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Lockwood Smith elected as New Zealand Parliament speaker
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-12-08 13:50

WELLINGTON -- New Zealand's National party member of parliament  Lockwood Smith was elected as parliament speaker unopposed during the swearing in of 122 MPs at Parliament on Monday.

The State Opening of Parliament will be held on Tuesday.

New Zealand Governor-General Anand Satyanand appeared on Monday afternoon for a ceremony to confirm the speaker.

Satyanand will return on Tuesday to read the Speech from the Throne, which outlines the National-led government's legislative program for the next three years.

The parliament will go into urgency mid-week, with the National party-led government seeking to pass legislation crucial to its program before Christmas.