MPs will be roped in, sworn in, and some will possibly be dragged when the 52nd Parliament officially opens this week.
The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae former Governor General of New Zealand during the State Opening of Parliament in Wellington in 2014. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
The Clerk of the House David Wilson will swear in the new MPs at the Commission Opening and said there are some unusual traditions like dragging the newly elected Speaker to their seat and roping the MPs in for the State Opening.
Coordinating the State Opening (which happens the next day) is the Herald of Arms Extraordinary to the Queen Phillip O'Shea.
He said it's like writing a script for a play and, bar being pelted with a few eggs in the past, most of the time people follow the rules.
Listen to the full interview with David Wilson and Phillip O'Shea