They say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But you sure can teach new dogs some old tricks.

With its 31 members, the new Government is the biggest administration New Zealand has ever had. It is also one of the most junior. Only five Ministers have previous government experience.

But does this have to be a problem? Hardly, for two reasons. First, there are a few old warhorses in the Cabinet. Ministers like David Parker, Shane Jones and of course Winston Peters will be quick to tell the rookies how government works.

The second reason for good government is more technocratic. Even if you have no idea how to govern, there is a rulebook for it. It is called the Cabinet Manual. It makes running the country sound like a walk in the park.

For example, Cabinet Ministers attend cabinet. Ministers outside cabinet do not. That is, unless they are invited to attend cabinet committee meetings relating to their portfolios.

It gets a bit more confusing with Cabinet collective responsibility. Despite the name, it also applies to Ministers outside Cabinet too.

This convention applies in all instances. Unless, of course, there is an ‘agree to disagree’ provision. Such a provision allows coalition partners outside Cabinet to nominate issues as matters of 'party distinction'. They can publicly disagree with their coalition partner's stance. But they can only do this as a cohesive party unit. Sorry, no rogue Ministers.

Once the issue has been subject to a Parliamentary vote, or a decision of Cabinet, the coalition partner needs to go back and toe the Government’s line.

When talking about their portfolios, Ministers speak on behalf of the Government. It does not matter if they are inside or outside Cabinet. And Cabinet collective responsibility applies.

Things get interesting when a Minister finds themselves speaking about other matters. When speaking outside their portfolios they do so in a non-ministerial, personal capacity. Unless, of course, a Minister travels overseas.

Any Minister who is overseas in a ministerial capacity is representing the Government.

Anything she says, even on policy areas outside her portfolio, will be a representation of the New Zealand Government.

The rules of the Cabinet Manual are straightforward. What could possibly go wrong?