Prime Minister of New Zealand

2025-10-20T17:42:57Z

2A00:23C6:F3CF:F01:E4D5:42F9:21F:D8A5: /* Towards modern leadership */

{{Short description|Head of government of New Zealand}}
{{For|a list of officeholders|List of prime ministers of New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Prime Minister
| body = New Zealand
| native_name = {{resize|90%|''Te Pirimia o Aotearoa''}}
| insignia = Coat of arms of New Zealand.svg
| insigniasize = 100px
| insigniacaption = [[Coat of arms of New Zealand]]
| flag = Flag of New Zealand.svg
| flagsize = 125px
| flagborder = yes
| flagcaption = [[Flag of New Zealand]]
| alt =
| image = Christopher Luxon 2025 (mid cropped).jpg
| imagecaption =
| incumbent = [[Christopher Luxon]]
| acting =
| incumbentsince = 27 November 2023
| department = [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]
| style = {{plainlist|
* Prime Minister<br />(informal)
* [[The Right Honourable]]<br />(formal)
* [[Excellency|His Excellency]]<br />(diplomatic)
}}
| type =
| status = [[Head of government]]
| abbreviation = PM
| member_of = {{plainlist|
* [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]]
* [[Cabinet of New Zealand|Cabinet]]
* [[Executive Council of New Zealand|Executive Council]]
}}
| reports_to = [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]
| residence = [[Premier House]], [[Wellington]]
| seat = [[Beehive (New Zealand)|The Beehive]], [[Wellington]]
| nominator =
| appointer = [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor-General]]
| termlength = [[At the Governor-General's pleasure]]
| constituting_instrument =
| precursor =
| formation = {{start date and age|df=y|1856|5|7}}
| first = [[Henry Sewell]]
| deputy = [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand]]
| salary = NZ$510,300<ref>{{Cite Legislation NZ|legislation_type=secondary|link_name=psaad2024461|legislation_title=Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination 2024|legislation_number=2024/121|clause=5(1)(b)|clauses=|secondary_type=order}}</ref>
| website =
}}

{{Politics of New Zealand |expanded=Executive}}
The '''prime minister of New Zealand''' ({{langx|mi|Te pirimia o Aotearoa}}) is the [[head of government]] of [[New Zealand]]. The {{as of | 2023 | alt = incumbent}} prime minister, [[Christopher Luxon]], leader of the [[New Zealand National Party]], took office on 27 November 2023.<ref name="Jan2023">{{cite web |url=https://gg.govt.nz/governor-general/blog/2023/01/appointment-ceremony-new-prime-minister-and-deputy-prime-minister |title=Appointment ceremony of the new prime minister and deputy prime minister |date=25 January 2023 |publisher=Government House |access-date=25 January 2023}}</ref>

The prime minister (informally abbreviated to PM) ranks as the most senior [[Ministers in the New Zealand Government|government minister]]. They are responsible for chairing meetings of [[Cabinet of New Zealand|Cabinet]]; allocating posts to ministers within the [[New Zealand Government|government]]; acting as the spokesperson for the government; and providing [[advice (constitutional law)|advice]] to the [[monarchy of New Zealand|sovereign]] or the sovereign's representative, the [[Governor-General of New Zealand|governor-general]]. They also have ministerial responsibility for the [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]], which is based in the [[Beehive (New Zealand)|Beehive]] in Wellington.

The office exists by a long-established [[Convention (political norm)|convention]], which originated in New Zealand's former colonial power, the then [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]]. The convention stipulates that when the office becomes vacant, the governor-general must select as prime minister the person most likely to command the support, or confidence, of the [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. This individual is typically the [[parliamentary leader]] of the [[List of political parties in New Zealand|political party]] that holds the largest number of seats in that house.{{efn|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 (voting)|plurality]] of seats in the House of Representatives. However, on rare occasions, they may lead a [[coalition government]] that outnumbers the single largest party.|group=notes}} The prime minister and Cabinet are collectively [[political accountability|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 of New Zealand|"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]] changed it to "[[prime minister]]" in 1900 during his tenure in the office.<ref name="title"/> Following the declaration of New Zealand as a [[Dominion of New Zealand|Dominion]] in 1907, the term prime minister was adopted. In Māori, the title {{lang|mi|pirimia}} means "premier".<ref>{{citation |editor1-last=Moorfield |editor1-first=John C |title=Pirimia |url=https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?idiom=&phrase=&proverb=&loan=&histLoanWords=&keywords=pirimia |website=Te Aka Online Māori Dictionary |publisher=[[Pearson plc|Pearson]] |access-date=16 November 2018}}</ref> New Zealand prime ministers are [[Style (form of address)|styled]] as "[[The Right Honourable]]", a privilege they retain for life.<ref name="rt_hon">{{cite web|url= http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/overview/rthon|title= The Right Honourable |publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|access-date= 13 October 2012|language=en-NZ}}</ref>

[[List of prime ministers of New Zealand|Forty-two people]] (thirty-nine men and three women) have served as prime minister, the first of whom was [[Henry Sewell]] taking office on 7 May 1856 as premier. The longest-serving prime minister was [[Richard Seddon]], who served over 13 years, and the shortest-serving was Sewell, who served two weeks.

==Appointment and tenure==
The governor-general appoints a prime minister, like other [[Ministers in the New Zealand Government|ministerial positions]], on behalf of the [[monarchy of New Zealand|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 [[Member of parliament#New Zealand|members of parliament]] (MPs).<ref name="cabinetmanual_pm">{{cite web|url= http://cabinetmanual.cabinetoffice.govt.nz/2.2|title=Prime Minister|work= Cabinet Manual|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|year= 2008|access-date= 21 September 2011}}</ref> In making this appointment, convention requires the governor-general to act on the outcome of the [[elections in New Zealand|electoral process]] and subsequent discussions between political parties by which the person who will lead the government as prime minister is identified.<ref name="cabinetmanual_pm"/><ref name="GG">{{Cite press release |title= The Governor-General's role in a General Election |publisher=The Governor-General of New Zealand |url= https://www.gg.govt.nz/publications/governor-generals-role-general-election |date=12 September 2017}}</ref> In practice, the position typically falls to an MP who is the [[parliamentary leader]] of the largest political party among those forming the government.<ref name="te ara">{{cite encyclopedia|first= Gavin|last= McLean|title= Premiers and prime ministers – The role of prime minister|url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/premiers-and-prime-ministers/page-1|encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |date= 1 December 2016|access-date= 4 September 2016}}</ref>{{efn|The aftermath of the [[1931 New Zealand general election]] proved an exception.|group= notes}} The prime minister may lead a [[coalition government]] and/or a [[minority government]] dependent on support from smaller parties during [[confidence and supply]] votes.<ref>{{cite web|title= Parties and Government|url= https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/chapter-8-parties-and-government/|publisher=New Zealand Parliament|access-date= 20 December 2017|language= en}}</ref>

[[File:Rt Hon Christopher Luxon gives his oath.jpg|thumb|left|[[Christopher Luxon]] reads the [[Oath of Allegiance (New Zealand)|oath of allegiance]], 27 November 2023]]
Once appointed and sworn in by the governor-general, the prime minister remains in the post until dismissal, resignation,<ref>{{cite web |title= The Prime Minister's resignation – what does it mean for Parliament? |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/get-involved/features/the-prime-minister-s-resignation-what-does-it-mean-for-parliament/ |publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]] |date=19 January 2023 |access-date=19 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> or death in office.{{efn|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).<ref name="trivia"/> All died of natural causes. See: [[List of members of the New Zealand Parliament who died in office]].|group= notes}} They, like all ministers, hold office "[[At the Governor-General's pleasure|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.<ref>{{cite web | title= Ministers of the Crown |url= https://dpmc.govt.nz/our-business-units/cabinet-office/supporting-work-cabinet/cabinet-manual/2-ministers-crown-3 |website= Cabinet Manual |publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]] |access-date= 15 November 2018}}</ref> The governor-general retains [[Reserve power#New Zealand|reserve powers]]<ref>{{cite web |title= The Reserve Powers |url= https://gg.govt.nz/office-governor-general/roles-and-functions-governor-general/constitutional-role/reserve-powers |publisher=The Governor-General of New Zealand |access-date= 15 November 2018}}</ref> to dismiss a prime minister in certain circumstances, such as those pertaining to a [[motion of no confidence|no-confidence motion]] against the government in the [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]].<ref>{{citation |title = NZLS New Zealand Law Journal |journal=New Zealand Law Journal |publisher=[[LexisNexis]] |date= 2008 |pages= 114–115 |issn= 0028-8373}}</ref>

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. Under the [[Constitution Act 1986]], general elections are required every three years, setting the maximum period a prime minister can serve without their [[Mandate (politics)|mandate]] being renewed.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.legislation.co.nz/act/public/1986/0114/latest/DLM94241.html?search=ta_act_C_ac%40ainf%40anif_an%40bn%40rn_25_a&p=5 |title="Term of Parliament," Section 17 of the Constitution Act 1986 |access-date=6 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018160909/http://www.legislation.co.nz/act/public/1986/0114/latest/DLM94241.html?search=ta_act_C_ac%40ainf%40anif_an%40bn%40rn_25_a&p=5 |archive-date=18 October 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Responsibilities and powers==
{{See also|New Zealand Government|Constitution of New Zealand}}
[[File:Luxon Cabinet Photo 2023.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Prime Minister [[Christopher Luxon]] (foreground, left of centre) chairs his first meeting of Cabinet, November 2023]]
The office of prime minister is not defined by [[Codification (law)| codified]] laws but by unwritten customs known as [[constitutional convention (political custom)|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 the leader of the [[Cabinet of New Zealand|Cabinet]] (itself a body existing by convention) and takes a coordinating role.<ref name="te ara" />

The ''[[Cabinet Manual (New Zealand)|Cabinet Manual]]'' provides an outline of the prime minister's powers and responsibilities.<ref name="cabinetmanual_pm"/>

=== Principal adviser to the sovereign ===
By constitutional convention, the prime minister holds formal power to [[Advice (constitutional law)|advise]] the sovereign. This means that as long as the prime minister has the confidence of parliament, they alone may advise the monarch on:<ref name="cabinetmanual_pm"/>
* appointment or {{linktext|recall}} of the governor-general{{efn|group= notes|name= recall| 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.}}
* amendments to the [[Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand|Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General]], which most recently occurred in 2006
* the conferment of [[New Zealand royal honours system|New Zealand honours]] (except for honours in the personal gift of the monarch)

===Principal adviser to the governor-general===
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<ref name="cabinetmanual_pm"/>
* [[dissolution of parliament |dissolve parliament]] and [[Writ of election|issue a writ]] for an election to be held.{{efn|group= notes|The prime minister is legally obligated to do so within three years of the previous election.}}<ref name="cabinetmanual_pm"/> 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 power]]s), but {{as of | 2023 | lc = on}} none has done so.<ref>{{cite web|title= Chapter 8 Parties and Government|url= https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/parliamentary-practice-in-new-zealand/chapter-8-parties-and-government/|publisher= New Zealand Parliament|access-date= 16 May 2018|language= en}}</ref>

===Head of government===
Convention regards the prime minister as "[[first among equals]]".<ref name="te ara"/> 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 [[Cabinet collective responsibility |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<ref name="cabinetmanual_pm"/>{{efn|group= notes|Some political scientists have gone so far as to describe the Cabinet as the prime minister's "[[focus group]]".<ref name="Cross">{{cite book|last1= Cross|first1= William P.|last2= Blais|first2= André|title= Politics at the Centre: The Selection and Removal of Party Leaders in the Anglo Parliamentary Democracies|date= 2012|isbn= 9780199596720|page= 2|publisher= OUP Oxford}}</ref>}}
* The ability to appoint and dismiss ministers, and to allocate [[wikt:portfolio|portfolios]]{{efn|group= notes|name=ministers|The extent to which this power can be exercised varies between parties; the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]], for example, places most of this responsibility in the hands of its [[Parliamentary group | parliamentary caucus]], leaving the prime minister only with the power to choose which portfolios a minister is given.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Dowding |first1= Keith |last2= Dumont |first2= Patrick |title= The Selection of Ministers around the World |date= 2014 |publisher= Routledge |isbn= 9781317634454 |page= 27 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=UStHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA27|language= en}}</ref> Furthermore, [[Electoral system of New Zealand|the MMP electoral system]] has complicated this, as a prime minister may have to consult with the leaders of other parties in government.}}
*the influence a prime minister is likely/assumed to have as leader of the dominant political party, which may afford more direct control over subordinates than is attached to the prime ministerial role<ref name="Cross"/>
* 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 implementation of [[Electoral system of New Zealand |the MMP electoral system]], the role of the prime minister in negotiating and maintaining relationships with [[Coalition government|support parties]] has increased, placing some constraints on prime ministerial abilities.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title= New Zealand Government and Politics|last= Hayward|first= Margaret|publisher= Oxford University Press|year= 2015|isbn= 978-0-19-558525-4|location= Auckland|pages= 371–373 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lOpArgEACAAJ}}</ref>

=== Other roles and functions ===
{{external media
| float = right
| video1 = [https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/33177/new-zealands-darkest-day '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.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand's darkest day |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/33177/new-zealands-darkest-day |website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=20 May 2021 |date=2012}}</ref>
}}

Prime ministers also take on additional portfolios (to prioritise policy areas).<ref name="te ara"/> Historically, 19th-century premiers looked after the colonial-secretary and finance portfolios. As New Zealand developed, the role of [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand) |minister of finance]] became too big; Prime Minister [[Robert Muldoon |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.<ref name="te ara"/>

Before 1987 it was common for prime ministers to take the role of [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand) |minister of foreign affairs]], so they could represent New Zealand on the international stage.<ref name=":0" /> 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 |minister for arts, culture and heritage]]; [[John Key]] served as [[Minister of Tourism (New Zealand)|minister of tourism]]; and [[Jacinda Ardern]] became minister for child-poverty reduction.<ref name="te ara"/>

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 Meeting]]s.<ref name=":0" />

Conventionally, the prime minister is the responsible minister for the [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)| 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.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Support">{{cite encyclopedia|title= Premiers and prime ministers – Support Services and Statues|url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/premiers-and-prime-ministers/page-5|encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date= 4 December 2016}}</ref>

Before 2014, the prime minister was also responsible for the [[New Zealand Security Intelligence Service|New Zealand Security and Intelligence Service]] (NZSIS) and for the [[Government Communications Security Bureau]] (GCSB).<ref name=":0" /> In 2014, Prime Minister John Key gave himself the new portfolio of [[Minister of National Security and Intelligence (New Zealand)|National Security and Intelligence]] and delegated responsibility for SIS and GCSB to other ministers. He also expanded the role of DPMC in [[national security| security]] and intelligence. This model has been followed by subsequent prime ministers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Key |first1=John |title=National Security and Intelligence role created |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1410/S00026/national-security-and-intelligence-role-created.htm |access-date=11 February 2023 |publisher=New Zealand Government |date=6 October 2014 |language=en-NZ |via=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]}}</ref>

==Privileges of office==
===Salary and perquisites===
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clients' remuneration: Members of Parliament, including the Prime Minister and Ministers|url=http://remauthority.govt.nz/clients-remuneration/remuneration-for-members-of-parliament-including-the-prime-minister-and-ministers/|publisher=The Remuneration Authority|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref> MPs' salaries were temporarily reduced during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances (Temporary Reduction—COVID-19) Determination 2020 (LI 2020/114) |url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2020/0114/latest/whole.html#LMS353922 |website=www.legislation.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Counsel Office |date=2020 |access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref> {{As of|2024|alt=As of July 2024}}, the prime minister's salary is set at [[NZ$]]498,300.{{cn|date=November 2024}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=Members of Parliament (Accommodation Services for Members and Travel Services for Family Members and Former Prime Ministers) Determination 2014|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2014/0287/latest/whole.html?search=ts_act%40bill%40regulation%40deemedreg_members+of+parliament_resel_25_a&p=1#DLM6243434|website=New Zealand Legislation|publisher=Parliamentary Counsel Office|access-date=4 December 2016}}</ref>

[[File:Premier House, Wellington 3.jpg|thumb|[[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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vogel House and Premier House - Housing the Prime Minister |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/prime-ministers-houses/vogel-house-premier-house |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] |access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref> 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 [[Beehive (New Zealand)|the Beehive]], in the [[New Zealand Parliament Buildings|parliament precinct]] a short distance away.<ref name="Support"/> 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.<ref name="Support"/>

The [[style (form of address)|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.<ref name="rt_hon" /> 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''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Titles and styles of knights and dames|url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/honours-lists-and-recipients/information-honours-recipients/titles-styles-knights-dames|publisher=The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.|access-date=21 December 2017|language=en-NZ}}</ref> It is also traditional for the monarch to bestow a [[knighthood]] or [[damehood]] on prime ministers after they leave office,<ref>{{cite news |title=Editorial: John Key knighthood follows long tradition of honouring PMs |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/93327810/editorial-john-key-knighthood-follows-long-tradition-of-honouring-pms |access-date=14 September 2019 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=5 June 2017 |language=en}}</ref> and two prime ministers were knighted while still in office (namely [[Keith Holyoake|Sir Keith Holyoake]] in 1970,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=45119 |date=5 June 1970 |page=6405 |supp=y }}</ref> and [[Robert Muldoon|Sir Robert Muldoon]] in 1983<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=49584 |date=30 December 1983 |page=33 |supp=y}}</ref>).

===Security and transport===
{{See also|Official state car#New Zealand}}
The [[Dignitary Protection Service]] (DPS) is a special branch of the [[New Zealand Police]] that is charged with protecting the prime minister and their family, as well as members of parliament, members of the judiciary, and visiting foreign dignitaries when required.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dignitary Protection Service |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/structure/police-teams-and-units/dignitary-protection-service |publisher=[[New Zealand Police]] |access-date=26 June 2025 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

The DPS provides the prime minister with transport; they are driven in the [[BMW 7 Series (G11)|BMW 7 Series]] 730LD and 750LI, the latter of which is armoured.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-09-30|title=Government's new BMW limousines are partly made of plastic|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/news/72572367/governments-new-bmw-limousines-are-partly-made-of-plastic|access-date=2021-09-08|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-29|title=Why Harry and Meghan were riding around in an old BMW|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/108203712/why-are-harry-and-meghan-riding-around-in-an-old-bmw|access-date=2021-09-08|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> Although usually flown domestically on regularly scheduled [[Air New Zealand]] flights, the prime minister also makes use of [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] aircraft, usually [[Boeing 757]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boeing 757-2K2|url=https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/air-force/capability/boeing-757-2k2/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=New Zealand Defence Force|language=en-NZ}}</ref> The 757 aircraft, which are used for international travel, has been upgraded with work stations, internal air stairs, and military communications capabilities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Boeing 757 Acquisition/Modification|url=https://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/44069/rnzaf-to-upgrade-boeing-757s-(aug.-16).html|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.defense-aerospace.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Air Force big on sustainability, commercial airlines follow|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/air-force-big-on-sustainability-commercial-airlines-follow/CZN72HMXNEXDGVPEIKDC2MJYYE/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> The 757 fleet is set to be replaced by 2028.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Defence Capability Plan {{!}} Ministry of Defence Website|url=https://www.defence.govt.nz/what-we-do/delivering-defence-capability/defence-capability-plan/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.defence.govt.nz}}</ref>

===After office===
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 two 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Parliamentary Annuities Determination (No 2) 2020 (LI 2020/297) 4 Annuity for former Prime Minister – New Zealand Legislation|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2020/0297/latest/LMS430131.html|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.legislation.govt.nz}}</ref> Former prime ministers, when travelling within New Zealand, are eligible to be paid if the travel is for fulfilling commitments related to his or her role as a former prime minister.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Members of Parliament (Former Prime Ministers Travel Services) Determination 2017 (LI 2017/261) 7 Travel services – New Zealand Legislation|url=https://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/2017/0261/latest/DLM7418405.html?search=ad_act@regulation__former+prime+ministers____25_ac@bn@rc@dn@apub@aloc@apri@apro@aimp@bgov@bloc@bpri@bmem@rpub@rimp_ac@rc@ainf@anif@aaif@aase@arep@bcur@rinf@rnif_a_aw_se&p=1|access-date=2021-09-08|website=www.legislation.govt.nz}}</ref>

Should a serving or former prime minister die, they are accorded a [[state funeral#New Zealand|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]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Savage Memorial|url=https://mch.govt.nz/nz-identity-heritage/national-monuments-war-graves/savage-memorial|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Henry Sewell, ca 1872.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Henry Sewell]], regarded as New Zealand's first premier]]

Assuming that [[Henry Sewell]] is counted as the first prime minister, [[List of prime ministers of New Zealand|42 individuals]] have held the office since it was established.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Ministers of New Zealand since 1856 |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/mps-and-parliaments-1854-onwards/prime-ministers-of-new-zealand-since-1856/ |website=www.parliament.nz |publisher=New Zealand Parliament |access-date=5 February 2023 |language=en-NZ |date=25 January 2023}}</ref> Some of these people have held it on several separate occasions, with the record for maximum number of times being shared between [[William Fox (politician)|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.<ref name="trivia">{{cite web|title=Prime ministerial trivia|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/premiers-and-pms/trivia|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=15 May 2018}}</ref> The youngest was [[Edward Stafford (politician)|Edward Stafford]], who was appointed premier in 1856, at 37 years, 40 days old.<ref name="Coulter">{{cite web|last1=Coulter|first1=Martin|title=New Zealand gets its third female Prime Minister, aged 37|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/new-zealand-gets-its-third-female-prime-minister-and-jacinda-ardern-is-just-37-a3662496.html|work=Evening Standard|access-date=15 May 2018|date=19 October 2017}}</ref> The oldest was [[Walter Nash]], who was 78 years old when he left office in 1960 (and 75 upon taking office in 1957).<ref name="trivia"/>

It is regarded that all New Zealand prime ministers thus far have been [[Pākehā]] ([[New Zealand European]]), and mostly of [[British people|British]] and [[Irish people|Irish]] descent. There was persistent speculation during his lifetime that [[Norman Kirk]] (Prime Minister from 1972 to 1974) was [[Māori people|Māori]] and had [[Ngāi Tahu|Kāi Tahu]] ancestry; he never publicly identified himself as such, and there is no substantial evidence for the claim.<ref>{{DNZB|last=Bassett|first=Michael|id=5k12|title=Kirk, Norman Eric|access-date=2 July 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|title=Women fight it out in NZ poll|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/women-fight-it-out-in-nz-poll-1127761.html|access-date=15 May 2018|work=The Independent|date=21 November 1999}}</ref> The first female prime minister was [[Jenny Shipley]] of the [[New Zealand National Party|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 [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]] after Clark, became prime minister in 2017.<ref name="Coulter"/>

===Early leaders===
On becoming the [[Colony of New Zealand]] in 1841, the country was directly governed by a [[Governor-General of New Zealand|governor]], appointed by the [[Colonial Office]] in Britain. [[Self-government]] was established in 1853, following the [[New Zealand Constitution Act 1852]], and the [[1st New Zealand Parliament|First Parliament]] met on 24 May 1854.<ref>{{cite web|title=The House of Representatives – First sitting, 1854|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/history-of-parliament/first-sitting-1854|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=15 May 2018|date=19 August 2015}}</ref>

The origins of the office of prime minister are disputed. Use of the words ''[[prime minister]]'' as a descriptive term dates back to the First Parliament, where they are applied to [[James FitzGerald (New Zealand politician)|James FitzGerald]] and [[Thomas Forsaith]].<ref name="McLean">{{cite book|last1=McLean|first1=Gavin|title=The Governors: New Zealand's Governors and Governors-General|date=2006|publisher=Otago University Press|page=354|isbn=9781877372254|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-IOOAAAAMAAJ|language=en}}</ref> 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.<ref name="McLintock1966">{{cite web|last1=McLintock|first1=Alexander Hare|last2=Foster|first2=Bernard John|last3=Taonga|title=The First Premier|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/prime-ministers-of-new-zealand|website=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]]|publisher= Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=15 May 2018|language=en|date=1966}}</ref>

The first person to be formally appointed to a position of executive leadership was [[Henry Sewell]],<ref name="McLintock1966"/> who formed a brief [[Ministry (collective executive)|ministry]] in April 1856, at the beginning of the [[2nd New Zealand Parliament|Second Parliament]]. Despite his formal leadership role, however, his only actual title was "[[Colonial Secretary of New Zealand|colonial secretary]]",<ref name="McLean"/> a position comparable to a [[Minister of Internal Affairs (New Zealand)|minister of internal affairs]]. His successor, [[William Fox (politician)|William Fox]], was also given a formal leadership role but was not a colonial secretary. In 1864 when [[Frederick Weld]] became the sixth person appointed to formal leadership, a substantive leadership title, "premier", appeared. Weld's successor, [[Edward Stafford (politician)|Edward Stafford]], briefly changed the title to "first minister", but it was soon restored to premier during the second tenure of Fox in 1869.<ref name="title">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/prime-ministers-of-new-zealand/page-2|last1=McLintock|first1=Alexander Hare|title=Prime Minister: The Title 'Premier'|encyclopedia=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]]|date=1966|access-date=5 January 2015}}</ref> 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 "being the Prime Minister".<ref name="title"/>

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 of New Zealand|Executive Council]] (which was chaired by the governor), thus establishing the modern convention of [[cabinet government]].<ref>{{Cite book |first=Edward |last=Bohan |title=Edward Stafford, New Zealand's first statesman|place = [[Christchurch]], New Zealand |publisher=Hazard Press |year=1994 |isbn=0-908790-67-8 }}</ref> Stafford also clashed with the governor over control of [[Māori people|native]] affairs, which was eventually to fall within the premier's powers.<ref name="governors">{{citation|first=Gavin|last=McLean|title=The Governors, New Zealand Governors and Governors-General|publisher=Otago University Press|url=http://www.otago.ac.nz/press/booksauthors/2006/governors.html|isbn= 978-1-877372-25-4|date=October 2006}}</ref>

===Party leadership===
[[File:RichardSeddon1905.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Richard Seddon]] styled himself "Prime Minister" at the turn of the 20th century]]
Premiers were initially supported by unorganised factions based on personal interests, and their governments were short-lived.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=McClean |first1=Gavin |title=Premiers and prime ministers – Premiers, 1856–1891 |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/premiers-and-prime-ministers/page-2 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |language=en-NZ |date=1 December 2016 |access-date=11 February 2023}}</ref> The political position of the premier was enhanced by the development of modern [[List of political parties in New Zealand|political parties]].<ref name="Johansson2013">{{cite journal |last1=Johansson |first1=Jon |title=Prime Ministers and their Parties in New Zealand |journal=Understanding Prime-Ministerial Performance |date=28 March 2013 |pages=193–215 |doi=10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199666423.003.0009|isbn=978-0-19-966642-3 }} Oxford University Press.</ref> Premier [[John Ballance]] organised the first formal party in New Zealand, the [[New Zealand Liberal Party|Liberal Party]], forming the [[Liberal Government of New Zealand|Liberal Government]] in 1891.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/political-parties/page-9|last1=McLintock|first1=Alexander Hare|title=The Rise of the Liberal Party|encyclopedia=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]]|date=1966|access-date=5 January 2015}}</ref> There was little real [[parliamentary opposition]] until 1909, when [[William Massey]] organised his [[Historic conservatism in New Zealand|conservative]] faction to form the [[Reform Party (New Zealand)|Reform Party]]. Thereafter political power centred on parties and their leaders.<ref name="party leadership">{{cite encyclopedia|last1=McClean |first1=Gavin |title=Premiers and prime ministers – Party leadership |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/premiers-and-prime-ministers/page-3 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=13 June 2018|date=1 December 2016}}</ref> (Subsequent governments were led by prime ministers from the Reform, [[United Party (New Zealand)|United]], [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] and [[New Zealand National|National]] parties.<ref name="Johansson2013"/>) Although not every government would have a large majority, the [[party system]] and tight control of party members by [[whip (politics)|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 [[New Zealand Legislative Council|Legislative Council]].<ref>{{citation|title=Abolition Bill|volume=289|page=642|date=1950|work=[[Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|publisher=New Zealand Parliament|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tooLAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA642|language=en}}</ref>

After 1900, [[Richard Seddon]], the incumbent head of government, used the title of "prime minister". The change of title was reflected in the ''[[New Zealand official publications|New Zealand Official Yearbook]]'' of that year.<ref name="title"/> Seddon's immediate successor, [[William Hall-Jones]], was the first to be sworn in as "prime minister", in 1906.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hall-Jones, William |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/2h7/hall-jones-william |publisher=[[Dictionary of New Zealand Biography]] |access-date=27 June 2018 |date=1993}}</ref>

The expanding power of the prime minister was kept in check by the need to build consensus with other leading members of the 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 [[motion of no confidence|confidence motion]] in the House of Representatives.<ref name="trivia"/>

===Towards modern leadership===
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, Prime Minister William 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.<ref name="party leadership"/>

Constitutional conventions adopted in 1930, following the [[1930 Imperial Conference|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 [[Statute of Westminster Adoption Act 1947|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 several international treaties.<ref name="party leadership"/> 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 [[Arthur Porritt, Baron Porritt|Sir Arthur Porritt]], the first New Zealand-born governor-general.<ref name="governors" />

[[File:John Key Helen Clark handshake.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The 37th and 38th prime ministers of New Zealand, pictured in 2009: [[John Key]] with his predecessor, [[Helen Clark]].]]
After the [[mixed-member proportional]] (MMP) system was [[electoral reform in New Zealand|introduced in 1996]], prime ministers have had to manage minority governments, although the Ward government formed in 1928 and the Forbes government formed in 1930 are two earlier minority government examples. The Forbes-led United and Reform coalition from 1931 to 1935 was the country's first coalition government outside of wartime; and [[George Forbes (New Zealand politician)|George Forbes]] is the only New Zealand parliamentary leader of a junior coalition party to have served as prime minister. 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.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=McLean|first1=Gavin|title=Premiers and prime ministers – Towards modern leadership|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/premiers-and-prime-ministers/page-4|encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=16 May 2018|date=1 December 2016}}</ref>

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 [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|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,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/honoured-new-zealanders/news/article.cfm?c_id=513&objectid=10560600|title=Titles of Dames, Knights to be restored – Key|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=8 March 2009}}</ref> but did not resume appointments to the Privy Council, meaning Key was styled "The Honourable".
On 3 August 2010, the Queen granted the style "Right Honourable" to the offices of prime minister, governor-general, [[Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives|speaker of the House of Representatives]] and [[Chief Justice of New Zealand|chief justice]], to be held for life by those appointed to these roles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1008/S00014/new-rules-for-use-of-the-right-honourable.htm|title=New rules for use of the Right Honourable|publisher=The Royal Household |via=[[Scoop.co.nz]]|date=3 August 2010}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44568537|title=Ardern and Bhutto: Two different pregnancies in power|last=Khan|first=M Ilyas|date=21 June 2018|work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=22 June 2018|quote=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]].}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=It's a girl! Jacinda Ardern gives birth to her first child|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/06/it-s-a-girl-jacinda-ardern-gives-birth-to-her-first-child.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621093641/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2018/06/it-s-a-girl-jacinda-ardern-gives-birth-to-her-first-child.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 June 2018|access-date= 22 June 2018 |work=[[Newshub]] |date= 21 June 2018 |quote=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.}}</ref> Ardern was also the first prime minister to lead a single-party [[majority government]] since the introduction of MMP, doing so from 2020 to 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Election 2020: Jacinda Ardern claims biggest Labour victory in 50 years |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300135131/election-2020-jacinda-ardern-claims-biggest-labour-victory-in-50-years |access-date=22 June 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=17 October 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

== Deputy prime minister ==
{{Main|Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand}}
An office titled "deputy prime minister" has existed since 1949.{{efn|group= notes|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.}}<ref>{{cite book |last=Wilson |first=James Oakley |title=New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition=4th |orig-year=1913 |year=1985 |publisher=V. R. Ward, Government Printer |location= Wellington |oclc=154283103 |page=118 }}</ref> The deputy typically holds important ministerial portfolios and, by convention, becomes [[acting prime minister]] in the absence or incapacity of the prime minister.{{efn|There is, however, no legislated [[order of succession]].}} 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Small|first1=Vernon|title=Labour leader looks to outsiders for deputy|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8052977/Labour-leader-looks-to-outsiders-for-deputy|access-date=14 May 2018|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=8 December 2012|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mulgan |first1=R. G. |last2=Aimer |first2=Peter |title=Politics in New Zealand |date=2004 |publisher=Auckland University Press |location=Auckland, N.Z. |isbn=1869403185 |page=79 |edition=3rd}}</ref> [[David Seymour]], leader of [[ACT New Zealand]], has been deputy prime minister since 31 May 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gordon |first=Natasha |date=31 May 2025 |title=David Seymour sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister, succeeds Winston Peters |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/david-seymour-sworn-in-as-deputy-prime-minister-succeeds-winston-peters/OAX7MCGZ2FHJJM4A2JZMSLFYLY/ |access-date=13 June 2025 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-nz}}</ref>

==Lists relating to the prime ministers of New Zealand==
Lists of the 42 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 prime ministers of New Zealand by education]]

==See also==
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}
*[[Spouse of the prime minister of New Zealand]]
*[[List of New Zealand electorates represented by sitting prime ministers]]
*[[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand]]
*[[New Zealand order of precedence]]
*[[List of New Zealand governments]]
*[[List of current heads of state and government]]
*[[Powers of the prime minister of the United Kingdom]] – comparable to the New Zealand prime minister

==Notes==
{{notelist|group=notes}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/rt-hon-christopher-luxon Prime Minister] at Beehive.govt.nz
* [https://www.dpmc.govt.nz Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)]
* [https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/premiers-and-prime-ministers Biographies of Premiers and Prime Ministers] at NZHistory

{{New Zealand prime ministers}}
{{Lists of Prime Ministers of New Zealand}}
{{New Zealand prime minister electoral histories}}
{{New Zealand topics}}
{{Parliament of NZ}}
{{Heads of state and government of Oceania}}
{{Prime Minister}}

[[Category:Prime ministers of New Zealand| ]]
[[Category:Constitution of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Government of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Politics of New Zealand]]
[[Category:1856 establishments in New Zealand]]

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Prime Minister of New Zealand