seeking permission to lodge amendments to the High Court Rules to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic with the Executive Council

10. Proactive release - High Court (COVID-19 Preparedness) Amendment rules Aide Memoire

    An aide memoire on amendments to the High Court Rules to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

11. Proactive relese - High Court (COVID-19 Preparedness) Amendment Rules 2020 Briefing

    A briefing on amendents to the High Court Rules to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

12. 2020 Cannabis Referendum Public Release 27 April 2021 [PDF, 5.9 MB]

    This package contains documents relating to the public release of the exposure draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill on the referendum.govt.nz website on 27 April 2020. It includes the April 2020 Cabinet paper proposing public release of the interim exposure draft Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill and the Summary of current policy positions; the corresponding Cabinet minute; the Summary of current policy positions as of April 2020 and the final version of the exposure draft Cannabis …

13. Proactive release - Cannabis Referendum Order 2020 and End of Life Choice Referendum Order 2020 [PDF, 1.5 MB]

    This paper seeks Cabinet’s agreement to authorise the submission to the Executive Council of the Cannabis Referendum Order 2020 and End of Life Choice Referendum Order 2020. These Orders declare the cannabis and End of Life Choice referendums to be referendums for the purposes of the Referendums Framework Act 2019. 

14. Proactive release - Prisoner Voting [PDF, 2 MB]

    Advice from the Ministry of Justice, Cabinet Paper and Cabinet minutes relating to prisoner voting.

15. Cabinet paper: Future of the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court [PDF, 2 MB]

    This Cabinet paper reports back on the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment (AODT) Court pilot and notes the continuation of the AODT Court.

16. Proactive Release – Amendments to the Criminal Cases Review Commission Bill [PDF, 1.5 MB]

    Advice and Cabinet decisions on the establishment of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

17. Proactive release - Electoral Amendment Bill No2 [PDF, 1.9 MB]

    Documents related to the policy development of the ban on foreign donations to parties and candidates.

18. Proactive release - Setting the strategic direction for New Zealand's Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Regime [PDF, 1.4 MB]

    The AML/CFT regime affects the lives of all New Zealanders. A robust AML/CFT regime is vital to ensure the integrity of our financial system; attract business to New Zealand; protect our people and communities; and prevent criminals from using the proceeds of their crimes to harm communities. The AML/CFT regime provides a level playing field for businesses and supports a robust taxation system that enables government to provide critical services, including health and education. A National AML/CF…

19. A package of family violence and sexual violence initiatives for Budget 2019 [PDF, 4.6 MB]

    Briefings that provide advice from the Joint Venture Board on options for the package of family violence and sexual violence initiatives for Budget 2019.

20. Proactive release – Government response to the Law Commission Report: “The Second Review of the Evidence Act 2006” [PDF, 2.5 MB]

    Cabinet paper and associated minute relating to approval of the Government response to the Law Commission Report “The Second Review of the Evidence Act 2006 Te Arotake Tuarua I te Evidence Act 2006”.

21. Proactive release – Community Magistrates (Remuneration and Allowances) Order 2019 [PDF, 690 KB]

    Cabinet paper and associated minute relating to approval of the Community Magistrates (Remuneration and Allowances) Order 2019.

22. Abortion Legislation Bill (Cabinet Papers) [PDF, 1.9 MB]

    Cabinet Papers and Cabinet Minutes relating to the Abortion Legislation Bill. The Taking a Health Approach to the Regulation of Abortion Cabinet Paper seeks agreement to draft a Bill containing proposals to decriminalise abortion and align the regulation of abortion services in New Zealand with other health services. The Abortion Legislation Bill 2019: Approval for Introduction Cabinet Paper seeks approval for the introduction of the Abortion Legislation Bill 2019 (the Bill). The Bill amends t…

23. Proactive release – Sexual Violence Legislation Bill: approval for introduction [PDF, 1 MB]

    This paper sought Cabinet’s agreement to introduce the Sexual Violence Legislation Bill, which will reduce the re-traumatisation of sexual violence victims in the court process. The Bill responds to some Law Commission recommendations in its 2015 and 2019 reports The Justice Response to Victims of Sexual Violence and The Second Review of the Evidence Act 2006.

24. Proactive release - Commencement of Courts and Tribunals Legislation [PDF, 925 KB]

    Cabinet material relating to: - the Tribunals Powers and Procedures Legislation Act 2018 and the Courts Matters Act 2018 being brought fully into effect; and - minor, technical and consequential regulatory amendments.

25. Te Ture Whenua Maori Amendment Bill

    The proposed changes to Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 recognise that the protection of Māori land remains a priority but that changes to the legislation will make it easier for Māori land owners to engage with their whenua. The main initiatives in the Bill are focused on improving the succession process and providing a new dispute resolution process. Additional changes will support the efficient operation of the Māori Land Court and enhance the opportunities for Māori to develop papakāinga on t…