Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Deputy Prime Minister ofNew Zealand |
|
---|---|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | |
Style |
|
Member of |
|
Reports to | Prime Minister of New Zealand |
Appointer | Governor-General of New Zealand |
Term length | No fixed term |
Formation | 13 December 1949 |
First holder | Keith Holyoake |
Salary | NZ$334,734 annually |
Website | www.beehive.govt.nz |
The deputy prime minister of New Zealand (Māori: Te pirimia tuarua o Aotearoa) is the second most senior member of the Cabinet of New Zealand. The officeholder usually deputises for the prime minister at official functions. The current deputy prime minister is Grant Robertson.
The role existed on an informal basis for as long as the office of prime minister/premier has existed, but the office of "deputy prime minister" was formally established as a ministerial portfolio in 1949. This means that Keith Holyoake is considered as the first deputy prime minister. It was formally designated as a full cabinet level position in 1954.
Appointment and duties
Generally, the position is held by the deputy leader of the largest party, but now that the MMP electoral system makes coalitions more likely, the role may instead go to the leader of a junior party. This occurred with Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First, and Jim Anderton, leader of the Alliance. The current deputy prime minister, Grant Robertson of the Labour Party, has the role even though his party's deputy leader is Kelvin Davis. After the 2020 election, Davis turned down the position, and Robertson was appointed instead.
The post of deputy prime minister was formally established in 1949. Eighteen individuals have held the position (two of them doing so twice) and of those people: Holyoake, Marshall, Watt, Muldoon, Palmer, Clark and English have eventually served as prime minister. The deputy prime minister has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio.
The Deputy Prime Minister "...can, if necessary" exercise the statutory and constitutional functions and powers of the prime ministership if the Prime Minister is unavailable or unable. They can also do the same as Acting Prime Minister, in consultation with the Prime Minister if it is appropriate and practicable. The Deputy Prime Minister can also temporarily act as Prime Minister until the leadership of the government is determined in some cases, like the death or incapacity of the Prime Minister.
Little scholarly attention has focused on deputy prime ministers in New Zealand or elsewhere. In 2009, an article by Steven Barnes appeared in Political Science where nine 'qualities' of deputy prime ministership were identified: temperament; relationships with their Cabinet and caucus; relationships with their party; popularity with the public; media skills; achievements as Deputy Prime Minister; relationship with the Prime Minister; leadership ambition; and method of succession. Barnes conducted a survey of journalists, academics, and former members of parliament to rank New Zealand's deputy prime ministers since 1960. Across the nine deputy prime minister 'qualities', Don McKinnon achieved the number one ranking, followed by Brian Talboys, Michael Cullen, and John Marshall. In a second 'overall' ranking, Cullen was ranked number one, followed by Talboys, McKinnon, and Marshall. Jim Anderton, Winston Peters, and Bob Tizard were ranked lowest in both sections of the survey.
List of deputy prime ministers of New Zealand
- Key
Labour National NZ First Alliance
No. | Name | Portrait | Concurrent portfolio(s) | Term of office | Prime Minister | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Keith Holyoake (1904–1983) |
![]() |
Minister of Agriculture | 13 December 1949 | 20 September 1957 | Holland | ||
2 | Jack Marshall (1912–1988) |
![]() |
Attorney-General Minister of Justice |
20 September 1957 | 12 December 1957 | Holyoake | ||
3 | Jerry Skinner (1900–1962) |
![]() |
Minister of Agriculture Minister of Lands |
12 December 1957 | 12 December 1960 | Nash | ||
(2) | Jack Marshall (1912–1988) |
![]() |
Minister of Overseas Trade Minister of Industries and Commerce Minister of Labour Minister of Immigration |
12 December 1960 | 9 February 1972 | Holyoake | ||
4 | Robert Muldoon (1921–1992) |
![]() |
Minister of Finance | 9 February 1972 | 8 December 1972 | Marshall | ||
5 | Hugh Watt (1912–1980) |
![]() |
Minister of Labour Minister of Works |
8 December 1972 | 1 September 1974 | Kirk | ||
6 | Bob Tizard (1924–2016) |
![]() |
Minister of Finance | 10 September 1974 | 12 December 1975 | Rowling | ||
7 | Brian Talboys (1921–2012) |
![]() |
Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Overseas Trade |
12 December 1975 | 4 March 1981 | Muldoon | ||
8 | Duncan MacIntyre (1915–2001) |
![]() |
Minister of Agriculture | 4 March 1981 | 15 March 1984 | |||
9 | Jim McLay (born 1945) |
![]() |
Attorney-General Minister of Justice |
15 March 1984 | 26 July 1984 | |||
10 | Geoffrey Palmer (born 1942) |
![]() |
Attorney-General Minister of Justice |
26 July 1984 | 8 August 1989 | Lange | ||
11 | Helen Clark (born 1950) |
![]() |
Minister of Labour Minister of Health |
8 August 1989 | 2 November 1990 | Palmer | ||
Moore | ||||||||
12 | Don McKinnon (born 1939) |
![]() |
Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Overseas Trade |
2 November 1990 | 16 December 1996 | Bolger | ||
13 | Winston Peters (born 1945) |
![]() |
Treasurer | 16 December 1996 | 14 August 1998 | |||
Shipley | ||||||||
14 | Wyatt Creech (born 1946) |
![]() |
Minister of Education Minister of Health |
14 August 1998 | 10 December 1999 | |||
15 | Jim Anderton (1938–2018) |
![]() |
Minister of Economic Development Minister of Customs |
10 December 1999 | 15 August 2002 | Clark | ||
16 | Michael Cullen (1945–2021) |
![]() |
Minister of Finance Leader of the House |
15 August 2002 | 19 November 2008 | |||
17 | Bill English (born 1961) |
![]() |
Minister of Finance Minister for Infrastructure |
19 November 2008 | 12 December 2016 | Key | ||
18 | Paula Bennett (born 1969) |
![]() |
Minister of State Services Minister of Police Minister of Tourism |
12 December 2016 | 26 October 2017 | English | ||
(13) | Winston Peters (born 1945) |
![]() |
Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for State Owned Enterprises |
26 October 2017 | 6 November 2020 | Ardern | ||
19 | Grant Robertson (born 1971) |
![]() |
Minister of Finance Minister for Infrastructure |
6 November 2020 | Incumbent |
Living former deputy prime ministers
As of March 2023, there are eight living former New Zealand deputy prime ministers, as seen below. The most recent deputy prime minister to die was Michael Cullen (served 2002–2008), on 19 August 2021, aged 76.
- Living former deputy prime ministers of New Zealand
-
Sir Jim McLay
served 1984
born 1945 (age 78) -
Sir Geoffrey Palmer
served 1984–1989
born 1942 (age 80) -
Helen Clark
served 1989–1990
born 1950 (age 73) -
Sir Don McKinnon
served 1990–1996
born 1939 (age 84) -
Winston Peters
served 1996–1998;
2017–2020
born 1945 (age 77) -
Wyatt Creech
served 1998–1999
born 1946 (age 76) -
Sir Bill English
served 2008–2016
born 1961 (age 61) -
Paula Bennett
served 2016–2017
born 1969 (age 53)
![]() | Hypatia |
![]() | Agnodice |
![]() | Aglaonice |
![]() | Mary the Jewess |