Skip navigation.

Note: You are reading this message because you either cannot see our CSS files, or are using a non-standards-compliant browser. Although the content of this site will be accessible in any browser, please consider upgrading to a web standards-compliant browser such as Firefox, Mozilla, Opera to better enjoy the new design and functionality of our site (all links open in a new window).

The Street City Church

9 Hania Street
PO Box 6218, Marion Square,
Wellington
Tel +64 4 385 7315
Fax +64 4 385 7309
Email office@thestreet.org.nz

You are here > Home / Styleguide / Capitalisation / Capitalising government

Capitalising government

Capitalise specific international, national and provincial government departments, ministries, agencies, boards etc., including short forms of the proper name.

  • New Zealand Ministry of Education
  • N.Z. Health Ministry
  • Wellington Post Corp. (on first reference), Wellington Post (on subsequent references)
  • Liquor Control Board of New Zealand

Capitalize cabinet portfolios only as part of a title directly preceding a name.

  • Health Minister Georgia Pape

but

  • Georgia Pape, honorable minister of health

Lower case the cabinet member’s title in subsequent reference and when it stands alone.

  • Finance Minister Bernard Hannon addressed Parliament yesterday. The finance minister spoke again about the budget he released last week.

Capitalise descriptions of the department or ministry that refer to their proper name, even when they stand alone.

  • The cuts will affect Justice and Communications.
  • Over 25 years, she worked in Archives, Housing and Natural Resources.

Lower case common nouns related to government ministries standing alone and in a group (plural references), and in subsequent references.

  • the department, a ministry spokesperson, board members, the authority
  • the departments of Justice and Defence