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Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand facts for kids

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Deputy Prime Minister of
New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand.svg
Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg
David Seymour 2023 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
David Seymour

since 31 May 2025
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Style
Member of
  • Cabinet of New Zealand
  • Executive Council
Reports to Prime Minister of New Zealand
Appointer Governor-General of New Zealand
Term length No fixed term
Formation 13 December 1949; 75 years ago (1949-12-13)
First holder Keith Holyoake
Salary NZ$354,100 annually

The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand (in Māori: Māori: Te pirimia tuarua o Aotearoa) is the second most important person in the Cabinet of New Zealand. The Cabinet is a group of top government ministers who make important decisions for the country. The Deputy Prime Minister often steps in for the Prime Minister at official events.

Since May 31, 2025, the current Deputy Prime Minister is David Seymour from the ACT Party. This role has existed informally for a long time. However, it became an official government job in 1949. This means Keith Holyoake was the first official Deputy Prime Minister. In 1954, it became a full position within the Cabinet.

What the Deputy Prime Minister Does

The job of Deputy Prime Minister was officially created in 1949. Since then, 18 different people have held this position. Some people have even held it more than once! Several Deputy Prime Ministers later became the Prime Minister. These include Keith Holyoake, Jack Marshall, Hugh Watt, Robert Muldoon, Geoffrey Palmer, Helen Clark, and Bill English.

The Deputy Prime Minister is always a member of the Cabinet. They also always have at least one other important job in the government.

Helping the Prime Minister

The Deputy Prime Minister can take over the Prime Minister's duties if the Prime Minister is not available or cannot do their job. They can also act as the acting prime minister if needed. This is usually done after talking with the Prime Minister. If something serious happens, like the Prime Minister passing away, the Deputy Prime Minister can temporarily lead the government. They stay in charge until a new leader is chosen.

How the Deputy Prime Minister is Chosen

In the past, the Deputy Prime Minister was usually the second-in-command of the biggest political party. However, since New Zealand started using a new voting system called MMP in 1996, things have changed. Now, New Zealand often has coalition governments. This means different parties work together to form the government.

Because of this, the Deputy Prime Minister role can now go to the leader of a smaller party in the government. This has happened three times with Winston Peters, who leads New Zealand First. It also happened with Jim Anderton, leader of the Alliance, and with David Seymour, leader of ACT New Zealand. Sometimes, the Labour Party has chosen a senior minister who was not their party's deputy leader for the role. This happened with Grant Robertson and Carmel Sepuloni.

Past Deputy Prime Ministers of New Zealand

Here is a list of the people who have served as Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand. The colors show which political party they belonged to.

Key

  Alliance   Labour   National   NZ First   ACT

No. Portrait Name Term of office Other government jobs Prime Minister
1
Keith Holyoake 1954 (cropped)
Keith Holyoake
Keith Holyoake
MP for Pahiatua
(1904–1983)
13 December 1949 20 September 1957
  • Minister of Agriculture
Holland
2
Jack Marshall 1957 (cropped)
Jack Marshall
Jack Marshall
MP for Karori
(1912–1988)
20 September 1957 12 December 1957 Holyoake
3
Jerry Skinner, 1959 (cropped)
Jerry Skinner
Jerry Skinner
MP for Buller
(1900–1962)
12 December 1957 12 December 1960
  • Minister of Agriculture
  • Minister of Lands
Nash
(2)
Jack Marshall, 1972
Jack Marshall
Jack Marshall
MP for Karori
(1912–1988)
12 December 1960 9 February 1972
  • Minister of Overseas Trade
  • Minister of Customs (until 1962)
  • Minister of Industries and Commerce (until 1969)
  • Attorney-General (1969–1971)
  • Minister of Immigration (from 1969)
  • Minister of Labour (from 1969)
Holyoake
4
Robert Muldoon 1970 (cropped)
Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
MP for Tamaki
(1921–1992)
9 February 1972 8 December 1972 Marshall
5
Hugh Watt, 1951 (cropped)
Hugh Watt
Hugh Watt
MP for Onehunga
(1912–1980)
8 December 1972 1 September 1974
  • Minister of Labour
  • Minister of Works (until 1974)
Kirk
6
Bob Tizard, 1968
Bob Tizard
Bob Tizard
MP for Otahuhu
(1924–2016)
10 September 1974 12 December 1975 Rowling
7
Brian Talboys 1980 (cropped)
Brian Talboys
Brian Talboys
MP for Wallace
(1921–2012)
12 December 1975 4 March 1981
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Minister of Overseas Trade
Muldoon
8
Duncan MacIntyre (cropped)
Duncan MacIntyre
Duncan MacIntyre
MP for East Cape
(1915–2001)
4 March 1981 15 March 1984
  • Minister of Agriculture
9
Jim McLay 1986 (cropped)
Jim McLay
Jim McLay
MP for Birkenhead
(born 1945)
15 March 1984 26 July 1984
10
Geoffrey Palmer (red background)
Geoffrey Palmer
Geoffrey Palmer
MP for Christchurch Central
(born 1942)
26 July 1984 8 August 1989
  • Attorney-General
  • Minister of Justice
  • Leader of the House (until 1987)
  • Minister for the Environment (from 1987)
Lange
11
Helen Clark 2002 (cropped)
Helen Clark
Helen Clark
MP for Mount Albert
(born 1950)
8 August 1989 2 November 1990 Palmer
Moore
12
Don McKinnon 1994 (cropped)
Don McKinnon
Don McKinnon
MP for Albany
(born 1939)
2 November 1990 16 December 1996
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Minister of Overseas Trade
  • Leader of the House (from 1993)
Bolger
13
Winston Peters 2008
Winston Peters
Winston Peters
MP for Tauranga
(born 1945)
16 December 1996 14 August 1998
  • Treasurer
Shipley
14
Wyatt Creech, 1998 (cropped 3 by 4)
Wyatt Creech
Wyatt Creech
MP for Wairarapa
(born 1946)
14 August 1998 10 December 1999
  • Leader of the House (until 1998)
  • Minister of Education (until 1999)
  • Minister of Health (from 1999)
15
Jim Anderton 2001 (cropped)
Jim Anderton
Jim Anderton
MP for Wigram
(1938–2018)
10 December 1999 15 August 2002
  • Minister of Economic Development
  • Minister of Consumer Affairs (from 2001)
  • Minister of Customs (from 2001)
Clark
16
Michael Cullen, 2008 (cropped)
Michael Cullen
Michael Cullen
List MP
(1945–2021)
15 August 2002 19 November 2008
17
Bill English 09-16 (2)
Bill English
Bill English
MP for Clutha-Southland (until 2014)
List MP (from 2014)

(born 1961)
19 November 2008 12 December 2016 Key
18
Paula Bennett (cropped)
Paula Bennett
Paula Bennett
MP for Upper Harbour
(born 1969)
12 December 2016 26 October 2017
  • Minister of State Services
  • Minister of Tourism
  • Minister for Climate Change Issues
  • Minister of Police
  • Minister for Women
English
(13)
Winston Peters, 2019
Winston Peters
Winston Peters
List MP
(born 1945)
26 October 2017 6 November 2020
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Minister for Racing
  • Minister for State Owned Enterprises
  • Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control (from 2018)
Ardern
19
Grant Robertson (cropped)
Grant Robertson
Grant Robertson
MP for Wellington Central
(born 1971)
6 November 2020 25 January 2023
  • Minister of Finance
  • Minister for Infrastructure
  • Minister for Sport and Recreation
  • Minister for Racing (until 2022)
20
Carmel Sepuloni (cropped)
Carmel Sepuloni
Carmel Sepuloni
MP for Kelston
(born 1977)
25 January 2023 27 November 2023
  • Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage
  • Minister for Social Development and Employment
  • Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
  • Minister for Auckland
Hipkins
(13)
Winston Peters 2023 cropped headshot
Winston Peters
Winston Peters
List MP
(born 1945)
27 November 2023 31 May 2025
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Minister for Racing
  • Minister for Rail (from 2024)
Luxon
21
David Seymour 2023 (cropped) (cropped)
David Seymour
David Seymour
MP for Epsom
(born 1983)
31 May 2025 Incumbent
  • Minister for Regulation

Timeline of Deputy Prime Ministers

This timeline shows when each person served as Deputy Prime Minister and which political party they belonged to.

David Seymour Carmel Sepuloni Grant Robertson Paula Bennett Bill English Michael Cullen (politician) Jim Anderton Wyatt Creech Winston Peters Don McKinnon Helen Clark Geoffrey Palmer (New Zealand politician) Jim MacLay Duncan MacIntyre (New Zealand politician) Brian Talboys Bob Tizard Hugh Watt Robert Muldoon Jerry Skinner Jack Marshall Keith Holyoake
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