Prime Minister of New Zealand

For a list of officeholders, see List of prime ministers of New Zealand.

Head of Government of New Zealand

Prime Minister of New Zealand

Te Pirimia o Aotearoa
File:Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg

Coat of arms of New Zealand

File:Flag of New Zealand.svg

Flag of New Zealand

File:Jacinda Ardern Japan 2022.jpg

Incumbent
Jacinda Ardern
since 26 October 2017

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Style|

* Prime Minister
(informal)
* The Right Honourable
(formal)
* Her Excellency
(diplomatic)

Status| Head of government
Abbreviation| PM
Member of|

* Parliament
* Cabinet
* Executive Council

Reports to| House of Representatives
Residence| Premier House, Wellington
Seat| The Beehive, Wellington
Appointer| Governor-General of New Zealand
Term length| No term limit
Formation| 7 May 1856; 169 years ago (1856-05-07)
First holder| Henry Sewell
Deputy| Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
Salary| NZ$471,049 annually[1]

Politics of New Zealand

File:Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg

Constitution

The Crown

* Monarchy of New Zealand
* Sovereign

King Charles III
* Governor-General (list)

Cindy Kiro
* Realm of New Zealand

Executive government

* List of governments (current)
* Cabinet
* Ministers
* Prime Minister (list)

Jacinda Ardern
* Executive Council
* State services departments

Legislature

53rd New Zealand Parliament

* * *

* King-in-Parliament
* House of Representatives

Speaker: Adrian Rurawhe
* Official Opposition

Elections

* Political parties
* Electorates
* Electoral system
* Electoral reform
* Electoral Commission
* Recent elections:

* General: 2014
* 2017
* 2020

* Local: 2013
* 2016
* 2019
* 2022

* Referendums
* Political funding and election expenses

Judiciary

* Supreme Court

Chief Justice: Helen Winkelmann
* Court of Appeal

President: Mark Cooper
* High Court
* District Court
* Other Courts:

* Employment
* Environment

* Courts Martial Appeal

* Māori Land
* Waitangi Tribunal

* Law of New Zealand

Local government

* Regions
* Territorial authorities
* Community boards

Foreign relations

* Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Minister: Nanaia Mahuta

* * *

* Diplomatic missions of / in New Zealand

* * *

* Nationality law
* Passport
* Visa requirements
* Visa policy

* * *

* New Zealand and the United Nations

Ideology

* Anarchism
* Christian
* Conservatism
* Environmentalism
* Fascism
* Feminism
* Liberalism
* Populism
* Republicanism
* Socialism

Related topics

* Māori politics
* Nuclear-free zone

* Other countries

* v
* t
* e

The prime minister of New Zealand (Māori: Te pirimia o Aotearoa) is the head of government of New Zealand. The incumbent[update] prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, took office on 26 October 2017.[2][3]

The prime minister (informally abbreviated to PM) ranks as the most senior government minister. They are responsible for chairing meetings of Cabinet; allocating posts to ministers within the government; acting as the spokesperson for the government; and providing advice to the sovereign or the sovereign's representative, the governor-general. They also have ministerial responsibility for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The office exists by a long-established convention, which originated in New Zealand's former colonial power, the then United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The convention stipulates that the governor-general must select as prime minister the person most likely to command the support, or confidence, of the House of Representatives. This individual is typically the parliamentary leader of the political party that holds the largest number of seats in that house.[a] The prime minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their actions to the governor-general, to the House of Representatives, to their political party, and ultimately to the national electorate.

Originally the head of government was titled "colonial secretary" or "first minister". This was changed in 1869 to "premier". That title remained in use for more than 30 years, until Richard Seddon informally changed it to "prime minister" in 1901 during his tenure in the office.[4] Following the declaration of New Zealand as a Dominion in 1907, the term prime minister has been used exclusively in English. In Māori, the title pirimia, meaning "premier", continues to be used.[5] New Zealand prime ministers are styled as "The Right Honourable", a privilege they retain for life.[6]

## Contents

* 1 Appointment and tenure
* 2 Responsibilities and powers
* 2.1 Principal adviser to the sovereign
* 2.2 Principal adviser to the governor-general
* 2.3 Head of government
* 2.4 Other roles and functions
* 3 Privileges of office
* 3.1 Salary and perquisites
* 3.2 Security and transport
* 3.3 After office
* 4 History
* 4.1 Early leaders
* 4.2 Party leadership
* 4.3 Towards modern leadership
* 5 Living former prime ministers
* 6 Deputy prime minister
* 7 Lists relating to the prime ministers of New Zealand
* 8 See also
* 9 Notes
* 10 References
* 11 External links

## Appointment and tenure[edit | edit source]

The governor-general appoints a prime minister, like other ministerial positions, on behalf of the monarch. By the conventions of responsible government, the governor-general will call to form a government the individual most likely to receive the support, or confidence, of a majority of the elected members of parliament (MPs).[7] In making this appointment, convention requires the governor-general to act on the outcome of the electoral process and subsequent discussions between political parties by which the person who will lead the government as prime minister is identified.[7] In practice, the position typically falls to an MP who is the parliamentary leader of the largest political party among those forming the government.[8][b] The prime minister may lead a coalition government and/or a minority government dependent on support from smaller parties during confidence-and-supply votes.[9]

File:GGNZ Swearing of new Cabinet - Jacinda Ardern.jpg

Jacinda Ardern is sworn in as the 40th prime minister by the governor-general, Dame Patsy Reddy, 26 October 2017

Once appointed and sworn in by the governor-general, the prime minister remains in the post until dismissal, resignation,[10] or death in office.[c] They, like all ministers, hold office "during the pleasure of the Governor-General", so theoretically, the governor-general can dismiss a prime minister at any time; however, convention heavily circumscribes the power to do so.[12] The governor-general retains reserve powers[13] to dismiss a prime minister in certain circumstances, such as those pertaining to a no-confidence motion against the government in the House of Representatives.[14]

Where a prime minister, and by extension the government, can no longer command the confidence of the house, either by losing a confidence vote or as the result of an election, convention dictates that they should tender their resignation to the governor-general. As the Constitution Act 1986 requires general elections every 3 years, this is the maximum period of time that a prime minister can serve without their mandate being renewed.[15]

## Responsibilities and powers[edit | edit source]

See also: New Zealand Government and Constitution of New Zealand

File:New Zealand Cabinet October 2017.jpg

The prime minister chairs meetings of Cabinet, where government policy is formulated.

The office of prime minister is not defined by  codified laws, but by unwritten customs known as  constitutional conventions which developed in Britain and which New Zealand replicated. These conventions depend for the most part on the underlying principle that the prime minister and fellow ministers must not lose the confidence of the democratically elected component of parliament, the House of Representatives. The prime minister is leader of the  Cabinet (itself a body existing by convention), and takes a coordinating role.[8]

The Cabinet Manual provides an outline of the prime minister's powers and responsibilities.[7]

### Principal adviser to the sovereign[edit | edit source]

By constitutional convention, the prime minister holds formal power to advise the sovereign. This means that as long as the prime minister has the confidence of parliament, they alone may advise the monarch on:[7]

* appointment or recall of the governor-general[d]
* amendments to the Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General, which most recently occurred in 2006
* the conferment of New Zealand honours (except for honours in the personal gift of the monarch)

### Principal adviser to the governor-general[edit | edit source]

As head of government, the prime minister alone has the right to advise the governor-general to:

* appoint, dismiss, or accept the resignation of ministers[7]
* call general elections by advising the governor-general to dissolve parliament.[e][7] The governor-general may reject the advice to dissolve parliament if the prime minister has recently lost a vote of confidence (that is, the governor-general would be using their reserve powers), but as of 2021[update] none has done so.[16]

### Head of government[edit | edit source]

Convention regards the prime minister as "first among equals".[8] A prime minister does hold the most senior post in government, but must also adhere to any decisions taken by Cabinet, as per the convention of collective ministerial responsibility. The actual ability of a prime minister to give direct orders is largely limited; most of the position's power comes about through other means, such as:

* the ability to set the Cabinet agenda, thereby controlling items for discussion[7][f]
* the ability to appoint and dismiss ministers, and to allocate portfolios[g]
* the influence a prime minister is likely/assumed to have as leader of the dominant political party. These powers may give more direct control over subordinates than is attached to the prime ministerial role.[17]
* the power gained simply from being central to most significant decision-making, and from being able (as of right) to comment on and criticise any decisions taken by other ministers

Since the 1996 introduction of the MMP electoral system, the role of the prime minister in negotiating and maintaining relationships with support parties has increased, placing some constraints on prime-ministerial abilities.[19]

### Other roles and functions[edit | edit source]

External video

File:Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg 'New Zealand's darkest day'. Prime Minister John Key addresses the country live on television following the earthquake that devastated Christchurch on 22 February 2011. Providing reassurance and leadership at times of national crisis is a traditional responsibility of the prime minister.[20]

Prime ministers also take on additional portfolios (to prioritise policy areas).[8] Historically, 19th-century premiers looked after the colonial-secretary and finance portfolios. As New Zealand developed, the role of minister of finance became too big; Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon came under criticism for taking on the finance portfolio during his time in office (1975–1984), as it resulted in a large concentration of power in the hands of one individual.[8]

Before 1987 it was common for prime ministers to take the role of minister of foreign affairs, so they could represent New Zealand on the international stage.[19] More recent prime ministers have taken portfolios relevant to their interests, or to promote specific areas they saw as important. For example, David Lange took the education portfolio in his second term; Helen Clark took the role of minister for arts, culture and heritage; John Key served as minister for tourism; and Jacinda Ardern became minister for child-poverty reduction.[8]

Although no longer likely to be the minister of foreign affairs, the prime minister remains responsible for welcoming foreign heads of government, visiting leaders overseas, and attending Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings.[19]

Conventionally, the prime minister is the responsible minister for the  Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC; founded in 1990), which has the task of supporting the policy agenda of Cabinet through policy advice and the coordination of the implementation of key government programmes.[19][21] During the Fifth National Government (2008–2017) the DPMC expanded to give prime ministers greater supervision of  security and intelligence. Until 2014 Prime Minister John Key also held ministerial responsibility for the New Zealand Security and Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and for the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB).[19]

## Privileges of office[edit | edit source]

### Salary and perquisites[edit | edit source]

Under the Remuneration Authority Act 1977, and the Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013, a prime minister's salary is determined annually by the Remuneration Authority, an independent body established by parliament to set salaries for members of parliament and other government officials.[22] MPs' salaries have been temporarily reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand—the prime minister's salary is NZ$471,049.[23][24] In addition, like all other ministers and MPs, the prime minister receives annual allowances for travel and lodging, as do the prime minister's spouse and children.[25]

File:Premier House, Wellington 3.jpg

Premier House in Wellington is the prime minister's residence.

The incumbent prime minister's official residence is Premier House, Tinakori Road, Wellington. There the prime minister hosts receptions and events for New Zealand and overseas guests.[26] Unlike the residences of certain other heads of government (e.g. the White House and 10 Downing Street), Premier House does not serve as the government headquarters; the location of the prime minister's office is the Beehive, in the parliament precinct a short distance away.[21] The prime minister's governmental work is supported by the non-partisan Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The separate Private Office of the Prime Minister provides advice and support on political party matters.[21]

The style of "The Right Honourable" (abbreviated to "The Rt Hon") is always granted to the prime minister upon taking office. Former prime ministers retain this style for the remainder of their lives.[6] The written form of address for the head of government should use their full parliamentary title as applicable: The Right Honourable [name], [post-nominal letters], Prime Minister of New Zealand.[27] It is also traditional for the monarch to bestow a knighthood on prime ministers after they leave office,[28] and two prime ministers were knighted while still in office (namely Sir Keith Holyoake in 1970,[29] and Sir Robert Muldoon in 1983[30]).

### Security and transport[edit | edit source]

See also: Official state car § New Zealand

The Diplomatic Protection Service (DPS) is a special branch of the New Zealand Police that is charged with protecting the prime minister (and their family) and other senior government officials, as well as diplomats.[31]

The DPS provides the prime minister with transport; they are driven in the BMW 7 Series 730LD and 750LI, the latter of which is armoured.[32][33] Although usually flown domestically on regularly scheduled Air New Zealand flights, the prime minister also makes use of Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft, most notably is a Boeing 757.[34] The 757 aircraft, which are used for international travel, have been upgraded with work stations, internal air stairs, and military communications capabilities.[35][36] The 757 fleet is set to be replaced by 2028.[37]

### After office[edit | edit source]

Former officeholders are entitled to annuity and travel payments for the rest of their lives. Former prime ministers who held the office for no less than 2 years are entitled to a yearly rate of $10,900 for each complete year the person held office, with a maximum of $54,500 payable annually.[38] Former prime ministers, when travelling within New Zealand, are eligible to be paid if the travel is for the purpose of fulfilling commitments related to her or his role as a former prime minister.[39]

Should a serving or former prime minister die, they are accorded a state funeral (subject to the approval of the family). Two prime ministers who died in office were buried in mausoleums: William Massey (died 1925) in the Massey Memorial in Wellington, and Michael Joseph Savage (died 1940) in the Savage Memorial at Bastion Point in Auckland.[40]

## History[edit | edit source]

File:Henry Sewell, ca 1872.jpg

Henry Sewell, regarded as New Zealand's first premier

Assuming that Henry Sewell is counted as the first prime minister, 40 individuals have held the office since it was established. Some of these people have held it on several occasions, with the record for maximum number of times being shared between William Fox and Harry Atkinson (both of whom served four times). The longest that anyone has served in the office is 13 years, a record set by Richard Seddon. The first holder of the office, Henry Sewell, led the country for the shortest total time; his only term lasted just 13 days. The shortest term belonged to Harry Atkinson, whose third term lasted only seven days, but Atkinson served longer in total than did Sewell.[11] The youngest was Edward Stafford, who was appointed premier in 1856, at 37 years, 40 days old.[41] The oldest was Walter Nash, who was 78 years old when he left office in 1960 (and 75 upon taking office in 1957).[11]

It is regarded that all New Zealand prime ministers thus far have been Pākehā (New Zealand European), and mostly of British and Irish descent. There was persistent speculation during his lifetime that Norman Kirk (Prime Minister from 1972 to 1974) was Māori and had Kāi Tahu ancestry; he never publicly identified himself as such, and there is no substantial evidence for the claim.[42]

New Zealand is one of the few countries in the world to have had three female heads of government, and one of only three countries to have had a female head of government directly succeed another.[43] The first female prime minister was Jenny Shipley of the National Party, who replaced Jim Bolger in late 1997; Shipley was succeeded by Helen Clark in 1999. Jacinda Ardern, the second female leader of the Labour Party after Clark, became prime minister in 2017.[41]

### Early leaders[edit | edit source]

On becoming the Colony of New Zealand in 1841, New Zealand was directly governed by a governor, appointed by the Colonial Office in Britain. Self-government was established in 1853, following the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, and the First Parliament met on 24 May 1854.[44]

The origins of the office of prime minister are disputed. Use of the words prime minister as a descriptive term date back to the First Parliament, where they are applied to James FitzGerald and Thomas Forsaith.[45] FitzGerald and Forsaith had no official titles, however, and New Zealand had not yet obtained self-government. As such, they are not usually considered prime ministers in any substantive sense.[46]

The first person to be formally appointed to a position of executive leadership was Henry Sewell,[46] who formed a brief ministry in April 1856, at the beginning of the Second Parliament. Despite his formal leadership role, however, his only actual title was "colonial secretary",[45] a position comparable to a minister of internal affairs. His successor, William Fox, was also given a formal leadership role, but was not colonial secretary. When Frederick Weld became the sixth person appointed to formal leadership, a substantive leadership title, "premier", appeared. Weld's successor, Edward Stafford, briefly changed the title to "first minister", but it was soon restored to premier during the second tenure of Fox.[4] From that point, the title "premier" was used almost exclusively for the remainder of the 19th century. Nevertheless, in the Schedule of the Civil List of 1873, provision was made for the salary of the head of government, referred to as the "Prime Minister".[4]

Initially, premiers acted as mere advisers to the governor—with the governor at times a very active partner. This began to change during the first tenure of Edward Stafford. Stafford met with his ministers and made decisions outside of the Executive Council (which was chaired by the governor), thus establishing the modern convention of cabinet government.[47] Stafford also clashed with the governor over control of native affairs, which was eventually to fall within the premier's powers.[48]

### Party leadership[edit | edit source]

File:RichardSeddon1905.jpg

Richard Seddon styled himself "Prime Minister" in 1901

The political position of the premier was enhanced by the development of modern political parties; premier John Ballance organised the first formal party in New Zealand, forming the Liberal Government in 1891.[49] (Subsequent governments were led by prime ministers from the Reform, United, Labour and National parties). Although not every government would have a large majority, the party system and tight control of party members by whips helped heads of government to direct the passage of legislation in the House of Representatives. In 1893, the premier gained the ability to restrict the term of appointments to the Legislative Council.[50]

The title of "prime minister" was used by Richard Seddon after 1901,[4] following New Zealand's self-exclusion from the Federation of Australia. Seddon's immediate successor, William Hall-Jones, was the first to be sworn in as "prime minister", in 1906.[51]

The expanding power of the prime minister was kept in check by the need to build consensus with other leading members of Cabinet and of the governing party, including those who represented various ideological wings of the party. Other institutions, including Parliament itself and the wider state bureaucracy, also acted as limits on prime ministerial power; in 1912 Thomas Mackenzie was the last prime minister to lose power through an unsuccessful confidence motion in the House of Representatives.[11]

### Towards modern leadership[edit | edit source]

One change brought about by the First World War was direct participation in governing the British Empire. Previously, New Zealand prime ministers had attended occasional colonial and imperial conferences, but they otherwise communicated with London through the governor (a position then appointed by the British government). In 1917 British prime minister David Lloyd George offered the New Zealand prime minister a seat in the Imperial War Cabinet, the British Empire's wartime coordinating body. In 1919, Bill Massey signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of New Zealand, signalling the independence of New Zealand within the Empire, although Massey downplayed the event as an ardent imperialist.[52]

Constitutional conventions adopted in 1930, following the Imperial Conference held that year, increased the domestic and international prestige of the prime minister. The Statute of Westminster 1931 confirmed that Dominions had exclusive power to make their laws. New Zealand initially resisted greater autonomy and did not adopt the statute until 1947. Increasingly New Zealand began to act independently in foreign affairs. During the 1940s the prime minister's profile rose as New Zealand signed a number of international treaties.[52] In 1967, Keith Holyoake became the first New Zealand prime minister to select candidates for the position of governor-general without any involvement of the British government. Holyoake advised the monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, to appoint Sir Arthur Porritt, the first New Zealand-born governor-general.[48]

File:John Key Helen Clark handshake.jpg

The 37th and 38th prime ministers of New Zealand, pictured in 2009: John Key meets his predecessor, Helen Clark.

After the mixed-member proportional (MMP) system was introduced in 1996, prime ministers have had to manage minority governments. The skill of MMP management was exemplified by Helen Clark's nine years as prime minister (1999–2008), when her Labour government remained in power thanks to a range of confidence-and-supply agreements with five smaller parties.[53]

Until the premiership of Helen Clark, it was customary for senior members of the legislature, executive and judiciary—including the prime minister—to be appointed to the British Privy Council, granting them the style "Right Honourable". This practice was discontinued at the same time as the abolition of knighthoods and damehoods in 2000 from the New Zealand royal honours system. National's John Key became prime minister in 2008 and moved to restore titular honours,[54] but did not resume appointments to the Privy Council, meaning Key was styled "The Honourable". On 3 August 2010 the Queen granted the prime minister, along with the governor-general, speaker of the House of Representatives and chief justice, the style "Right Honourable" upon appointment.[55]

On 21 June 2018, Labour's Jacinda Ardern became the first prime minister of New Zealand (and second elected head of government in the world) to give birth while in office.[56][57] From 2020, Ardern is also the first prime minister to lead a single-party majority government since the introduction of MMP.[58]

## Living former prime ministers[edit | edit source]

As of April 2026, there are six living former New Zealand prime ministers, as seen below.

* Geoffrey Palmer, 2020.jpg

Sir Geoffrey Palmer
(1989–1990)
(1942-04-21) 21 April 1942 (age 84)

* Jim Bolger at press conference retouched.jpg

Jim Bolger
(1990–1997)
(1935-05-31) 31 May 1935 (age 90)

* Jenny Shipley and Winnie Laban (crop).jpg

Dame Jenny Shipley
(1997–1999)
(1952-02-02) 2 February 1952 (age 74)

* Helen Clark official photo (cropped).jpg

Helen Clark
(1999–2008)
(1950-02-26) 26 February 1950 (age 76)

* John Key February 2015.jpg

Sir John Key
(2008–2016)
(1961-08-09) 9 August 1961 (age 64)

* Bill English KNZM (cropped).jpg

Sir Bill English
(2016–2017)
(1961-12-30) 30 December 1961 (age 64)

The most recent death of a former prime minister was Mike Moore (served 1990) on 2 February 2020, aged 71.[59]

## Deputy prime minister[edit | edit source]

Main article: Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand

An office titled "deputy prime minister" has existed since 1949.[h][60] The deputy typically holds important ministerial portfolios and, by convention, becomes acting prime minister in the absence or incapacity of the prime minister. The deputy is commonly a member of the same party as the prime minister, but not necessarily so; in coalition governments the parliamentary leader of a junior party may be offered the post.[61][62] Grant Robertson has been deputy prime minister since November 2020, and minister of finance.[63]

## Lists relating to the prime ministers of New Zealand[edit | edit source]

Lists of the 40 people who have so far held the premiership:

* List of prime ministers of New Zealand
* List of prime ministers of New Zealand by age
* List of prime ministers of New Zealand by place of birth
* List of burial places of New Zealand prime ministers

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Spouse of the prime minister of New Zealand
* List of New Zealand electorates represented by sitting prime ministers
* New Zealand order of precedence
* List of New Zealand governments
* List of current heads of state and government

## Notes[edit | edit source]

1. ^ Convention merely requires that the prime minister's government can survive a motion of no-confidence. As a practical necessity, the head of government is usually the leader of the party with a plurality of seats in the House of Representatives. However, on rare occasion, they may lead a coalition government that outnumbers the single largest party.
2. ^ The aftermath of the 1931 New Zealand general election proved an exception.
3. ^ Five premiers and prime ministers have died in office: John Ballance (1893), Richard Seddon (1906), William Massey (1925), Michael Joseph Savage (1940), and Norman Kirk (1974).[11] All died of natural causes. See: List of members of the New Zealand Parliament who died in office.
4. ^ No prime minister in New Zealand has ever exercised the power of recall. Three governors were recalled during the colonial period, but on the advice of British ministers.
5. ^ The prime minister is legally obligated to do so within three years of the previous election.
6. ^ Some political scientists have gone so far as to describe the Cabinet as the prime minister's "focus group".[17]
7. ^ The extent to which this power can be exercised varies between parties; the  Labour Party, for example, places most of this responsibility in the hands of its  parliamentary caucus, leaving the prime minister only with the power to choose which portfolios a minister is given.[18] Furthermore, the MMP electoral system has complicated this, as a prime minister may have to consult with the leaders of other parties in government.
8. ^ The formal title dates to 1949, although the role of deputy has existed on an informal basis for as long as the office of prime minister/premier has existed.

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ^ "Where Jacinda Ardern ranks among highest-paid world leaders". Newshub. 22 April 2019. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
2. ^ "Green Party ratifies confidence and supply deal with Labour". The New Zealand Herald. 19 October 2017. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
3. ^ "The Governor-General's role in a General Election" (Press release). The Governor-General of New Zealand.
4. ^ a b c d McLintock, Alexander Hare (1966). "Prime Minister: The Title 'Premier'". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
5. ^ Moorfield, John C (ed.), "Pirimia", Te Aka Online Māori Dictionary, Pearson, retrieved 16 November 2018
6. ^ a b "The Right Honourable". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 13 October 2012.
7. ^ a b c d e f g "Prime Minister". Cabinet Manual. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2008. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
8. ^ a b c d e f McLean, Gavin (1 December 2016). "Premiers and prime ministers – The role of prime minister". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
9. ^ "Parties and Government". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
10. ^ "The Prime Minister's resignation – what does it mean for Parliament?". New Zealand Parliament. 6 December 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
11. ^ a b c d "Prime ministerial trivia". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
12. ^ "Ministers of the Crown". Cabinet Manual. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
13. ^ "The Reserve Powers". The Governor-General of New Zealand. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
14. ^ "NZLS New Zealand Law Journal", New Zealand Law Journal, LexisNexis: 114–115, 2008, ISSN 0028-8373
15. ^ ""Term of Parliament," Section 17 of the Constitution Act 1986". Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
16. ^ "Chapter 8 Parties and Government". New Zealand Parliament. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
17. ^ a b Cross, William P.; Blais, André (2012). Politics at the Centre: The Selection and Removal of Party Leaders in the Anglo Parliamentary Democracies. p. 2\. ISBN 9780199596720.
18. ^ Dowding, Keith; Dumont, Patrick (2014). The Selection of Ministers around the World. Routledge. p. 27\. ISBN 9781317634454.
19. ^ a b c d e Hayward, Margaret (2015). New Zealand Government and Politics. Auckland: Oxford University Press. pp. 371–373. ISBN 978-0-19-558525-4.
20. ^ "New Zealand's darkest day". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
21. ^ a b c "Premiers and prime ministers – Support Services and Statues". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
22. ^ "Clients' remuneration: Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister and Ministers". The Remuneration Authority. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
23. ^ "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances (Temporary Reduction—COVID-19) Determination 2020 (LI 2020/114)". www.legislation.govt.nz. New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office. 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
24. ^ "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination (No 2) 2020 (LI 2020/327) (as at 15 July 2021) Schedule 1 Salaries payable under section 8 of Members of Parliament (Remuneration and Services) Act 2013 for periods specified in clause 5(1) – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
25. ^ "Members of Parliament (Accommodation Services for Members and Travel Services for Family Members and Former Prime Ministers) Determination 2014". New Zealand Legislation. Parliamentary Counsel Office. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
26. ^ "Vogel House and Premier House - Housing the Prime Minister". nzhistory.govt.nz. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
27. ^ "Titles and styles of knights and dames". The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
28. ^ "Editorial: John Key knighthood follows long tradition of honouring PMs". Stuff. 5 June 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
29. ^ "No. 45119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 June 1970. p. 6405.
30. ^ "No. 49584". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1983. p. 33.
31. ^ "Diplomatic Protection Service". New Zealand Police. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
32. ^ "Government's new BMW limousines are partly made of plastic". Stuff. 30 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
33. ^ "Why Harry and Meghan were riding around in an old BMW". Stuff. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
34. ^ "Boeing 757-2K2". New Zealand Defence Force. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
35. ^ "Boeing 757 Acquisition/Modification". www.defense-aerospace.com. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
36. ^ "Air Force big on sustainability, commercial airlines follow". NZ Herald. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
37. ^ "Defence Capability Plan | Ministry of Defence Website". www.defence.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
38. ^ "Parliamentary Annuities Determination (No 2) 2020 (LI 2020/297) 4 Annuity for former Prime Minister – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
39. ^ "Members of Parliament (Former Prime Ministers Travel Services) Determination 2017 (LI 2017/261) 7 Travel services – New Zealand Legislation". www.legislation.govt.nz. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
40. ^ "Savage Memorial". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
41. ^ a b Coulter, Martin (19 October 2017). "New Zealand gets its third female Prime Minister, aged 37". Evening Standard. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
42. ^ Bassett, Michael. "Kirk, Norman Eric". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
43. ^ "Women fight it out in NZ poll". The Independent. 21 November 1999. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
44. ^ "The House of Representatives – First sitting, 1854". Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
45. ^ a b McLean, Gavin (2006). The Governors: New Zealand's Governors and Governors-General. Otago University Press. p. 354\. ISBN 9781877372254.
46. ^ a b McLintock, Alexander Hare; Foster, Bernard John; Taonga (1966). "The First Premier". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 15 May 2018.
47. ^ Bohan, Edward (1994). Edward Stafford, New Zealand's first statesman. Christchurch, New Zealand: Hazard Press. ISBN 0-908790-67-8.
48. ^ a b McLean, Gavin (October 2006), The Governors, New Zealand Governors and Governors-General, Otago University Press, ISBN 978-1-877372-25-4
49. ^ McLintock, Alexander Hare (1966). "The Rise of the Liberal Party". An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
50. ^ Parliamentary Debates, Volume 289. New Zealand Parliament. 1950. p. 642.
51. ^ "Hall-Jones, William". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. 1993. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
52. ^ a b "Party leadership". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
53. ^ McLean, Gavin (1 December 2016). "Premiers and prime ministers - Towards modern leadership". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 16 May 2018.
54. ^ "Titles of Dames, Knights to be restored – Key". The New Zealand Herald. 8 March 2009.
55. ^ "New rules for use of the Right Honourable". The Royal Household. 3 August 2010 - via Scoop.co.nz.
56. ^ Khan, M Ilyas (21 June 2018). "Ardern and Bhutto: Two different pregnancies in power". BBC News. Retrieved 22 June 2018. "Now that New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has hit world headlines by becoming only the second elected head of government to give birth in office, attention has naturally been drawn to the first such leader – Pakistan's late two-time Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto."
57. ^ "It's a girl! Jacinda Ardern gives birth to her first child". Newshub. 21 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018. "She is only the second world leader in history to give birth while in office. Pakistan's former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto gave birth to a daughter in 1990."
58. ^ "Election 2020: Jacinda Ardern claims biggest Labour victory in 50 years". Stuff. 17 October 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
59. ^ "Former prime minister and WTO director-general Mike Moore dies aged 71". Stuff. 2 February 2020. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
60. ^ Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V. R. Ward, Government Printer. p. 118\. OCLC 154283103.
61. ^ Small, Vernon (8 December 2012). "Labour leader looks to outsiders for deputy". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
62. ^ Mulgan, R. G.; Aimer, Peter (2004). Politics in New Zealand (3rd ed.). Auckland, N.Z.: Auckland University Press. p. 79\. ISBN 1869403185.
63. ^ Cooke, Henry (2 November 2020). "Grant Robertson new deputy prime minister as Jacinda Ardern reshapes Cabinet for new Government". Stuff. Retrieved 22 November 2020.

## External links[edit | edit source]

* Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)
* Biographies of Premiers and Prime Ministers at NZHistory
* Prime Minister press releases at Beehive.govt.nz

* v
* t
* e

Premiers and prime ministers of New Zealand (List)

* Sewell
* Fox
* Stafford
* Domett
* Whitaker
* Weld
* Waterhouse
* Vogel
* Pollen
* Atkinson
* Grey
* Hall
* Stout
* Ballance
* Seddon
* Hall-Jones
* Ward
* Mackenzie
* Massey
* Bell
* Coates
* Forbes
* Savage
* Fraser
* Holland
* Holyoake
* Nash
* Marshall
* Kirk
* Watt (acting)
* Rowling
* Muldoon
* Lange
* Palmer
* Moore
* Bolger
* Shipley
* Clark
* Key
* English
* Ardern

Coat of arms of New Zealand

* v
* t
* e

Lists of prime ministers of New Zealand

By order|

* Age
* Order of service
* Place of birth
* Place of burial

Coat of arms of New Zealand

Other|

* Electorates
* Spouses

* v
* t
* e

Electoral histories of New Zealand prime ministers

* Henry Sewell
* William Fox
* Edward Stafford
* Alfred Domett
* Frederick Whitaker
* Frederick Weld
* George Waterhouse
* Julius Vogel
* Daniel Pollen
* Harry Atkinson
* George Grey
* John Hall
* Robert Stout
* John Ballance
* Richard Seddon
* William Hall-Jones
* Joseph Ward
* Thomas Mackenzie
* William Massey
* Francis Bell
* Gordon Coates
* George Forbes
* Michael Joseph Savage
* Peter Fraser
* Sidney Holland
* Keith Holyoake
* Walter Nash
* Jack Marshall
* Norman Kirk
* Bill Rowling
* Robert Muldoon
* David Lange
* Geoffrey Palmer
* Mike Moore
* Jim Bolger
* Jenny Shipley
* Helen Clark
* John Key
* Bill English
* Jacinda Ardern

Coat of arms of New Zealand

* v
* t
* e

New Zealand articles

History|

* Timeline
* Archaeology
* Natural history
* Military history
* Māori history

* Treaty of Waitangi
* New Zealand Wars
* Women's suffrage
* New Zealand and Antarctica
* Colony
* Dominion
* Independence

Geography|

| Physical|

* Biodiversity
* Caves
* Climate
* Climate change
* Earthquakes
* Environment
* Geology
* Islands
* North Island
* South Island
* Lakes
* Mountains
* Protected areas
* Marine reserves
* National parks
* Rivers
* Volcanism
* Water

|

Cities|

* Auckland
* Christchurch
* Dunedin
* Hamilton
* Hastings
* Invercargill
* Napier
* Nelson
* New Plymouth
* Palmerston North
* Rotorua
* Tauranga
* Wellington
* capital
* Whangārei

Subdivisions|

* Regions
* Territorial authorities

Politics|

* Constitution
* Elections
* Electoral system
* Political parties
* Voting
* Foreign relations
* Gun law
* Human rights
* Disability
* Intersex
* LGBT
* Judiciary
* Supreme Court
* Chief Justice
* Law
* enforcement
* Māori politics
* Military
* Monarchy
* Official Opposition
* Parliament (House of Representatives)
* Political funding
* Public sector

Government|

* Cabinet
* list
* Governor-General
* list
* Ministers
* Prime Minister
* list

Economy|

* Agriculture
* Dairy farming
* Wine industry
* Companies
* Dollar
* Energy
* Information technology
* Manufacturing
* Mining
* Poverty
* Reserve Bank
* Rogernomics
* Taxation
* Telecommunications
* Tourism
* Transportation
* Rail transport
* Welfare

Society|

* Citizenship
* Crime
* Demographics
* Ethnic origins
* Education
* Gender equality
* Health care
* Homelessness
* Housing
* Immigration
* Languages
* Māori
* New Zealand English
* New Zealand Sign Language
* LGBT issues
* People
* "Kiwi"
* Māori
* Women
* Religion

Culture|

* Architecture
* Art
* Cinema
* Cuisine
* Literature
* Māori culture
* Media
* Music
* Public holidays
* Radio
* Sport
* Symbols
* Television

* Outline

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Parliament of New Zealand

Components|

* Monarch (represented by the Governor-General)
* Legislative Council (1841–1853)
* Legislative Council (1853–1950)
* House of Representatives

File:Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg
File:House of Representatives crest.png

Parliamentary
officers|

| Legislative Council|

* Speaker of the Legislative Council (defunct)
* Chairman of Committees (defunct)
* Leader of the Legislative Council (defunct)

|

House of
Representatives|

* Speaker of the House of Representatives
* Chairman of Committees (defunct)
* Clerk
* Leader of the House
* Ministers
* Prime Minister
* Leader of the Opposition
* Shadow Ministry
* Shadow Leader of the House
* Whips

Members|

| Legislative Council|

* Abolition of the Legislative Council
* Members of the Legislative Council

|

House of
Representatives|

* Current (previous)
* 30+ years
* Father or Mother of the House
* Baby of the House

Procedure|

* Speech from the throne
* Question Time
* Readings of bills
* Members' bills
* Committees
* Queen's Consent
* Royal assent

Elections|

* Previous
* Next
* List
* Electoral system
* Mixed-member proportional (current)
* First-past-the-post (previously)
* Electorates
* By-elections
* Appointments
* Supplementary elections (defunct)
* Caretaker government

Locations|

* General Assembly House, Auckland (demolished)
* Parliament House, Wellington (current)
* Beehive (current executive wing)
* Parliamentary Library (current)
* Bowen House (current)

Miscellaneous|

* Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
* Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)
* Waka-jumping

* v
* t
* e

Heads of state and government of Oceania

Heads of state|

| Sovereign states|

* Australia
* Fiji
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Federated States of Micronesia
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

|

Associated states of New Zealand|

* Cook Islands
* Niue

Heads of government|

| Sovereign states|

* Australia
* Fiji
* Kiribati
* Marshall Islands
* Federated States of Micronesia
* Nauru
* New Zealand
* Palau
* Papua New Guinea
* Samoa
* Solomon Islands
* Tonga
* Tuvalu
* Vanuatu

|

Associated states of New Zealand|

* Cook Islands
* Niue

* v
* t
* e

Prime ministers

Prime ministers
by country|

* Abkhazia
* Afghanistan
* Albania
* Algeria
* Antigua and Barbuda
* Armenia
* Aruba
* Australia
* Azerbaijan
* Bahamas
* Bahrain
* Bangladesh
* Barbados
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Belize
* Bermuda
* Bhutan
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Burkina Faso
* Burundi
* Cambodia
* Cameroon
* Canada
* Cape Verde
* Central African Republic
* Chad
* Congo (Republic)
* Congo (Democratic Republic)
* Cook Islands
* Croatia
* Cuba
* Curaçao
* Northern Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Djibouti
* Dominica
* East Timor
* Egypt
* Equatorial Guinea
* Estonia
* Ethiopia
* Faroe Islands
* Fiji
* Finland
* France
* Gabon
* Georgia
* Greece
* Greenland
* Grenada
* Guinea
* Guinea-Bissau
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Hungary
* Iceland
* India
* Iraq
* Ireland
* Israel
* Italy
* Jamaica
* Japan
* Jordan
* Kazakhstan
* North Korea
* South Korea
* Kosovo
* Kuwait
* Kyrgyzstan
* Laos
* Latvia
* Lebanon
* Lesotho
* Libya
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Madagascar
* Malaysia
* Mali
* Malta
* Mauritania
* Mauritius
* Moldova
* Mongolia
* Montenegro
* Morocco
* Mozambique
* Myanmar
* Namibia
* Nepal
* Netherlands
* New Zealand
* Niue
* North Macedonia
* Norway
* Pakistan
* Palestine
* Papua New Guinea
* Peru
* Poland
* Portugal
* Qatar
* Romania
* Russia
* Rwanda
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
* Samoa
* São Tomé and Principe
* Saudi Arabia
* Senegal
* Serbia
* Singapore
* Sint Maarten
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Solomon Islands
* Somalia
* South Ossetia
* Spain
* Sri Lanka
* Sudan
* Swaziland
* Sweden
* Syria
* Tajikistan
* Tanzania
* Thailand
* Tonga
* Trinidad and Tobago
* Tunisia
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* Tuvalu
* Uganda
* Ukraine
* United Arab Emirates
* United Kingdom
* Uzbekistan
* Vanuatu
* Vietnam
* Yemen
* Western Sahara

Defunct title|

* Angola
* Benin
* Brazil
* Comoros
* Gambia
* Ghana
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Kenya
* Malawi
* Maldives
* Nagorno-Karabakh
* Nigeria
* Philippines
* Seychelles
* South Africa
* Turkey
* Turkmenistan
* Zambia
* Zimbabwe

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template