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

Proposed new text

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.

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

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 I will faithfully observe the
laws of New Zealand and fulfill my duties as a New
Zealand citizen. So help me God.

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

Proposed new text

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.

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

Proposed new text

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.

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-Generals oath
Current oath

Proposed new text

I, [name], swear that I will duly and impartially

serve Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her
heirs and successors, in the office of GovernorGeneral and Commander-in-Chief in and over Her
Realm of New Zealand, comprising New Zealand,
the self-governing state of the Cook Islands, the selfgoverning state of Niue, Tokelau, and the Ross
Dependency, in accordance with their respective
laws and customs. So help me God.

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
New Zealand, Her heirs and successors, and the
people of the Realm of New Zealand, in accordance
with their respective laws and customs. So help me
God.

Judicial oath
Current oath

Proposed new text

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.

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

Proposed new text

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.

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

Proposed new text

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
Majestys 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

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

Proposed new text

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

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

Proposed new text

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.

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].