Ngā āpiha me ngā komiti whiriwhiri Guidance: Officials and select committees

The officials and select committees guidelines relate to the attendance and conduct of officials before select committees. 

Select committees are key parliamentary institutions. To fulfil their function, select committees have considerable powers to summon witnesses and require the production of information. Officials from the public sector may be called upon to attend select committees as witnesses or advisers. 

These guidelines are issued under section 19(1) of the Public Service Act 2020, and were last updated on 8 September 2026. They complement existing guidance issued by the Office of the Clerk and the Parliamentary Counsel Office on procedures for dealing with select committees.

A process map is provided to assist decision makers in navigating the guidance about providing information to committees, when officials are appearing as witnesses. This practical supplement is designed to be used alongside the guidelines.