Veteran National MP Lockwood Smith has been elected unopposed as Speaker at the commission opening of Parliament today.
Dr Smith's election followed the swearing in of the 49th Parliament.
He said he was honoured to be elected, and reminded MPs of the price paid by their forebears so they might live in a democracy.
Dr Smith is the 29th Speaker and told Parliament he had served under eight in his time as an MP.
He also promised MPs that his door "will always be open".
Today's commission opening will be followed by Parliament's State opening tomorrow.
New Zealand Parliament Buildings. The New Zealand Parliament met today for the first time following the recent general election.

Three senior judges, led by Chief Justice Sian Elias, formally opened the session.

The members were formally sworn in, and the National Party took control of the government benches.  National MP Lockwood Smith was unanimously elected Speaker.

Parliament will reconvene tomorrow for the formal state opening by the Governor-General, and the speech from the Throne, in which the government will lay out its legislative programme.

The November 8 election saw National win a victory over the Labour Party and form a minority government with the support of ACT and the Māori Party.