Jim Bolger

James Brendan Bolger Template:Post-nominals (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; 31 May 1935 – 15 October 2025) was a New Zealand politician of the National Party who was the 35th prime minister of New Zealand, serving from 1990 to 1997.

Bolger was born in Ōpunake, Taranaki, to Irish immigrants. Before entering politics, he farmed in Waikato, and was involved in Federated Farmers—a nationwide agricultural association. Bolger won election to Parliament in 1972, and subsequently served in several portfolios in the Third National Government. Following one unsuccessful bid for the party leadership in 1984, Bolger was elected as National Party leader in 1986. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 1986 to 1990.

Bolger led the National Party to a landslide victory—the largest in its history—in the Template:NZ election link, leading him to become prime minister in November. The Fourth National Government was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" following the previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as "Rogernomics", which Bolger criticised. However, shortly after taking office, his government was forced to bail out the Bank of New Zealand and as a result reneged on a number of promises made during the election campaign. Bolger's government essentially advanced the free-market reforms of the previous government, while implementing drastic cuts in public spending. National retained power in the Template:NZ election link, albeit with a much-reduced majority.

Bolger's second term in office saw the introduction of the MMP electoral system. In the subsequent Template:NZ election link, National emerged as the largest party, but it was forced to enter into a coalition with New Zealand First. Bolger continued as prime minister; however, his critics argued that he gave the inexperienced NZ First too much influence in his Cabinet. In December 1997, Bolger was effectively ousted as leader by his party caucus, and was replaced as prime minister by Jenny Shipley.

After resigning as a member of Parliament in 1998, Bolger was appointed ambassador to the United States, where he remained until 2002.

Early life

Bolger was born on 31 May 1935 at Ōpunake in Taranaki.<ref name="OxfordReference">Template:Cite web</ref> He was born into an Irish Catholic family; Bolger was one of five children<ref name="wolfe">Template:Citation</ref> born to Daniel and Cecilia (née Doyle) Bolger<ref name="bassett">Template:Cite web</ref> who emigrated together from Gorey, County Wexford, in 1930. He said that his early childhood was dominated by the effects of World War II.<ref name="The Bolger challenge">Template:Cite news</ref> He left Opunake High School at age 15 to work on the family dairy farm.<ref name="bassett1">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1962 he purchased his own farm near Rahotu. He joined and became active in Federated Farmers, becoming a branch chairman in 1962, sub-provincial chairman in 1970 and Waikato provincial vice-president in 1971. He was a member of the Waikato and King Country agricultural advisory committees.Template:Sfn

In 1963, Bolger married Joan Riddell, and they moved to their own sheep and beef farm in Te Kūiti two years later.<ref name="wolfe"/> During this time Bolger became involved in local farmer politics. He joined the Egmont branch of the National Party and was later an officeholder in the Te Kūiti branch.Template:Sfn In the late 1960s he was asked to accompany the then Minister of Finance Robert Muldoon to see for himself the difficulties faced by farmers in the area. As Bolger travelled around the district, he became experienced with Muldoon's adversarial style.<ref name="wolfe"/>

Political career

Member of Parliament

Bolger entered politics in 1972 as the New Zealand National Party Member of Parliament for King Country, a newly created electorate in the rural western portion of North Island. This electorate is traditional National territory, and Bolger won easily.Template:Sfn He represented this electorate, renamed Taranaki-King Country in 1996, until his retirement in 1998. In 1974 he was appointed National's spokesperson for Rural Affairs by incoming leader Robert Muldoon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

At the formation of the Third National Government in 1975 Bolger was designated as Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and to Minister of Maori Affairs.Template:Sfn In 1977, Muldoon promoted him to Cabinet, first as Minister of Fisheries and Associate Minister of Agriculture. Following the 1978 election, he became Minister of Labour and Minister of Immigration.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In late 1980 Bolger was a leading member of 'the Colonels' (alongside Derek Quigley, Jim McLay and George Gair) who attempted to dump Muldoon as leader and put the party back into line with traditional National Party policies after feeling they were being abandoned.<ref name="The Bolger challenge"/>Template:Sfn In what became known as the Colonels' Coup. The agitators intended to replace Muldoon with his deputy, Brian Talboys, who was more economically liberal and in tune with traditional National Party philosophy than Muldoon. The Colonels waited until Muldoon was out of the country before moving against him. However, Talboys was reluctant to openly challenge and the scheme failed with Muldoon reaffirming control after he returned to remain leader.Template:Sfn

After the defeat of National at the 1984 general elections Bolger remained on the frontbench as Shadow Minister of Labour and Employment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Both he and deputy leader Jim McLay challenged Muldoon for the leadership of the party. McLay succeeded but Bolger was elected as deputy leader (and hence Deputy Leader of the Opposition).Template:Sfn McLay also designated Bolger Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry before switching him to Shadow Minister of Agriculture.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In December 1985 he attempted an abortive leadership coup against McLay.Template:Sfn

Leader of the Opposition

Template:See also In 1986, Bolger organised a second challenge to McLay's leadership. This one was successful, and he defeated McLay in a 26 March 1986 ballot for the leadership of the National Party.Template:Sfn Initially Bolger pursued a pro law and order approach, with a focus on critiquing Labour's perceived reluctance to combat "lawlessness" and offering a referendum on the reintroduction of capital punishment.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Bolger went head to head against the popular David Lange in the 1987 general election, but failed to match the latter's popularity; Lange described Bolger as "an itinerant masseur, massaging the politically erogenous zones."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> National under Bolger capitalised on public anger at the Labour government's highly unpopular economic policies to win National's biggest ever majority (and by extension the largest in New Zealand history) at the 1990 general election. Bolger became Prime Minister at age 55.<ref name="nzhistory">Template:Cite web</ref>

Prime Minister (1990–1997)

First term

Three days after being sworn in as prime minister, Bolger's government needed to bail out the Bank of New Zealand, then the largest bank in the country. The cost of the bail out was $380 million, but after rewriting its budget, the government needed to borrow $740 million.<ref name="nytimes">Template:Cite news</ref> This had an immediate impact on Bolger's direction in government, with the first budget of his premiership being dubbed the "Mother of all Budgets".<ref name="past_budgets">Template:Cite web</ref> Bolger's Finance Minister, Ruth Richardson, implemented drastic cuts in public spending, particularly in health and welfare. The unemployment benefit was cut by $14.00 a week, sickness benefit by $27.04, families benefit by $25.00 to $27.00 and universal payments for family benefits were completely abolished.<ref name="Revolution">Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref> Richardson also introduced many user pays requirements in hospitals and schools, services previously free to the populace and paid for by the government.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The first budget specifically reversed National's election promise to remove the tax surcharge on superannuation and the retention of promises to abolish tertiary fees.<ref name="past_budgets"/>

Another major controversial piece of legislation was the 1991 Employment Contracts Act which effectively dismantled the industrial relations settlement that had persisted since 1894. Immediate effects of this law change saw union membership fall dramatically in the decade following its passage.<ref>Foreign Labor Trends United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Affairs, American Embassy Motevideo</ref> His government also introduced the Building Act 1991, which is seen by some as a crucial factor leading to New Zealand's later leaky homes crisis.<ref name="RUD">Template:Cite news</ref>

Bolger opposed electoral reform,<ref name="nzhistory"/> but despite his party's opposition held a referendum on whether or not New Zealand should change from the British-style electoral system of 'first past the post' to one of proportional representation. In 1992, New Zealanders voted to change to the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system. This was confirmed in a binding referendum held alongside the 1993 general election, which National won. Bolger had originally proposed a return to a bicameral system, with a Senate elected by Single Transferable Vote,<ref name="nzhistory"/> but retreated from this in the face of support for electoral reform.<ref name = "Hansard1994">Template:Cite web</ref> For his pragmatism and his sense of authority, he was jovially nicknamed "The Great Helmsman".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Second term

At the 1993 election, National narrowly retained government, owing partly to a slight economic recovery and his opposition being split between three competing parties; Bolger himself expected a comfortable election win, exclaiming "bugger the pollsters" upon the election result. National's unprecedented eighteen-seat majority had virtually disappeared and the country faced an election night hung parliament for the first time since 1931, with National one seat short of the required 50 seats to govern. Final special votes counted over the following days revealed National had retained Template:NZ electorate link which it had lost on election night together with holding Template:NZ electorate link the only electorate National had won from Labour. This allowed it to form a government with the majority of one seat but required the election of a Speaker from the opposition benches (Peter Tapsell of the Labour Party) to hold a working majority in the House.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Following this election result Bolger expressed the need to work with other political parties and decided to demote Richardson from her post, appointing Bill Birch who was seen as more moderate. During Birch's tenure, spending on core areas such as health<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> and education increased. His government passed the Fiscal Responsibility Act 1994. During the 1994 Address-in-Reply debate, Bolger argued in favour of a New Zealand republic, but denied that his views related to his Irish heritage.<ref name="bolger_bio">Template:Cite book</ref>

In April 1995 the Cave Creek disaster gained public attention after a scenic viewing platform collapsed, killing fourteen people.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The platform had been erected by the Department of Conservation (DOC) in 1994 and later inquiries found that many of those who constructed it did not have prerequisite qualifications for building the platform. Despite DOC taking responsibility for its collapse, there would be no prosecutions (as the Crown is unable to prosecute itself) but $2.6 million worth of compensation was paid to the victims' families.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bolger initially attacked the report produced by the Commission of Inquiry, arguing that the platform failed "essentially because it lacked about $20 worth of bolts to hold it together". The Minister of Conservation, Denis Marshall, was criticised in the media for his management of the department. Many people blamed Marshall, although there was also wide criticism of the whole government's policies on management of the conservation estate. Marshall eventually resigned in May 1996, just over a year after the accident occurred.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A new Minister, Nick Smith, was appointed, and a full review of the department was conducted by the State Services Commission.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bolger's second term would also see France resume nuclear testing on Moruroa, prompting swift condemnation from New Zealand and other Pacific nations. Bolger vocally supported anti-nuclear protests by New Zealand yachters. His government dispatched HMNZS Tui to provide support for the flotilla.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Proposals to end the status of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council as the country's highest court of appeal failed to gain parliamentary sanction during Bolger's premiership (however Helen Clark's Fifth Labour Government would replace the right of appeal in 2003 when it set up the Supreme Court of New Zealand). Bolger's government ended the awarding of British honours in 1996, introducing a New Zealand Honours System. At a conference on the "Bolger years" in 2007, Bolger recalled speaking to the Queen about the issue of New Zealand becoming a republic: "I have more than once spoken with Her Majesty about my view that New Zealand would at some point elect its own Head of State, we discussed the matter in a most sensible way and she was in no way surprised or alarmed and neither did she cut my head off."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With the new MMP environment some National Party MPs defected to a new grouping, United New Zealand in mid-1995, whilst other splinter parties emerged.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Third term

The 1996 election saw New Zealand First, led by former National minister Winston Peters, holding the balance of power after the 1996 election. Bolger's government stayed in office in a caretaker role while negotiations began for a coalition government. Although National remained the largest single party, neither Bolger nor Labour leader Helen Clark could form a government on their own. Neither party could govern without the support of New Zealand First, leaving Peters in a position where he could effectively choose the next prime minister.<ref name="learned from 1996">Template:Cite web</ref>

Ultimately, in December 1996, Peters decided to go into coalition with National. Bolger had to pay a very high price in order to stay in power, however. As part of a detailed coalition agreement Peters became deputy prime minister and Treasurer. The latter post was created specifically for Peters, and was senior to the existing post of Minister of Finance, which was retained by Birch. Bolger also made significant policy concessions as well. He also allowed Peters full latitude to select ministers from New Zealand First, unusual for a junior coalition partner in a Westminster system. There were concerns about whether Bolger and Peters could work together, since Bolger had sacked Peters from his cabinet in 1991 over Peters' objections to Ruthanasia. However, no major issues surfaced between them.<ref name="learned from 1996"/>

Bolger's administration made progress in settling historical grievances with the Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. These settlements aimed to address longstanding issues related to land and resource rights, contributing to the reconciliation process between the government and Māori communities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Resignation

File:Jenny Shipley.jpg

Jenny Shipley mounted a coup against Bolger in December 1997.

Growing opposition to Bolger's slow pace and the perceived exaggerated influence of New Zealand First led Transport Minister Jenny Shipley to plan a caucus room coup while Bolger was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. When Bolger returned to New Zealand, he found that Shipley was not only preparing a leadership challenge, but had marshaled enough support to oust him as party leader and prime minister. Rather than face being voted out, he resigned on 8 December, and Shipley became New Zealand's first woman prime minister. As a concession, Bolger was made a junior minister in Shipley's government.<ref name="usnzcouncil">Template:Cite web</ref>

Bolger remains the National Party's third-longest-serving leader. Retiring political journalist Peter Luke said that Bolger was "[t]he most under-estimated prime minister I have come across. He made up for his lack of education by having an innate ability to relate to the aspirations of ordinary Kiwis. And, as many civil servants discovered to their cost, his image of being a simple King Country farmer did not mean that he would not understand their reports and unfailingly point to the flaws in them."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Life after politics

File:Jim Bolger.jpg

Bolger presides over a student's graduation at the University of Waikato, 2008.

Bolger retired as MP for Taranaki-King Country in 1998, prompting the Template:By-election link and subsequently became New Zealand's ambassador to the United States.<ref name="usnzcouncil"/> On his return to New Zealand in 2001, he was appointed chairman of the state-owned New Zealand Post and of its subsidiary Kiwibank. He also chaired Express Couriers Ltd, Trustees Executors Ltd, the Gas Industry Company Ltd, the advisory board of the World Agricultural Forum, St. Louis, USA, the New Zealand United States Council, and the board of directors of the Ian Axford Fellowships in Public Policy.<ref name="usnzcouncil"/>

File:Jim Bolger 2018 (cropped).jpg

Bolger in 2018

Bolger was elected chancellor of the University of Waikato on 14 February 2007, succeeding John Jackman.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

File:Former Prime Ministers Jim Bolger and Helen Clark.jpg

Bolger and Helen Clark in 2022

On 1 July 2008, almost 15 years after his National government sold New Zealand Rail Ltd, the Labour-led government repurchased its successor, Toll NZ Ltd (less its Tranz Link trucking and distribution arm), having repurchased the track network in 2004. Bolger became chair of the company, renamed KiwiRail, a position he held until 1 July 2010. A number of commentators,<ref name="kiwirail">Template:Cite web</ref> including Winston Peters, viewed this as ironic. In response, Bolger acknowledged his involvement in privatising New Zealand Rail, remarking that "my life is full of ironies",<ref name="NZ_Herald_10519449">Template:Cite news</ref> and added that "the world has changed".<ref name="kiwirail" />

Bolger expressed concern about poverty and inequality in an interview with Radio New Zealand's Guyon Espiner. He also believed that trade unions may not have enough power.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Some saw this as disavowing his previous adherence to free market reforms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2021, he stated that the modern National Party should reimagine capitalism because social inequality was causing division, saying free market capitalism is "on the verge of destroying the planet and destabilising society".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On 5 June 2018, Bolger was appointed to head the Labour government's fair pay agreement working group, tasked with reporting back on the design of industry-wide fair pay agreements by the end of that year.<ref name="Workplace shake up">Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2019, Bolger retired from the chancellorship of the University of Waikato, and was succeeded by Anand Satyanand.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of 2022, Bolger was a member of the Board of Te Urewera, a protected area in the North Island.<ref>"Meet the Board", ngaituhoe.iwi.nz, accessed 19 July 2022</ref>

Honours and awards

In 1977, Bolger was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.<ref name="HBTQ">Template:Cite book</ref> Both Jim and Joan Bolger received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, and, in 1993, the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal.<ref name="HBTQ"/> In the 1998 New Year Honours, Jim Bolger was appointed a Member of the Order of New Zealand, and Joan Bolger was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Bolger received the Order of New Zealand without the customary knighthood bestowed on former prime ministers, as he supported eliminating honorary titles.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life and death

Bolger and his wife Joan were Roman Catholics, with Bolger describing himself as religious but not "deeply so".<ref name="The Bolger challenge"/> The couple had nine children. Bolger voted against abortion whenever the issue came up in a parliamentary conscience vote.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> He was a member of Collegium International.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From 2013, the Bolgers lived in Waikanae.<ref name="CAW">Template:Cite news</ref>

Some have made reference to Jim Bolger, ironically or affectionately, as the Great Helmsman.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Bolger died of kidney failure at the Wellington Regional Hospital in Wellington, on 15 October 2025, at the age of 90.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

His Requiem Mass was held on 23 October 2025 at Our Lady of Kāpiti Parish. It was attended by Governor-General Cindy Kiro and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who both spoke, Māori Queen Nga wai hono i te po, Speaker of the House Gerry Brownlee, and former Prime Ministers Chris Hipkins, Sir Bill English, Helen Clark, and Dame Jenny Shipley. Bolger's Deputy Prime Minister Don McKinnon attended and spoke at the Mass. While it was not an official state funeral, the Mass did see Parliament's sitting day delayed so that MPs could attend. New Zealand Defence Force leadership also attended with the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of the Navy, Chief of the Army, and Chief of the Air Force representing the services.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Electoral history of Jim Bolger

References

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:IMDb name
• Prime Minister's Office Biography (archived)

Template:S-start Template:S-gov Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-off Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-new Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-par Template:S-new Template:S-ttl Template:S-non |- Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-ppo Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft |- Template:S-dip Template:S-bef Template:S-ttl Template:S-aft Template:S-end