EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1984 NO. 402
ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
The Royal Military College Regulations, made under the Defence Act 1903, provide for the establishment and administration of the Royal Military College, including provisions for the eligibility and selection of candidates, and the status of New Zealand candidates and other foreign students.
Since 1982, there has been an extensive review of legislative provisions relating to personnel administration in the Defence Force. The objective has been to substantially reduce the volume of routine personnel matters requiring action by the Governor-General-in-Council, with the authority for formal action in such matters being transferred to the the Minister for Defence or senior Service officers. This has aligned formal legislative authority more closely with practical responsibility for personnel matters.
Action so far has included extensive delegation of the Governor-General’s powers, particularly in relation to the appointment and promotion of officers. The Defence Act, the Naval Defence Act and the Air Force Regulations have also been amended to vest various powers in the Minister or Chiefs of Staff with authority to further delegate the powers.
This Statutory Rule is part of a concluding stage in this exercise. The Statutory Rule amends various provisions of the Royal Military College Regulations to transfer powers from the Governor-General. The Table below identifies the provisions affected, briefly indicates their nature and states the authority in whom the power is proposed to be vested.
Provision | Power Given | Authority to whom Power is Transferred |
5 | Conditions for admission of serving members of the Defence Force as students | Minister for Defence |
8 | To approve admission of serving members as students | Minister for Defence |
10 | To approve admission of New Zealand candidates | Minister for Defence |
10 | To nominate New Zealand candidates | Government of New Zealand in place of Governor-General of New Zealand |
10A | To approve admission of foreign students (other than New Zealanders) | Minister for Defence |
Commencement
The amendments have effect from the date of gazettal of the Statutory Rule.