The Parliamentary Counsel Office (PCO; Māori: Te Tari Tohutohu Pāremata) is New Zealand's law drafting office. It drafts New Zealand Government Bills (except Inland Revenue Bills) and Legislative Instruments. It also publishes all New Zealand Bills, Acts, and Legislative Instruments in print and on the New Zealand Legislation website.
History
In the years before the enactment of the Statutes Drafting and Compilation Act 1920,[2] the role of Law Draftsman was housed within several different offices.[3] In 1920, the Law Drafting Office was established as a separate Office of Parliament by statute.[2] In 1973, the Law Drafting Office was renamed the Parliamentary Counsel Office.[4] The principal officers of the office were also renamed: the Law Draftsman became the Chief Parliamentary Counsel and Assistant Law Draftsmen were renamed as Parliamentary Counsel.
In 1985, the Fourth Labour Government reformed the public service via the Parliamentary Service Act 1985.[5] It abolished the Legislative Department and replaced it with a Parliamentary Service and Parliamentary Service Commission. It also ensured that PCO staff, aside from principal officers, were appointed by the Chief Parliamentary Counsel, within maximum numbers set by the Attorney-General. In 2000, the Parliamentary Service Act 2000[6] repealed the 1985 Act.
In 2012, the Legislation Act 2012[7][8] modernised the law for publishing, making available, reprinting, and revising official versions of legislation. This was the Government’s response[9] to recommendations made in two reports by the Law Commission,[10][3] and recommendations made by previous Regulations Review Committees.[11]
NZLC R107 pages 30–33[3] has a more detailed Parliamentary Counsel Office history.
