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Story: Parliament

The debating chamber: layout

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The debating chamber: layout

In the debating chamber, government parties sit on the speaker's right, and opposition parties on the left. They are seated in a horseshoe arrangement, with the prime minister directly across from the leader of the opposition. Permanent officers of the House, including the clerk, Hansardstaff and the serjeant at arms, are seated centrally or near the main door.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

Source: New Zealand Parliament

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How to cite this page

John E. Martin, Parliament – How Parliament works, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/diagram/33678/the-debating-chamber-layout (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by John E. Martin, published 23 May 2012, updated 1 February 2015.