Proposed changes to Oaths and Affirmations
*Note: Each oath amended in the Oaths Modernisation Bill actually uses the following form for references to the Sovereign: Her [or His] Majesty [specify the name of the reigning Sovereign, as in: Queen Elizabeth the Second],Queen [or King] of New Zealand, her [or his] heirs and successors.
For simplification, the new oaths set out below take the form they would have if used today.
Oath of Allegiance
Current oath“I, [name], swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.”
Citizenship oath
Current oath“I, [name], swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors, according to law, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of New Zealand and fulfill my duties as a New Zealand citizen. So help me God.” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors, and that I will be loyal to New Zealand, will obey the law, and will respect the democratic values of New Zealand and the rights and freedoms of its people. So help me God.”
Executive Councillors’ oath
Current oath“I, [name], being chosen and admitted of the Executive Council of New Zealand, swear that I will to the best of my judgement, at all times, when thereto required, freely give my counsel and advice to the Governor-General for the time being, for the good management of the affairs of New Zealand. That I will not directly nor indirectly reveal such matters as shall be debated in Council and committed to my secrecy, but that I will in all things be a true and faithful Councillor. So help me God.” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], having been appointed as a member of the Executive Council of New Zealand, swear that I will be a faithful and diligent Councillor. I will, whenever required and to the best of my ability, advise the Governor-General for the time being, for the good government of New Zealand. I will not disclose the matters considered in Council except as authorised by the Council or required by law. So help me God.”
Parliamentary Under-Secretaries oath
Current oath“I, [name], swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law, in the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary. So help me God.” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], swear that I will faithfully and diligently serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors, according to law, in the office of Parliamentary Under-Secretary. So help me God.”
Parliamentary oath
Current oath(Oath of allegiance)
“I, [name], swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.” / Proposed new text
“I [name], swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors, according to law, and that, as a Member of Parliament, I will be loyal to New Zealand and will respect its democratic values and the rights and freedoms of its people. So help me God.”
Governor-General’s oath
Current oath“I, [name], swear that I will duly and impartially serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, in the office of Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her Realm of New Zealand, comprising New Zealand, the self-governing state of the Cook Islands, the self-governing state of Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency, in accordance with their respective laws and customs. So help me God.” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], swear that, as Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Realm of New Zealand, comprising New Zealand, the self-governing states of the Cook Islands and Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross Dependency, I will faithfully and impartially serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of NewZealand, Her heirs and successors, and the people of the Realm of NewZealand, in accordance with their respective laws and customs. So help me God.”
Judicial oath
Current oath“I, [name], swear that I will well and truly serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors, according to law, in the office of [ ]; and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of New Zealand without fear or favour, affection or ill will. So help me God.” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], swear that, in the office of [ ] I will faithfully serve Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her Heirs and successors, and that, in that office, I will act fairly and impartially, and do right to all people, without fear or favour, affection or ill will, and in accordance with the laws and practices of New Zealand. So help me God.”
Armed Forces oath
Current oath“I, [name], solemnly promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to our Sovereign Lady the Queen, Her heirs and successors, and that I will faithfully serve in the New Zealand Naval Forces/the New Zealand Army/the Royal New Zealand Air Force [Delete the Services that are not appropriate], and that I will loyally observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, and of the officers set over me, until I shall be lawfully discharged. So help me God.” / Proposed new text
“I [name] swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors; and that I will faithfully and diligently serve in the New Zealand Naval Forces / the New Zealand Army / the Royal New Zealand Air Force [ delete the Services that are not appropriate ]; and that I will loyally observe and obey all orders of Her Majesty, Her heirs and successors, and of the officers set over me, until I am lawfully discharged. So help me God.”
Police oath
Current oath“I, [name], do swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the Police, without favour or affection, malice or ill will, until I am legally discharged; that I will see and cause Her Majesty’s peace to be kept and preserved; that I will prevent to the best of my power all offences against the peace; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law. So help me God” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], swear that I will faithfully and diligently serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her Heirs and Successors, in the Police, without favour or affection, malice or ill will, until I am lawfully discharged. While in the Police I will, to the best of my power, keep the peace and prevent offences against the peace, and will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, perform all the duties of the office of constable according to law. So help me God.”
Special constables oath
Current oath“I, [name], swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the office of special constable at [place], and the neighbourhood thereof, without fear or favour, affection or ill will, and that I will to the best of my ability cause the peace to be kept and preserved, and prevent all offences against the persons and properties of Her Majesty's subjects, and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law. So help me God” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], swear that I will faithfully and diligently serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of New Zealand, Her heirs and successors, as a special constable at [place] without favour or affection, malice or ill will. While I hold this office I will, to the best of my power, keep the peace and prevent offences against the peace, and will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, perform all the duties of the office of special constable according to law. So help me God.”
Local government officials’ declaration
Current declaration“I, [name], declare that I will faithfully and impartially, and according to the best of my skill and judgment, execute and perform, in the best interests of the [region or district], the powers, authorities, and duties vested in, or imposed upon, me as [mayor or chairperson or member] of the [local authority] by virtue of the Local Government Act 2002, the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987, or any other Act.” / Proposed new text
“I, [name], declare that, as [office] of the [local authority], I will faithfully, impartially, and to the best of my ability, exercise the powers, and carry out the functions and duties, vested in me by law, in the best interests of [region or district].”