New Zealand’s eight Cabinet committees, their structure, terms of reference and membership, were established in September 2002, and described on the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet website. Cabinet committee membership updates were published there in February 2006. All members are from the Labour Party or its coalition partner Progressive, and do not include representatives of NZ First or United Future, who are ministers outside Cabinet. Some Labour ministers who are also ministers outside cabinet are on cabinet committees.

Policy Committee (POL) Considers major policy and strategic issues.

Rt Hon Helen Clark (Chair)
Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Hon Jim Anderton
Hon Steve Maharey
Hon Phil Goff
Hon Annette King
Hon Trevor Mallard
Hon Pete Hodgson
Hon Parekura Horomia
Hon Mark Burton
Hon Jim Sutton

Economic Development Committee (EDC) (replacing former Cabinet Economic Development Committee and Cabinet Finance, Infrastructure and Environment Committee)
Considers policies relating to economic development, the macroeconomic framework and economic infrastructure, and the environment.

Rt Hon Helen Clark
Hon Dr Michael Cullen (Chair)
Hon Jim Anderton
Hon Steve Maharey
Hon Phil Goff
Hon Trevor Mallard
Hon Parekura Horomia
Hon Ruth Dyson
Hon David Benson-Pope
Hon Lianne Dalziel
Hon Damien O’Connor
Hon David Cunliffe
Hon David Parker
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Hon Clayton Cosgrove
Hon Jim Sutton
Hon Judith Tizard
Hon Dover Samuels
Hon Harry Duynhoven

Social Development Committee (SDC) (replacing former Cabinet Education and Health Committee and Cabinet Social Equity Committee)
Considers social, education and health policy.

Rt Hon Helen Clark
Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Hon Jim Anderton
Hon Steve Maharey (Chair)
Hon Annette King
Hon Pete Hodgson
Hon Parekura Horomia
Hon Mark Burton
Hon Ruth Dyson
Hon Chris Carter
Hon Rick Barker
Hon David Benson-Pope
Hon Lianne Dalziel
Hon Damien O’Connor
Hon Nanaia Mahuta
Hon Mita Ririnui
Hon Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
Hon Mahara Okeroa

Legislation Committee (LEG) Considers the government's legislation programme, bills, regulations, government responses to select committee reports on inquiries and petitions, and other House business issues.

Rt Hon Helen Clark
Hon Dr Michael Cullen (Chair)
Hon Jim Anderton
Hon Trevor Mallard
Hon Mark Burton (Deputy Chair)
Hon David Benson-Pope
Hon Lianne Dalziel
Hon David Parker
Tim Barnett (Senior Labour Party Whip)

Committee on Government Expenditure and Administration (EXG) Considers issues relating to government expenditure and administration.

Rt Hon Helen Clark
Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Hon Jim Anderton
Hon Phil Goff
Hon Annette King
Hon Trevor Mallard (Chair)
Hon Parekura Horomia
Hon Ruth Dyson
Hon David Cunliffe
Hon Clayton Cosgrove

Appointments and Honours Committee (APH) Considers key appointments to statutory and other government agencies, Public Service Chief Executive appointments, and nominations for the New Zealand Royal Honours.

Rt Hon Helen Clark (Chair)
Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Hon Jim Anderton
Hon Steve Maharey
Hon Phil Goff
Hon Annette King
Hon Trevor Mallard
Hon Pete Hodgson
Hon Parekura Horomia
Hon Mark Burton
Hon Chris Carter
Hon Lianne Dalziel

Cabinet External Relations and Defence Committee (ERD) Considers external relations and defence issues.

Rt Hon Helen Clark
Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Hon Jim Anderton
Hon Phil Goff (Chair)
Hon Annette King
Hon Trevor Mallard
Hon David Cunliffe
Hon David Parker
Hon Jim Sutton


Cabinet Committee on Domestic and External Security Co-ordination (DES) (replacing the former Ad Hoc Cabinet Committee on Intelligence and Security and Ad Hoc Committee on Domestic and External Security Coordination)
Considers issues relating to the domestic and external security of New Zealand and New Zealanders.

Rt Hon Helen Clark (Chair)
Hon Dr Michael Cullen
Hon Jim Anderton
Hon Phil Goff
Hon Annette King
Hon Pete Hodgson

Updated 24 February 2006