List of prime ministers of New Zealand facts for kids
The prime minister of New Zealand is the country's head of government and the leader of the Cabinet, whose powers and responsibilities are defined by convention. Officially, the prime minister is appointed by the governor-general, but by convention, the prime minister must have the confidence of the House of Representatives. The prime minister is always a member of parliament.
Originally, prime ministers headed loose coalitions of independents, which were often unstable; since the advent of political parties, the prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party represented in the house. Since 1935, every prime minister has been a member of either the National party or the Labour party, reflecting their domination of New Zealand politics. After the introduction of mixed-member proportional voting in 1996, prime ministers have usually needed to negotiate agreements with smaller parties to maintain a majority in Parliament.
The title of the office was originally "colonial secretary", which was formally changed to "premier" in 1869. That title remained in use almost exclusively for more than 30 years, until Richard Seddon changed it to "prime minister" during his tenure in the office; he used the title officially at the 1902 Colonial Conference.
Some historians regard James FitzGerald as New Zealand's first prime minister, although a more conventional view is that neither he nor his successor (Thomas Forsaith) should properly be given that title, as New Zealand did not yet have responsible government when they served. Most commonly, Henry Sewell, who served during 1856, is regarded as New Zealand's first premier. Beginning with Sewell, 41 individuals have so far held the premiership, not including acting prime ministers. Nine prime ministers have held the position for more than one period in office. Richard Seddon, prime minister for thirteen years between 1893 and 1906, held the office for the longest term. The youngest prime minister was Edward Stafford, who assumed office at age 37, and the oldest was Walter Nash, who left office at age 78. Three prime ministers have been women, a count equalled by Iceland, Lithuania, Poland and the United Kingdom, and only surpassed by Finland and Switzerland.
The current prime minister is Christopher Luxon, who assumed office on 27 November 2023.
List of officeholders
The parties shown are those to which the heads of government belonged at the time they held office and the electoral districts shown are those they represented while in office. Several prime ministers belonged to parties other than those given and represented other electorates before and after their time in office. A number in brackets indicates the prime minister served a previous term in office.
- Political parties
Independent Liberal Reform United Labour National
- Symbols
Died in office
| No. | Portrait | Name Constituency (Birth–Death) |
Election (Parliament) |
Term of office | Political party | Government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| 1 |  |
The Honourable Henry Sewell MP for Christchurch, Canterbury (1807–1879) |
1855 (2nd) | 7 May 1856 |
20 May 1856 |
14 days | Independent | Sewell |
| 2 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir William Fox KCMG MP for Wanganui and Rangitikei, Wellington (1812–1893) |
– (2nd) | 20 May 1856 |
2 June 1856 |
14 days | Independent | Fox I |
| 3 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Edward Stafford GCMG MP for Nelson, Nelson Province (1819–1901) |
– (2nd) | 2 June 1856 |
12 July 1861 |
5 years, 41 days |
Independent | Stafford I |
| (2) | |
The Right Honourable Sir William Fox KCMG MP for Rangitikei, Wellington (1812–1893) |
1860–1861 (3rd) | 12 July 1861 |
6 August 1862 |
1 year, 26 days |
Independent | Fox II |
| 4 |  |
The Honourable Alfred Domett MP for Nelson, Nelson Province (1811–1887) |
– (3rd) | 6 August 1862 |
30 October 1863 |
1 year, 86 days |
Independent | Domett |
| 5 |  |
The Honourable Sir Frederick Whitaker KCMG Councillor (1812–1891) |
– (3rd) | 30 October 1863 |
24 November 1864 |
1 year, 26 days |
Independent | Whitaker–Fox |
| 6 |  |
The Honourable Sir Frederick Weld GCMG MP for Cheviot, Canterbury (1823–1891) |
– (3rd) | 24 November 1864 |
16 October 1865 |
327 days | Independent | Weld |
| (3) | |
The Right Honourable Sir Edward Stafford GCMG MP for Nelson, Nelson Province until 1868 MP for Timaru, Canterbury from 1868 (1819–1901) |
– (3rd) 1866 (4th) |
16 October 1865 |
28 June 1869 |
3 years, 256 days |
Independent | Stafford II |
| No. | Portrait | Name Constituency (Birth–Death) |
Election (Parliament) |
Term of office | Political party | Government | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| (2) | |
The Right Honourable Sir William Fox KCMG MP for Rangitikei, Wellington (1812–1893) |
– (4th) 1871 (5th) |
28 June 1869 |
10 September 1872 |
3 years, 75 days |
Independent | Fox III |
| (3) |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Edward Stafford GCMG MP for Timaru, Canterbury (1819–1901) |
– (5th) | 10 September 1872 |
11 October 1872 |
32 days | Independent | Stafford III |
| 7 |  |
The Right Honourable George Waterhouse Councillor (1824–1906) |
– (5th) | 11 October 1872 |
3 March 1873 |
144 days | Independent | Waterhouse |
| (2) | |
The Right Honourable Sir William Fox KCMG MP for Rangitikei, Wellington (1812–1893) |
– (5th) | 3 March 1873 |
8 April 1873 |
37 days | Independent | Fox IV |
| 8 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Julius Vogel KCMG MP for Auckland East, Auckland (1835–1899) |
– (5th) | 8 April 1873 |
6 July 1875 |
2 years, 90 days |
Independent | Vogel I |
| 9 |  |
The Honourable Daniel Pollen Councillor (1813–1896) |
– (5th) | 6 July 1875 |
15 February 1876 |
225 days | Independent | Pollen |
| (8) | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Sir Julius Vogel KCMG MP for Wanganui, Wellington (1835–1899) |
1875–1876 (6th) | 15 February 1876 |
1 September 1876 |
200 days | Independent | Vogel II |
| 10 |  |
The Honourable Sir Harry Atkinson KCMG MP for Egmont, Taranaki. provinces abolished on 1 November 1876 (1831–1892) |
– (6th) | 1 September 1876 |
13 October 1877 |
1 year, 43 days |
Independent | Atkinson I • II "Continuous Ministry" |
| 11 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir George Grey KCB MP for Thames (1812–1898) |
– (6th) | 13 October 1877 |
8 October 1879 |
1 year, 361 days |
Independent | Grey |
| 12 |  |
The Honourable Sir John Hall KCMG MP for Selwyn (1824–1907) |
1879 (7th) 1881 (8th) |
8 October 1879 |
21 April 1882 |
2 years, 196 days |
Independent | Hall "Continuous Ministry" |
| (5) |  |
The Honourable Sir Frederick Whitaker KCMG Councillor (1812–1891) |
– (8th) | 21 April 1882 |
25 September 1883 |
1 year, 158 days |
Independent | Whitaker "Continuous Ministry" |
| (10) |  |
The Honourable Sir Harry Atkinson KCMG MP for Egmont (1831–1892) |
– (8th) | 25 September 1883 |
16 August 1884 |
327 days | Independent | Atkinson III "Continuous Ministry" |
| 13 |  |
The Right Honourable Robert Stout KCMG MP for Dunedin East (1844–1930) |
1884 (9th) | 16 August 1884 |
28 August 1884 |
13 days | Independent | Stout–Vogel |
| (10) | |
The Honourable Sir Harry Atkinson KCMG MP for Egmont (1831–1892) |
– (9th) | 28 August 1884 |
3 September 1884 |
7 days | Independent | Atkinson IV "Continuous Ministry" |
| (13) |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Robert Stout KCMG MP for Dunedin East (1844–1930) |
– (9th) | 3 September 1884 |
8 October 1887 |
3 years, 36 days |
Independent | Stout–Vogel |
| (10) |  |
The Honourable Sir Harry Atkinson KCMG MP for Egmont (1831–1892) |
1887 (10th) | 8 October 1887 |
24 January 1891 |
3 years, 109 days |
Independent | Atkinson V "Scarecrow Ministry" |
| 14 |  |
The Right Honourable John Ballance MP for Wanganui (1839–1893) |
1890 (11th) | 24 January 1891 |
27 April 1893 |
2 years, 94 days |
Liberal | Liberal |
| 15 |  |
The Right Honourable Richard Seddon MP for Westland (1845–1906) |
– (11th) 1893 (12th) 1896 (13th) 1899 (14th) 1902 (15th) 1905 (16th) |
1 May 1893 |
10 June 1906 |
13 years, 41 days |
||
| 16 |  |
The Honourable William Hall-Jones KCMG MP for Timaru (1851–1936) |
– (16th) | 21 June 1906 |
6 August 1906 |
47 days | ||
| 17 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Joseph Ward BtGCMG MP for Awarua (1856–1930) |
– (16th) 1908 (17th) 1911 (18th) |
6 August 1906 |
12 March 1912 |
5 years, 220 days |
Liberal C&S with IPLL 1908–1910; Labour 1910–1912; independents 1911–1912 |
|
| 18 |  |
The Right Honourable Thomas Mackenzie GCMG MP for Egmont (1853–1930) |
– (18th) | 28 March 1912 |
10 July 1912 |
105 days | ||
| 19 |  |
The Right Honourable William Massey MP for Franklin (1856–1925) |
– (18th) 1914 (19th) 1919 (20th) 1922 (21st) |
10 July 1912 |
10 May 1925 |
12 years, 305 days |
Reform | Reform with Liberal 1915–1919; C&S with independents |
| 20 |  |
The Right Honourable Francis Bell GCMGKC Councillor (1851–1936) |
– (21st) | 14 May 1925 |
30 May 1925 |
17 days | ||
| 21 |  |
The Right Honourable Gordon Coates MC* MP for Kaipara (1878–1943) |
– (21st) 1925 (22nd) |
30 May 1925 |
10 December 1928 |
3 years, 195 days |
||
| (17) |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Joseph Ward BtGCMG MP for Invercargill (1856–1930) |
1928 (23rd) | 10 December 1928 |
28 May 1930 |
1 year, 170 days |
United | United with Labour; C&S with independents |
| 22 |  |
The Right Honourable George Forbes MP for Hurunui (1869–1947) |
– (23rd) | 28 May 1930 |
6 December 1935 |
5 years, 193 days |
||
| 1931 (24th) | United–Reform Coalition | |||||||
| 23 | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Michael Joseph Savage MP for Auckland West (1872–1940) |
1935 (25th) 1938 (26th) |
6 December 1935 |
27 March 1940 |
4 years, 113 days |
Labour | First Labour C&S with Rātana 1935–1936; independents 1935–1946 |
| 24 |  |
The Right Honourable Peter Fraser CH MP for Wellington Central until 1946 MP for Brooklyn from 1946 (1884–1950) |
– (26th) 1943 (27th) 1946 (28th) |
1 April 1940 |
13 December 1949 |
9 years, 257 days |
||
| 25 | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Sir Sidney Holland GCMGCH MP for Fendalton (1893–1961) |
1949 (29th) 1951 (30th) 1954 (31st) |
13 December 1949 |
20 September 1957 |
7 years, 282 days |
National | First National |
| 26 | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Sir Keith Holyoake KGGCMGCHQSOKStJ MP for Pahiatua (1904–1983) |
– (31st) | 20 September 1957 |
12 December 1957 |
84 days | ||
| 27 | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Sir Walter Nash GCMGCH MP for Hutt (1882–1968) |
1957 (32nd) | 12 December 1957 |
12 December 1960 |
3 years, 1 day |
Labour | Second Labour |
| (26) |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Keith Holyoake KGGCMGCHQSOKStJ MP for Pahiatua (1904–1983) |
1960 (33rd) 1963 (34th) 1966 (35th) 1969 (36th) |
12 December 1960 |
7 February 1972 |
11 years, 58 days |
National | Second National |
| 28 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Jack Marshall GBECHED MP for Karori (1912–1988) |
– (36th) | 7 February 1972 |
8 December 1972 |
306 days | ||
| 29 |  |
The Right Honourable Norman Kirk MP for Sydenham (1923–1974) |
1972 (37th) | 8 December 1972 |
31 August 1974 |
1 year, 267 days |
Labour | Third Labour |
| — | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Hugh Watt JP MP for Onehunga (1912–1980) Acting prime minister |
– (37th) | 31 August 1974 |
6 September 1974 |
7 days | ||
| 30 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Bill Rowling KCMG MP for Tasman (1927–1995) |
– (37th) | 6 September 1974 |
12 December 1975 |
1 year, 98 days |
||
| 31 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Robert Muldoon GCMGCH MP for Tamaki (1921–1992) |
1975 (38th) 1978 (39th) 1981 (40th) |
12 December 1975 |
26 July 1984 |
8 years, 228 days |
National | Third National |
| 32 |
.jpg) |
The Right Honourable David Lange ONZCH MP for Mangere (1942–2005) |
1984 (41st) 1987 (42nd) |
26 July 1984 |
8 August 1989 |
5 years, 14 days |
Labour | Fourth Labour |
| 33 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Geoffrey Palmer KCMGACKC MP for Christchurch Central (born 1942) |
– (42nd) | 8 August 1989 |
4 September 1990 |
1 year, 28 days |
||
| 34 | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Mike Moore ONZAO MP for Christchurch North (1949–2020) |
– (42nd) | 4 September 1990 |
2 November 1990 |
60 days | ||
| 35 |  |
The Right Honourable Jim Bolger ONZ MP for King Country (born 1935) |
1990 (43rd) 1993 (44th) 1996 (45th) |
2 November 1990 |
8 December 1997 |
7 years, 37 days |
National | Fourth National with Right of Centre 1994–1995; United NZ 1995–1996; New Zealand First 1996–1998; Mauri Pacific, Mana Wahine, independents 1998–1999; C&S with Future 1994–1995; Christian Democrats 1995–1996; United NZ 1995–1995, 1998–1999; ACT, independents 1998–1999 |
| 36 | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Dame Jenny Shipley DNZM MP for Rakaia (born 1952) |
– (45th) | 8 December 1997 |
10 December 1999 |
2 years, 3 days |
||
| 37 | .jpg) |
The Right Honourable Helen Clark ONZSSI MP for Mount Albert (born 1950) |
1999 (46th) 2002 (47th) 2005 (48th) |
10 December 1999 |
19 November 2008 |
8 years, 346 days |
Labour | Fifth Labour with Alliance 1999–2002, Progressives 2002–2008; C&S with Greens 1999–2002, 2005–2008; New Zealand First 2005–2008; United Future 2002–2008 |
| 38 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir John Key GNZMAC MP for Helensville (born 1961) |
2008 (49th) 2011 (50th) 2014 (51st) |
19 November 2008 |
12 December 2016 |
8 years, 24 days |
National | Fifth National C&S with ACT, United Future, Māori |
| 39 |  |
The Right Honourable Sir Bill English KNZM List MP (born 1961) |
– (51st) | 12 December 2016 |
26 October 2017 |
319 days | ||
| 40 |  |
The Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern GNZM MP for Mount Albert (born 1980) |
2017 (52nd) 2020 (53rd) |
26 October 2017 |
25 January 2023 |
5 years, 91 days |
Labour | Sixth Labour with New Zealand First 2017–2020; C&S with Greens 2017–2020; Cooperation with Greens 2020–2023 |
| 41 | _(cropped).jpg) |
The Right Honourable Chris Hipkins MP for Remutaka (born 1978) |
– (53rd) | 25 January 2023 |
27 November 2023 |
306 days | ||
| 42 | .png) |
The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon MP for Botany (born 1970) |
2023 (54th) | 27 November 2023 |
Incumbent | 1 year, 22 days | National | Sixth National with ACT, New Zealand First 2023–present |
Timeline
See also
In Spanish: Anexo:Primeros ministros de Nueva Zelanda para niños
- List of prime ministers of New Zealand by age
- List of prime ministers of New Zealand by place of birth
- List of prime ministers of Queen Victoria
- List of prime ministers of Edward VII
- List of prime ministers of George V
- List of prime ministers of Edward VIII
- List of prime ministers of George VI
- List of prime ministers of Elizabeth II
- List of prime ministers of Charles III
