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Story: Parliament

The mace

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The mace

The mace (foreground) is the symbol of the speaker of the House's authority and is carried by the serjeant at arms as he leads the speaker into and out of the debating chamber. The mace had its origins in medieval England, in the weapons carried by the serjeants at arms, who were bodyguards to the king, and had the power to arrest without a warrant.

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Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives

by Todd Crawford

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How to cite this page

John E. Martin, Parliament – Structural changes, 1890s to 1950s, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/object/33709/the-mace (accessed 4 June 2026).

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