New Zealand National Party facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids New Zealand National Party Rōpū Nāhinara o Aotearoa

President	Sylvia Wood
Leader	Christopher Luxon
Deputy Leader	Nicola Willis
Founded	14 May 1936; 89 years ago (1936-05-14)
Preceded by	United–Reform Coalition
Headquarters	41 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011
Youth wing	Young Nationals
Ideology	Conservatism (New Zealand) Liberalism (New Zealand)
Political position	Centre-right
Regional affiliation	Asia Pacific Democracy Union
International affiliation	International Democracy Union
Colours	Blue
Slogan	Get our country back on track
House of Representatives	49 / 123
Politics of New Zealand

The New Zealand National Party (in Māori: Rōpū Nāhinara o Aotearoa), usually just called National or the Nats, is a major political party in New Zealand. It is considered a centre-right party, which means it often supports business and individual freedoms. National is one of the two main parties in New Zealand politics, along with its rival, the Labour Party.

The National Party was created in 1936 when two other parties, the Reform Party and the United Party, joined together. This makes it New Zealand's second-oldest political party that still exists today. Over the years, National has been in charge of the government more often than any other party.

Christopher Luxon has been the leader of the National Party since November 2021. He led the party to a win in the 2023 election. Since then, he has been the Prime Minister, leading a government in partnership with the ACT Party and New Zealand First.

History of the National Party
What the National Party Believes In
Party Organisation
Electoral performance
- House of Representatives
Leadership
- Party leaders since 1936
Images for kids
See also

History of the National Party

How the Party Was Formed

The National Party was officially formed in May 1936. It was created by merging two older parties: the United Party and the Reform Party. The United Party was popular in cities with business owners and the middle class. The Reform Party was mainly supported by farmers in rural areas.

These two parties decided to work together in the 1930s to compete against the growing Labour Party. They ran in the 1935 election as the "National Political Federation" but lost badly. This was partly because of the tough times of the Great Depression. After the loss, they decided to officially become one party, creating the New Zealand National Party.

Adam Hamilton was the first leader of the National Party.

Adam Hamilton became the party's first leader. However, he struggled to compete with the popular Labour Prime Minister, Michael Joseph Savage. In 1940, Sidney Holland took over as leader. Under Holland, the party gained more support in the elections of 1943 and 1946. Finally, in the 1949 election, National won, and Sidney Holland became the first National Party Prime Minister.

First Time in Government (1949–1957)

Sir Sidney Holland was the first National Prime Minister, from 1949 to 1957.

The new National government, led by Prime Minister Sidney Holland, was generally conservative. It kept many of the social programs, like the welfare state, that the previous Labour government had created.

In 1951, a major workers' strike called the Waterfront Dispute happened. The government took a strong stand against the striking unions. Holland used this event to call a special election, which National won easily.

Holland's government was re-elected in 1954. Near the end of his term, Holland became ill and stepped down. Keith Holyoake took over as Prime Minister, but he lost the election later that year to the Labour Party.

Second Time in Government (1960–1972)

Sir Keith Holyoake was Prime Minister for two different periods, including 1960–1972.

Labour's time in power was short. Many people were unhappy with their economic decisions. In the 1960 election, Keith Holyoake and the National Party returned to power.

Holyoake's government was very successful and lasted for 12 years. The party won re-election three times in a row. In 1972, Holyoake retired and was replaced by his deputy, Jack Marshall. However, Marshall lost the election later that year to the popular Labour leader, Norman Kirk.

Third Time in Government (1975–1984)

Sir Robert Muldoon was Prime Minister from 1975 to 1984.

After losing the election, National chose a new leader, Robert Muldoon. Muldoon was a strong and forceful politician. He defeated Labour in the 1975 election and became Prime Minister.

Muldoon's government was known for its "Think Big" projects. These were large-scale industrial projects designed to make New Zealand more self-sufficient in energy. However, Muldoon's leadership style was seen by some as too controlling.

Even though public dissatisfaction was growing, National won the 1978 and 1981 elections. But by 1984, some of his own MPs began to disagree with him. When one MP refused to support his policy on nuclear ship visits, Muldoon called a surprise election. National lost this election to the Labour Party, led by David Lange.

Fourth Time in Government (1990–1999)

Jim Bolger was Prime Minister from 1990 to 1997.

After the 1984 loss, Jim Bolger became the new leader of the National Party. In the 1990 election, National had a huge win and Bolger became Prime Minister.

His government continued many of the free-market economic changes that the previous Labour government had started. These policies, known as "Ruthanasia" after Finance Minister Ruth Richardson, involved selling state-owned companies and making big cuts to government spending. These changes were not popular with all of National's traditional supporters.

In 1996, New Zealand had its first election under the new MMP system. This system makes it harder for one party to win a majority. National had to form a coalition (a partnership) with the New Zealand First party to govern.

Dame Jenny Shipley became New Zealand's first female Prime Minister in 1997.

In 1997, Jenny Shipley took over from Jim Bolger to become National's leader and New Zealand's first female Prime Minister. However, the coalition with New Zealand First soon fell apart. Shipley's government managed to finish its term but lost the 1999 election to Labour's Helen Clark.

Years in Opposition (1999–2008)

National spent nine years as the opposition party. After Shipley, Bill English became leader, but the party had its worst-ever election result in 2002. In 2003, Don Brash, a former head of the Reserve Bank, took over as leader.

Under Brash, the party's popularity grew. He focused on issues like tax cuts and race relations. In the 2005 election, National did much better but still didn't win enough seats to form a government. In 2006, John Key became the new leader, promising a more "centrist" approach that appealed to more voters.

Fifth Time in Government (2008–2017)

Sir John Key was Prime Minister from 2008 to 2016.

In the 2008 election, John Key led National to victory. He formed a government with support from the ACT, United Future, and Māori parties. Key's government focused on managing the economy during the global financial crisis. They also cut taxes and partially sold some state-owned energy companies.

National won again in the 2011 and 2014 elections. Key's government introduced free doctor visits for children under 13 and worked on international trade deals.

In December 2016, John Key surprised the country by resigning as Prime Minister. His deputy, Bill English, took over as leader.

Return to Opposition (2017–2023)

In the 2017 election, National won the most seats but not enough to govern alone. New Zealand First chose to form a coalition with the Labour Party, so National became the opposition party again. Bill English was replaced as leader by Simon Bridges in 2018.

The party went through several leadership changes. Todd Muller briefly replaced Bridges in May 2020, followed by Judith Collins in July 2020. Collins led the party into the 2020 election, where it suffered a major defeat.

Christopher Luxon has been the party's leader since November 2021.

In November 2021, Christopher Luxon was elected as the new leader of the National Party, with Nicola Willis as his deputy.

Sixth Time in Government (2023–present)

During the 2023 election, Christopher Luxon led the National Party to victory over the Labour Party. National won the most seats but needed partners to form a government.

They formed a three-party coalition government with the ACT Party and New Zealand First. This was the first time a three-party coalition had governed New Zealand under the MMP system.

What the National Party Believes In

The National Party is often called a "broad church" because it includes people with a mix of conservative and liberal ideas.

Conservatives often value tradition, stability, and strong families.
Liberals in the party tend to support economic liberalism, which means they favour free enterprise, lower taxes, and less government control over the economy.

The party's main principles include:

Loyalty to New Zealand and the Monarch as Head of State.
Recognising the Treaty of Waitangi as New Zealand's founding document.
Belief in personal responsibility, individual freedom, and equal opportunities for all citizens.
Supporting a competitive economy and a limited role for government.

Historically, National governments sometimes supported more government action in the economy, like the "Think Big" projects in the 1980s. But since the 1990s, the party has mostly focused on free-market ideas.

Party Organisation

National Party election campaigners in Kaikōura, 2014.

The National Party has a large membership base across the country. The party is run by a Board of Directors, which includes the party leader and other elected members.

The party has a youth wing called the Young Nationals, often known as the "Young Nats." This group gives young people a voice in the party and helps develop future leaders.

National is also part of international groups like the International Democracy Union, which connects centre-right parties from around the world.

Electoral performance

House of Representatives

Election	Leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position	Status
1938	Adam Hamilton	381,081	40.30%	25 / 80	25	2nd	Opposition
1943	Sidney Holland	402,887	42.78%	34 / 80	9	2nd	Opposition
1946		507,139	48.43%	38 / 80	4	2nd	Opposition
1949		556,805	51.88%	46 / 80	8	1st	Majority
1951		577,630	53.99%	50 / 80	4	1st	Majority
1954		485,630	44.27%	45 / 80	5	1st	Majority
1957	Keith Holyoake	511,699	44.21%	39 / 80	6	2nd	Opposition
1960		557,046	47.59%	46 / 80	7	1st	Majority
1963		563,875	47.12%	45 / 80	1	1st	Majority
1966		525,945	43.64%	44 / 80	1	1st	Majority
1969		605,960	45.22%	45 / 84	1	1st	Majority
1972	Jack Marshall	581,422	41.50%	32 / 87	13	2nd	Opposition
1975	Robert Muldoon	763,136	47.59%	55 / 87	23	1st	Majority
1978		680,991	39.82%	51 / 92	4	1st	Majority
1981		698,508	38.77%	47 / 92	4	1st	Majority
1984		692,494	35.89%	37 / 95	10	2nd	Opposition
1987	Jim Bolger	806,305	44.02%	40 / 97	3	2nd	Opposition
1990		872,358	47.82%	67 / 97	27	1st	Majority
1993		673,892	35.05%	50 / 99	17	1st	Majority
1996		701,315	33.87%	44 / 120	6	1st	Coalition (1996–1998)
1996		701,315	33.87%	44 / 120	6	1st	Minority (1998–1999)
1999	Jenny Shipley	629,932	30.50%	39 / 120	5	2nd	Opposition
2002	Bill English	425,310	20.93%	27 / 120	12	2nd	Opposition
2005	Don Brash	889,813	39.10%	48 / 121	21	2nd	Opposition
2008	John Key	1,053,398	44.93%	58 / 122	10	1st	Minority
2011		1,058,638	47.31%	59 / 121	1	1st	Minority
2014		1,131,501	47.04%	60 / 121	1	1st	Minority
2017	Bill English	1,152,075	44.45%	56 / 120	4	1st	Opposition
2020	Judith Collins	738,275	25.58%	33 / 120	23	2nd	Opposition
2023	Christopher Luxon	1,085,016	38.06%	48 / 123	15	1st	Coalition
Source: Electoral Commission

Leadership

Party leaders since 1936

A list of the people who have led the National Party since it began. Key:
National Labour
PM: Prime Minister
LO: Leader of the Opposition

No.	Name	Term of Office		Position
1	Adam Hamilton	2 November 1936	26 November 1940	LO 1936–1940	Savage
1	Adam Hamilton	2 November 1936	26 November 1940	LO 1936–1940	Fraser
2	Sidney Holland	26 November 1940	20 September 1957	LO 1940–1949	Fraser
2	Sidney Holland	26 November 1940	20 September 1957	PM 1949–1957	Holland
3	Keith Holyoake	20 September 1957	7 February 1972	PM 1957	Holyoake
				LO 1957–1960	Nash
				PM 1960–1972	Holyoake
4	Jack Marshall	7 February 1972	4 July 1974	PM 1972	Marshall
4	Jack Marshall	7 February 1972	4 July 1974	LO 1972–1974	Kirk
5	Robert Muldoon	4 July 1974	29 November 1984	LO 1974–1975	Kirk
				LO 1974–1975	Rowling
				PM 1975–1984	Muldoon
				LO 1984	Lange
6	Jim McLay	29 November 1984	26 March 1986	LO 1984–1986
7	Jim Bolger	26 March 1986	8 December 1997	LO 1986–1990
					Palmer
					Moore
				PM 1990–1997	Bolger
8	Jenny Shipley	8 December 1997	8 October 2001	PM 1997–1999	Shipley
8	Jenny Shipley	8 December 1997	8 October 2001	LO 1999–2001	Clark
9	Bill English	8 October 2001	28 October 2003	LO 2001–2003
10	Don Brash	28 October 2003	27 November 2006	LO 2003–2006
11	John Key	27 November 2006	12 December 2016	LO 2006–2008
11	John Key	27 November 2006	12 December 2016	PM 2008–2016	Key
(9)	Bill English	12 December 2016	27 February 2018	PM 2016–2017	English
(9)	Bill English	12 December 2016	27 February 2018	LO 2017–2018	Ardern
12	Simon Bridges	27 February 2018	22 May 2020	LO 2018–2020
13	Todd Muller	22 May 2020	14 July 2020	LO 2020
14	Judith Collins	14 July 2020	25 November 2021	LO 2020–2021
15	Christopher Luxon	30 November 2021	Incumbent	LO 2021–2023
				LO 2021–2023	Hipkins
				PM 2023–present	Luxon