View source for John Key

{{short description|Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2008 to 2016}}
{{other people}}
{{good article}}
{{use New Zealand English|date=April 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Sir John Key
| honorific-suffix    = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|GNZM|AC|size=100%}}
| image               = John Key February 2015.jpg
| alt                 = Head and shoulders of John Key smiling in a dark suit and pale blue spotted tie
| caption             = Key in 2015
| order               = 38th
| office              = Prime Minister of New Zealand
| monarch             = [[Elizabeth II]]
| governor-general    = [[Anand Satyanand]]<br />[[Jerry Mateparae]]<br />[[Patsy Reddy]]
| deputy              = [[Bill English]]
| term_start          = 19 November 2008
| term_end            = 12 December 2016
| predecessor         = [[Helen Clark]]
| successor           = Bill English
| office1             = 31st [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| deputy1             = Bill English
| term_start1         = 27 November 2006
| term_end1           = 19 November 2008
| predecessor1        = [[Don Brash]]
| successor1          = [[Phil Goff]]
| office2             = 11th [[Leader of the New Zealand National Party|Leader of the National Party]]
| deputy2             = Bill English
| term_start2         = [[2006 New Zealand National Party leadership election|27 November 2006]]
| term_end2           = 12 December 2016
| predecessor2        = Don Brash
| successor2          = Bill English
| office3             = [[International Democracy Union#Chairmen|Chairman of the International Democracy Union]]
| deputy3             = [[Tony Clement]]
| term_start3         = 21 November 2014
| term_end3           = 21 February 2018
| predecessor3        = [[John Howard]]
| successor3          = [[Stephen Harper]]
| constituency_MP4    = [[Helensville (New Zealand electorate)|Helensville]]
| parliament4         = New Zealand
| term_start4         = 27 July 2002
| term_end4           = 14 April 2017
| predecessor4        = ''Constituency established''
| successor4          = [[Chris Penk]]
| majority4           = 20,547 (56.49%)<ref name="election_2008">{{cite web |url=http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/electorate-15.html |title=Official Count Results–Helensville |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |date=12 November 2008 |access-date=12 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621103912/http://2008.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2008/electorate-15.html |archive-date=21 June 2009 }}</ref>
| birth_name          = John Phillip Key
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1961|8|9|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Auckland]], New Zealand
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[New Zealand National Party|National]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Bronagh Dougan|1984}}
| children            = 2 (including [[Max Key|Max]])
| parents             = {{plain list|
* George Key (father)
* Ruth Lazar (mother)
}}
| alma_mater          = [[University of Canterbury]] ([[Bachelor of Commerce|BCom]])
| signature           = John Key sig.svg
| website             = {{url|johnkey.co.nz|Official website}}
}}
{{John Key sidebar}}
'''Sir John Phillip Key''' (born 9 August 1961)<ref>{{cite news |title=John Key celebrates birthday |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10664823 |access-date=5 August 2020 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=9 August 2010 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> is a New Zealand retired politician who served as the 38th [[prime minister of New Zealand]] from 2008 to 2016 and as [[leader of the New Zealand National Party|leader]] of the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] from 2006 to 2016. 

Following his father's death when he was eight, Key was raised by his single mother in a state-house in the Christchurch suburb of [[Bryndwr]]. He attended the [[University of Canterbury]] and graduated in 1981 with a [[bachelor of commerce|Bachelor of Commerce]]. He began a career in the [[foreign exchange market]] in New Zealand before moving overseas to work for [[Merrill Lynch]], in which he became head of global foreign exchange in 1995, a position he would hold for six years. In 1999 he was appointed a member of the [[Foreign Exchange Committee]] of the [[Federal Reserve Bank of New York]] until leaving in 2001. 

Key entered the [[New Zealand Parliament]] representing the Auckland [[New Zealand electorates|electorate]] of [[Helensville (New Zealand electorate)|Helensville]] as one of the few new National members of parliament in the [[2002 New Zealand general election|election of 2002]] following National's significant defeat of that year. In 2004, he was appointed Finance Spokesman for National and eventually succeeded [[Don Brash]] as the National Party leader in 2006. After two years as [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|leader of the Opposition]], Key led his party to victory at the [[2008 New Zealand general election|November 2008 general election]]. He was subsequently sworn in as prime minister on 19 November 2008. The National government went on to win two more general elections under his leadership: in [[2011 New Zealand general election|November 2011]] and [[2014 New Zealand general election|September 2014]]. Key was expected to contest for a fourth term of office at the [[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 general election]], but on 5 December 2016 he resigned as prime minister and leader of the National Party.<ref name="resignation">{{cite news|title=New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announces resignation|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87202756/New-Zealand-Government-makes-major-announcement|access-date=5 December 2016|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=5 December 2016}}</ref> He was succeeded by [[Bill English]] on 12 December 2016. After resigning from both posts in December 2016 and leaving politics, Key was appointed to the board of directors and role of chairman in several New Zealand corporations.

As prime minister, Key led the [[Fifth National Government of New Zealand]] which entered government at the beginning of the [[Great Recession|late-2000s recession]] in 2008. He was described as supporting both [[social liberalism|socially liberal]] and [[Economic liberalism|economically liberal]] policies. Key was worth an estimated USD$35 million in 2016, making him the wealthiest individual ever to assume the premiership. In his first term, Key's government implemented a [[Goods and Services Tax (New Zealand)|GST rise]] and personal tax cuts, while enacting several [[austerity]] measures.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Politics |first=Tracy Watkins- |date=23 May 2012 |title=Kiwis are tolerating moderate austerity |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/budget-2012/opinion/6950260/Kiwis-are-tolerating-moderate-austerity |access-date=17 July 2022 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> His government refused to renew license agreements for multiple television channels, including [[TVNZ 6]], [[TVNZ 7]], [[TVNZ Kidzone|Kidzone]] and [[TVNZ Heartland|Heartland]], while reducing funding for [[Radio New Zealand]] in real terms.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=SMALL |first=VERNON |date=8 July 2012 |title=Austerity has outgrown its welcome |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/7245067/Austerity-has-outgrown-its-welcome |access-date=17 July 2022 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> In February 2011, after a [[February 2011 Christchurch earthquake|major earthquake in Christchurch]] the nation's second largest city significantly affected the national economy, the government formed the [[Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority]]. In its second term, Key's government implemented a policy of partial [[privatisation]] of five [[state-owned enterprise]]s, while voters in [[2013 New Zealand asset sales referendum|a citizens-initiated referendum on the issue]] were 2 to 1 opposed to the policy. He also faced a [[New Zealand housing crisis|severe housing crisis]], especially in Auckland, and was widely criticised for a perceived lack of action.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sachdeva |first=Sam |date=24 May 2016 |title=John Key says no Auckland housing crisis, but 76 per cent of voters want more action |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/80320513/john-key-defends-govt-housing-action-rules-out-misplaced-housebuilding-programme |access-date=17 July 2022 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref> In foreign policy, Key withdrew [[New Zealand Defence Force]] personnel [[International Security Assistance Force#Non-NATO and non-EAPC nations|from their deployment]] in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|war in Afghanistan]], signed the [[New Zealand-United States relations#Wellington Declaration|Wellington Declaration]] with the United States and pushed for more nations to join the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]].

==Early life and education==
Key was born in [[Auckland]] to George Key (1914–1969)<ref name="family tree">{{cite web | url= http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/document/pdf/19KEYTREE1.pdf | title=John Key's Family Tree | work=[[New Zealand Herald]] | access-date=17 August 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606050437/http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/document/pdf/19KEYTREE1.pdf | archive-date=6 June 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> and Ruth Key (née Lazar; 1922–2000)<ref name="family tree"/> on 9 August 1961. His father was an [[English New Zealanders|English]] immigrant and a veteran of the [[Spanish Civil War]] and [[World War II]], who died of a heart attack when his son was eight years old.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Long-lost half-brothers Key has never met|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-key-the-unauthorised-biography/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502247&objectid=10522313|newspaper = [[The New Zealand Herald]]|date = 19 July 2008|access-date = 18 June 2015|issn = 1170-0777|language = en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |first=Eugene |last=Bingham |title=Survivor who escaped the Holocaust |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/survivor-who-escaped-the-holocaust/VRRF4IWXEFKC5DCM6ICKVCPAVI/ |access-date=29 January 2023 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Key and his two sisters were raised in a [[State housing in New Zealand|state house]] in the [[Christchurch]] suburb of [[Bryndwr]] by his mother, an [[Austrian Jews|Austrian-Jewish]] refugee who escaped [[the Holocaust]].<ref name="timeline">{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/249549/POLITICS-John-Key-A-snapshot |title=Politics: John Key – A snapshot |work=Sunday Star Times |date=31 January 2009 |access-date=21 June 2019 }}</ref><ref name="metroprofile">{{cite news |first=Bevan |last=Rapson |date=26 April 2005 |title=Golden boy |url= http://www.metrolive.co.nz/metroarchives/metroarchivesarticle/tabid/230/Default.aspx/mid/1416/dnnprintmode/true/?ArticleID=1178&SkinSrc=%5bG%5dSkins%2fMetro%20Live%2fPrinterFrendlySkin&ContainerSrc=%5bG%5dContainers%2f_default%2fNo+Container |work=Metro Magazine |issue=286 |access-date=28 February 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080726082506/http://www.metrolive.co.nz/metroarchives/metroarchivesarticle/tabid/230/Default.aspx/mid/1416/dnnprintmode/true/?ArticleID=1178&SkinSrc=%5bG%5dSkins%2fMetro%20Live%2fPrinterFrendlySkin&ContainerSrc=%5bG%5dContainers%2f_default%2fNo+Container |archive-date=26 July 2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=John Key speaks about his Jewish mother {{!}} One Community |url=https://1.org.nz/john-key-speaks-about-his-jewish-mother/ |access-date=29 January 2023 |website=1.org.nz}}</ref> Key is the third prime minister or premier of New Zealand to have Jewish ancestry, after [[Julius Vogel]] and [[Francis Bell (New Zealand politician)|Francis Bell]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Home/Article.aspx?id=119849|title=New Zealand gets third Jewish prime minister|work=[[The Jerusalem Post]]|date=9 November 2008|access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref>

He attended [[Aorangi School, Christchurch|Aorangi School]],<ref name="Aorangi">{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/christchurch-s-aorangi-school-close-3178523 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125160742/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/christchurch-s-aorangi-school-close-3178523 |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 November 2009 |title=Christchurch's Aorangi School to close |date=24 November 2009 |publisher=[[Television New Zealand]] |access-date=8 March 2010 |quote=Education Minister Anne Tolley has announced that Prime Minister John Key's former primary school, Aorangi School in Christchurch, will close in January.}}</ref> and then [[Burnside High School]] from 1975 to 1979,<ref>{{cite book |last= O’Connor |first= Paul |title= Choosing the Right Path: Burnside High School 1960–2010 |year= 2009 |publisher= Silver Fox Publishing |location= Christchurch |isbn= 978-0-473-15685-5 |pages= 198–199}}</ref> where he met his wife, Bronagh.<ref name="metroprofile"/> He went on to attend the [[University of Canterbury]] and earned a [[Bachelor of Commerce]] degree in [[accounting]] in 1981.<ref name="timeline"/> He also attended management studies courses at [[Harvard University]], in the United States.<ref name="heraldprofile">{{cite news |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/profile-john-key/OSW75YYYKU4PGVOA3PMCRMN5LA/ |title=Profile: John Key |first=Maggie |last=Tait |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=27 November 2006 |access-date=26 November 2021}}</ref>

==Career before politics==
Key's first job was as an auditor at McCulloch Menzies in 1982. He then became a project manager at Christchurch-based clothing manufacturer [[Lane Walker Rudkin]] for two years.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/11/story.cfm?c_id=11&objectid=10486477 |title=My Job: John Key, Leader of the National Party |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=12 January 2008 |access-date=13 June 2010 |first=Donna |last=McIntyre |archive-date=30 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130162855/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> He began working as a foreign exchange dealer at [[Elders Limited|Elders Finance]] in Wellington, and rose to the position of head foreign exchange trader two years later,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/close-up-big-dealers-john-key-1987 |title=Big Dealers |work=Close Up |date=10 September 1987 |publisher=[[NZ On Screen]] |access-date=18 November 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125021259/http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/close-up-big-dealers-john-key-1987 |archive-date=25 November 2011 }}</ref> then moved to Auckland-based Bankers Trust in 1988.<ref name="timeline"/>

In 1995, he joined [[Merrill Lynch]] as head of Asian foreign exchange in [[Singapore]]. That same year he was promoted to Merrill's global head of foreign exchange, based in London, where he may have earned around US$2.25 million a year including bonuses, which is about NZ$5 million at 2001 exchange rates.<ref name="timeline"/><ref name="whoisjohnkey"/> Some co-workers called him "the smiling assassin" for maintaining his usual cheerfulness while sacking dozens (some say hundreds) of staff after heavy losses from the [[1998 Russian financial crisis]].<ref name="metroprofile"/><ref name="whoisjohnkey">{{cite news|title = Who is John Key?|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/sundaystartimes/4385003a6442.html|work = Sunday Star Times|first1 = Gillian|last1 = Tett|first2 = Ruth|last2 = Laugesen|date = 3 February 2008|access-date = 28 February 2008|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080424112607/http://www.stuff.co.nz/sundaystartimes/4385003a6442.html|archive-date = 24 April 2008|url-status = dead|df = dmy-all}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Foreign Exchange Committee]] of the [[Federal Reserve Bank of New York|New York Federal Reserve Bank]] from 1999 to 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/2/a/0/50MP78101-Key-John.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203232218/http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/2/a/0/50MP78101-Key-John.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date= 3 February 2012 |title=New Zealand Parliament – Key, John |access-date=28 February 2008 }}</ref>

In 1998, on learning of his interest in pursuing a political career, National Party president John Slater began working to recruit him. Former party leader [[Jenny Shipley]] describes him as one of the people she "deliberately sought out and put my head on the line–either privately or publicly–to get them in there".<ref name="metroprofile"/><ref>{{cite news | first = Eugene | last = Bingham | title = Ambush in the West | date = 26 July 2008 | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-key-the-unauthorised-biography/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502247&objectid=10523287 | work =[[The New Zealand Herald]] | access-date =13 November 2010}}</ref>

==Early political career==
{{NZ parlbox header|align=left}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start={{NZ election link year|2002}}
 |end=2005
 |term=47th
 |electorate=[[Helensville (New Zealand electorate)|Helensville]]
 |list=43
 |party=New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ parlbox|start={{NZ election link year|2005}}
 |end=2008
 |term=48th
 |electorate=Helensville
 |list=7
 |party=New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start={{NZ election link year|2008}}
 |end=2011
 |term=49th
 |electorate=Helensville
 |list=1
 |party=New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start={{NZ election link year|2011}}
 |end=2014
 |term=50th
 |electorate=Helensville
 |list=1
 |party=New Zealand National Party
}}
{{NZ parlbox
 |start={{NZ election link year|2014}}
 |end=2017
 |term=51st
 |electorate=Helensville
 |list=1
 |party=New Zealand National Party
}}
{{End}}

===Early years in Parliament===
Auckland's population growth led to the formation for the 2002 general election of a new electorate called [[Helensville (New Zealand electorate)|Helensville]], which covered the north-western corner of the Auckland urban area.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/886D5481-DAA5-42BB-8866-395A38C8BAFF/122/Helensville1.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092828/http://www.parliament.nz/NR/rdonlyres/886D5481-DAA5-42BB-8866-395A38C8BAFF/122/Helensville1.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 29 September 2007 |title= Electorate Profile Helensville|work= [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliamentary Library]]|date= October 2005|access-date= 26 May 2010}}</ref> Key beat long-serving National MP [[Brian Neeson]] (whose own [[Waitakere (New Zealand electorate)|Waitakere]] seat had moved on paper to being a [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]] seat through the boundary changes) for the National Party Helensville selection. At the [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002 general election]] Key won the seat with a majority of 1,705, ahead of Labour's Gary Russell, with Neeson, now standing as an independent, coming third.<ref name="election_2002">{{cite web |url= http://electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2002/electorate-17.html |title= Official Count Results–Helensville |publisher= [[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |date= 10 August 2002 |access-date= 13 June 2010 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100527010719/http://www.electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2002/electorate-17.html |archive-date= 27 May 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

The National Party was heavily defeated in the 2002 election, receiving only 20.9% of the party vote – the party's worst-ever election result.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10523317|title=John Key: The man who would be PM|last=Chateau|first=Eugene Bingham, Paula Oliver and Carroll du|date=26 July 2008|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=8 July 2018|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref> Following the fallout, [[2003 New Zealand National Party leadership election|a leadership coup]] against the incumbent [[Bill English]] was launched by [[Don Brash]], another of the 2002 recruits, in October 2003. English and his supporters offered Key the finance spokesman position for his vote and were confident they had the numbers with him on their side. Brash narrowly won 14 votes to 12 and at the time it was thought Key had changed his support to Brash. The votes were confidential, although later Key stated that he did vote for English.<ref name=":1" />

Key won re-election at the [[2005 New Zealand general election|2005 general election]], garnering 63% of votes cast.<ref name="election_2005">{{cite web |url= http://electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-17.html |title= Official Count Results–Helensville |publisher= [[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |date= 1 November 2005 |access-date= 23 August 2007 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100520215217/http://www.electionresults.org.nz/electionresults_2005/electorate-17.html |archive-date= 20 May 2010 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> He increased his majority again in {{NZ election link year|2008}}, gaining 73% of the electorate vote.<ref name="election_2008" />

===Finance spokesman===
The low numbers in the National caucus meant Key was given more opportunities and responsibilities than most new [[Member of Parliament (New Zealand)|Members of Parliament]] would.<ref name=":1" /> After serving as deputy finance spokesman under Brash, Key was promoted to the [[Official Opposition (New Zealand)|Opposition]] [[front bench]]es in 2004 as party spokesman for finance.<ref name="NZ History">{{cite web|title=John Key|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/john-key|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=6 September 2017|date=12 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906091124/https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/john-key|archive-date=6 September 2017}}</ref> Key was up against [[Michael Cullen (politician)|Michael Cullen]], the [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Minister of Finance]] and a veteran of 23 years in parliament. There was concern he would be out of his depth going up against Cullen in his first term and there was talk among the party of trying to "protect" Key. During the [[2005 New Zealand general election|2005 election campaign]] political commentators felt Key matched Cullen in the debates, although he may have benefited from Labour focusing their campaign on discrediting Brash.<ref name=":1" />

Although Brash lost the election, Key remained as finance spokesman.<ref name="NZ History" /> He was promoted to number four on the list, partly due to his success at selling the party's tax package during the campaign.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10412660|title=Profile: John Key|last=Tait|first=Maggie|date=27 November 2006|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=8 July 2018|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref> While Keys ambition to become leader had been telegraphed from early in his political career, he was now beginning to rate highly on preferred prime minister polls.<ref name=":1" /> Rumours that Key was looking to take over the leadership circulated and there was an unofficial agreement between Brash and Key that he would be the natural successor.<ref name=":1" />

Things came to a head earlier than expected. In November 2006 Brash resigned as leader, citing damaging speculation over his future as the reason. Brash's resignation followed controversies over an extramarital affair, and over leaked internal National Party documents that were later published in the book ''[[The Hollow Men (book)|The Hollow Men]]''.<ref>{{cite news |author= [[New Zealand Press Association]]|author2= [[The New Zealand Herald]] Staff |title= Don Brash gone at lunchtime |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/don-brash-gone-at-lunchtime/4INSDMPA3VY7CFF22FJS4DN6LE/ |work= [[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 23 November 2006 |access-date= 9 June 2022}}</ref> After months of speculation, Key stood for leadership of the party and was [[2006 New Zealand National Party leadership election|elected unopposed]].<ref>{{cite news|title=John Key resigns: 'It feels like the right time to go' / RNZ – RNZ|url=http://www.noted.co.nz/currently/politics/john-key-resignation-it-feels-like-the-right-time-to-go/|access-date=31 August 2017|work=Noted|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831180053/http://www.noted.co.nz/currently/politics/john-key-resignation-it-feels-like-the-right-time-to-go/|archive-date=31 August 2017}}</ref>

==Leader of the Opposition==
On becoming leader Key convinced [[Gerry Brownlee]], deputy leader under Brash, to step aside and promoted his main rival English to deputy leader and finance spokesman. He showed a ruthless streak by unceremoniously pushing Brash out and refusing to allow another one of the 2002 recruits, [[Brian Connell]], back into the caucus.<ref name=":1" /> In his maiden speech as National Party leader, Key spoke of an "underclass" that had been "allowed to develop" in New Zealand, a theme which received a large amount of media coverage.<ref name="nznp1">{{cite web|url=http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=8778|title=Speech to North Shore National Party luncheon|last=Key|first=John|date=28 November 2006|publisher=[[New Zealand National Party]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071004223202/http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=8778|archive-date=4 October 2007|url-status=dead|access-date=23 August 2007}}</ref> Key followed up on this speech in February 2007 by committing his party to a programme which would provide food in the poorest schools in New Zealand.<ref name="scoop_food">{{cite press release|title=National launches its Food in Schools programme|date=4 February 2007|publisher=[[New Zealand Government]]|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0702/S00059.htm|last=Key|first=John|access-date=23 August 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930044558/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0702/S00059.htm|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>

In opposition he was instrumental in promoting National's change of policy regarding keeping superannuation and [[Kiwibank]].<ref name=":0" /> He also supported interest-free student loans and early childhood education funding.<ref name=":1" /> He relented on his stance in opposition to [[Sue Bradford]]'s [[Child Discipline Bill]], which sought to remove "reasonable force" as a defence for parents charged with ''prima facie'' assault of their children.<ref name="nzh_smacking">Compare: {{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10446314 |title= 78pc of parents say they'll still smack |work= [[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 18 June 2007 |access-date= 23 August 2007 |quote= 82 per cent thought [the new law] should be changed to state that parents who smacked their children to correct them were not breaking the law. |archive-date= 29 September 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070929132226/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10446314 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Key and Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] agreed a compromise – giving police the discretion to overlook smacking they regarded as "inconsequential".<ref>{{cite news |last= Colwill |first= Jennifer |title= The smacking bill – what it says |work= [[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 2 May 2007 |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501165&objectid=10437332 |access-date= 22 May 2007 |archive-date= 30 September 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070930012352/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501165&objectid=10437332 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

In August 2007 Key came in for criticism when he changed his position regarding the Therapeutic Products and Medicine Bill.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/466/story.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10455321|title=John Armstrong: At last, Labour gets to give Key a good kicking|last=Armstrong|first=John|date=2 August 2007|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=23 August 2007}}</ref> At the same time Labour's [[Trevor Mallard]] hinted in Parliament that Labour would try to link Key to the 1987 "H-Fee" scandal, which involved Key's former employer [[Elders Merchant Finance]] and a payment to [[Equiticorp]] Chief Executive Allan Hawkins. Hawkins and Elders executive Ken Jarrett were later jailed for fraud. Key declaring that he had left Elders months before the event, that he had no knowledge of the deal, and that his interview with the [[Serious Fraud Office (New Zealand)|Serious Fraud Office]] (SFO) during the investigation into the affair could only have helped to convict the people involved. Then-SFO director Charles Sturt publicly supported Key's statement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Trevett |first=Clare |title=Former SFO chief backs Key's claims |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=25 August 2007 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=213&objectid=10459777 |access-date=26 February 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Long |first=Richard |title=Muck-rakers desperate for dirt |work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media|Stuff.co.nz]] |date=28 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930035717/http://www.stuff.co.nz/4181331a1861.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 |url-status=dead |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/4181331a1861.html |access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref>

Labour MPs criticised Key for not releasing specific policy information at their annual conference. Key responded that National would set its own policy agenda and that there was adequate time before the next election for voters to digest National Party policy proposals.<ref name="nzh_policy">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/topic/story.cfm?c_id=144&objectid=10455527 |title=John Key's policy: There'll be more, later |date=3 August 2007 |first=Paula|last=Oliver |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=23 August 2007}}</ref>

==Prime Minister (2008–2016)==
{{See also|Fifth National Government of New Zealand}}
{{Infobox administration
| image = John Key 2013 (edit).jpg
| image_size =
| name = Premiership of John Key
| term_start = 19 November 2008
| term_end = 12 December 2016
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| cabinet = [[Fifth National Government of New Zealand]]
| party = [[New Zealand National Party]]
| election = [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008]], [[2011 New Zealand general election|2011]], [[2014 New Zealand general election|2014]]
| appointer = [[Anand Satyanand]]
| seat = [[Premier House]]
| predecessor = [[Helen Clark#Prime Minister (1999–2008)|Helen Clark]]
| successor = [[Bill English#Prime Minister (2016–2017)|Bill English]]
| seal =
| seal_size =
| seal_caption =
| official_url =
}}

===First term: 2008–2011===
[[File:John Key and family.jpg|thumb|left|John Key (right), with (from left to right) son Max, wife Bronagh, and daughter Stephie, celebrating on election night, 8 November 2008]]

Key became prime minister following the [[2008 New Zealand general election|general election on 8 November 2008]], which signalled an end to the [[Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand|Labour-led government]] of nine years under Clark. The National Party won 45% of the party vote and 58 of the 122 seats in Parliament, overtaking the incumbent majority Labour Party.<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Results for the 2008 New Zealand General Election |url=https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/00PLLawrp08051/181c26eed1d0fa8f8b9c8670e8ad3db7b767e7bf |publisher=New Zealand Parliamentary Library |access-date=8 July 2018 |date=24 December 2008}}</ref>

National negotiated with smaller parties to form a [[minority government]] with [[confidence and supply]] from the classical-liberal [[ACT New Zealand|ACT Party]], the centrist [[United Future]] and the indigenous-rights-based [[Māori Party]].<ref>{{cite news |title=History of coalition building under MMP |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10541484 |access-date=8 July 2018 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=8 November 2008 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

Key was sworn in as Prime Minister and [[Minister of Tourism (New Zealand)|Minister of Tourism]]<ref>"Appointment of Ministers" (21 November 2008) 179 [https://archive.today/20121220091415/http://www.dia.govt.nz/MSOS118/On-Line/NZGazette.nsf/6cee7698a9bbc7cfcc256d510059ed0b/8155efb9e8df9c7ecc25750f0047784d!OpenDocument ''New&nbsp;Zealand Gazette''] 4634.</ref> and also appointed as a member of the [[Executive Council of New Zealand|Executive Council]]<ref>"Members of Executive Council Appointed" (21 November 2008) 179 [https://archive.today/20121209124257/http://www.dia.govt.nz/MSOS118/On-Line/NZGazette.nsf/6cee7698a9bbc7cfcc256d510059ed0b/f0b26c54c2b6dd0ecc25750f00477759!OpenDocument ''New&nbsp;Zealand Gazette''] 4634.</ref> on 19 November 2008, along with his nominated cabinet.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10543317 | title= John Key announces he has numbers to govern|work= [[The New Zealand Herald]]| date= 16 November 2008 | access-date=17 November 2008 | first=Grant | last=Fleming}}</ref> He chose [[Bill English]] as his [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|Deputy Prime Minister]] and [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Minister of Finance]]. During his first term in office National remained high in the polls and one commentator described support for Key as "stratospheric".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10769199|title= Key could do with element of doubt|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 26 November 2011|access-date= 20 September 2014}}</ref> In 2011 he was nicknamed "[[Teflon]] John" in the popular media, as nothing damaging to his reputation seemed to "stick" to him.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/8917447/John-Key-the-smiling-assassin-on-course-to-win-New-Zealands-election.html |title= John Key, the 'smiling assassin' on course to win New Zealand's election |first= Paul |last= Chapman |publisher= The Telegraph |date= 26 November 2011 |access-date= 6 September 2013 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140605094632/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/8917447/John-Key-the-smiling-assassin-on-course-to-win-New-Zealands-election.html |archive-date= 5 June 2014 |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

Key's government introduced several bold economic policies in response to the [[Great Recession|global economic downturn]] that began shortly after he took office. The government introduced a plan of personal tax cuts, reducing taxes on all income; the top personal tax rate was lowered from 39% to 38% and then 33%.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10562448|title=Spend tax cut or give it to the needy: PM|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |first=Claire|last=Trevett|date=19 March 2009|access-date= 25 January 2010}}</ref> In its [[2008 New Zealand budget|first budget]] the government raised the rate of [[Goods and Services Tax (New Zealand)|Goods and Services Tax]] (GST) from 12.5% to 15%, despite Key previously stating that an increase would not happen under a National government.<ref>{{cite news |title=PM defensive after video reveals GST flip-flop |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10625326 |access-date=8 July 2018 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=10 February 2010 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Key's government also enacted several [[austerity]] measures.<ref name=":2" /> His government declined to renew license agreements for multiple television channels, including [[TVNZ 6]], [[TVNZ 7]], [[TVNZ Kidzone|Kidzone]] and [[TVNZ Heartland|Heartland]], while reducing funding for [[Radio New Zealand]] in real terms.<ref name=":3" />

In January 2009, after addressing Chinese New Year celebrations at the Greenlane ASB Showgrounds, Key tripped after coming down a small set of stairs in front of cameras, leaving him with a broken right arm and "embarrassed".<ref name="NZ_Herald_10552474">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10552474 |title=John Key says arm break 'very embarrassing' |author=Trevett, Claire |date=19 January 2009 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=12 September 2011}}</ref> Later that year, when arriving at the [[Ngāpuhi]] Te Tii Waitangi Marae the day before [[Waitangi Day]], Key was briefly shoved and grabbed by two protesters before diplomatic protection officers pulled them off. He told reporters he was "quite shocked" but continued onto the [[marae]] and spoke, while police took the two men away and charged them with assault.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7871557.stm|title=Protesters attack New Zealand PM|date=5 February 2009|work=[[BBC News]] |access-date=5 February 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206192156/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7871557.stm|archive-date=6 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/05/ap/australia/main4777186.shtml|title=Protester grabs NZ leader at indigenous ceremony|date=5 February 2009|agency=Associated Press|publisher=[[CBS News]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116101150/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/05/ap/australia/main4777186.shtml|archive-date=16 November 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref>

Key was tied with the [[National Cycleway Project]] since its conception at the national Job Summit in early 2009. He proposed it, and as Minister for Tourism, was instrumental in getting NZ$50 million approved for initial construction work.<ref name="GETS50">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/small-business/news/article.cfm?c_id=85&objectid=10572247 |title=Cycleway gets $50m – now a series of 'Great Rides' says Key |author=Daniels, Chris |date=14 May 2009 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref>

[[File:John Key with Obamas.jpg|thumb|left|John and Bronagh Key with Barack and Michelle Obama at the [[Metropolitan Museum]] in New York, 23 September 2009.]]

Key launched New Zealand's campaign for a [[Security Council]] seat at the [[UN General Assembly]] meeting in September 2009.<ref>{{cite news |title=NZ to seek Security Council seat, Key tells UN |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10599758 |date=26 September 2009|access-date=13 June 2010 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |first=Maggie|last=Tait}}</ref> He met briefly with US President [[Barack Obama]] and former US President [[Bill Clinton]]. While in [[New York City]], Key appeared on the ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]''. He read out the Top Ten list, 'Top Ten Reasons You Should Visit New Zealand'.<ref name="Key on Letterman">{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/john-key-david-letterman-s-late-show-3019658 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926200432/http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/john-key-david-letterman-s-late-show-3019658 |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 September 2009 |title=John Key on David Letterman |author=ONE News |author2=[[New Zealand Press Association]] |work=[[Television New Zealand]] |date=25 September 2009 |access-date=13 June 2010 |author-link=1News }}</ref>

In foreign policy, Key supported closer relations with the United States, an [[ANZUS]] defence partner. On 4 November 2010, [[US Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] and [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)|New Zealand Foreign Minister]] [[Murray McCully]] signed the [[New Zealand–United States relations#Wellington Declaration|Wellington Declaration]]. The agreement signalled an increase in the strategic partnership between the two nations and covered areas of co-operation including [[nuclear proliferation]], climate change and terrorism.<ref name="stuff.co.nz">{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/4309206/Full-text-of-the-Wellington-Declaration |title=Full text of the Wellington Declaration |date=4 November 2010 |agency=[[NZPA]] |work=[[Stuff.co.nz]] |access-date=30 October 2011}}</ref> This was followed in June 2012 by a companion document, the Washington Declaration.<ref>{{cite web|title=US-NZ defence arrangement signed|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/us-nz-defence-arrangement-signed|website=The Beehive|access-date=11 November 2016|date=20 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112142359/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/us-nz-defence-arrangement-signed|archive-date=12 November 2016}}</ref> Since 2008 Key has also engaged in [[Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations]] with the United States and other [[Asia-Pacific]] economies.<ref>{{cite web|title=TPP has momentum says Prime Minister|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/tpp-has-momentum-says-prime-minister|website=The Beehive|access-date=11 November 2016|date=14 November 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112081121/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/tpp-has-momentum-says-prime-minister|archive-date=12 November 2016}}</ref>

On 22 February 2011 a 6.3 magnitude [[2011 Christchurch earthquake|earthquake struck Christchurch]], causing widespread damage to the city region and significantly affecting the national economy. It was New Zealand's [[List of disasters in New Zealand by death toll|third deadliest natural disaster]], killing 185 people.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6394084/February-earthquake-toll-hits-185 |title= Official quake toll rises to 185 |date= 9 February 2012 |publisher= Stuff.co |access-date= 9 February 2012 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120313164254/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6394084/February-earthquake-toll-hits-185 |archive-date= 13 March 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="listdeceased">{{cite web |url= http://www.police.govt.nz/list-deceased |title= List of deceased&nbsp;– Christchurch earthquake |publisher= New Zealand Police |date= 8 September 2011 |access-date= 26 December 2011 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120830213739/http://www.police.govt.nz/list-deceased |archive-date= 30 August 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> Addressing the nation, Key said that the disaster "...may well be New Zealand's darkest day".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Manhire|first1=Toby|title=Christchurch earthquake: at least 65 dead and 100 trapped in 'darkest day'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/22/christchurch-earthquake-65-dead-100-trapped|access-date=29 August 2016|work=[[The Guardian]] |date=22 February 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923035619/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/22/christchurch-earthquake-65-dead-100-trapped|archive-date=23 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=New Zealand faces its 'darkest day' after 6.3 quake|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-asia-pacific-12542077|access-date=29 August 2016|work=[[BBC News]] |date=22 February 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228213243/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12542077|archive-date=28 December 2011}}</ref> On 29 March 2011, Key created the [[Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority]] (CERA) to manage the earthquake recovery, co-operating with the government, local councils and residents.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10715686|title=Christchurch will be 'world's most quake-safe city'|author=Donnell, Hayden|date=29 March 2011|work=[[New Zealand Herald]] |publisher=APN Holdings|access-date=29 March 2011}}</ref>

On 8 March 2011, John Key advised [[Queen Elizabeth II]], [[Monarchy of New Zealand|Queen of New Zealand]] to appoint [[Jerry Mateparae]] as the next [[Governor-General of New Zealand]].<ref name=key_appt>{{cite web|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1103/S00082/pm-welcomes-jerry-mateparae-as-next-governor-general.htm|title=Prime Minister Welcomes Jerry Mateparae as next Governor-General|work=[[Scoop.co.nz]]|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)|Prime Minister's Office]]|date=8 March 2011|access-date=8 March 2011}}</ref> The Queen made the appointment later that day.<ref name=queen_appt>{{cite web|url=http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2011/AppointmentofnewGovernorGeneralofNewZealand.aspx|title=Appointment of New Governor-General of New Zealand|date=8 March 2011 |access-date=8 March 2011 |publisher=[[Queen Elizabeth II]]}}</ref>

In October 2011, Key was caught up in a controversy over the replacement of 34 three-year-old [[Official state car#New Zealand|Government BMW limousines]] with new ones at a time of economic restraint. Initially, Key denied any knowledge of the plan, although reports later surfaced showing that his office was aware of the deal. Political opponents accused Key and his government of hypocrisy; he later apologised, calling it a "sloppy" deal, effectively placing most of the blame on his chief of staff.<ref name="ODT_148611">{{cite news |url= http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/148611/limo-deal-sloppy-key |title= Limo deal sloppy: Key |date= 21 February 2011 |agency= [[NZPA]] |work= [[Otago Daily Times]] |access-date= 7 October 2011 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110806193618/http://www.odt.co.nz/news/politics/148611/limo-deal-sloppy-key |archive-date= 6 August 2011 |df= dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="NZ_Herald_10707896">{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-armstrong-on-politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502865&objectid=10707896 |title= Mea culpa a bid to save brand |author=Armstrong, John |date=22 February 2011 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref>

Shortly before the general election in November 2011, a recording was made of a conversation between Key and [[ACT New Zealand|ACT Party candidate]] [[John Banks (New Zealand politician)|John Banks]] that they considered private – though the conversation took place in a public cafe.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10768152 | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | first1=Derek | last1=Cheng | title=Tea tape: Police execute warrants | date=23 November 2011}}</ref> Key made a complaint to the police and compared the incident to illegal [[phone hacking]] in the [[News of the World phone hacking affair|''News of the World'']] scandal in Britain.<ref name="Herald1">{{cite web | url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10766325|title= Key's News of the World 'cheap shot'|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 14 November 2011|access-date= 20 September 2014}}</ref> The recording allegedly concerned the leadership of ACT and disparaging remarks about elderly [[New Zealand First]] supporters.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10766303 | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | first= John | last= Armstrong | title= 'Teapot tape' could nail lid to Act coffin | date= 16 November 2011}}</ref> Journalists and opposition parties demanded the release of the tapes<ref name="Herald1" /> and the affair was nicknamed '[[Tea tape scandal|teapot tape]]'.<ref name="Herald1" /> A senior barrister criticised Key, stating that the comparison of the recording to the phone hacking scandal was a "cheap shot".<ref name="Herald1" />

Statements made by Key regarding New Zealand's [[List of countries by credit rating|national credit rating]] proved controversial. In October 2011 he claimed that [[Standard & Poor's]] (S&P) had said that "if there was a change of Government, that downgrade would be much more likely". S&P contradicted the claim, bringing Key's credibility into question.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10757922 | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | first= Audrey | last= Young | title= S&P contradicts Key downgrade claim | date=10 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10758128 | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | first=John | last=Armstrong | title= Key's credibility takes a hit | date= 11 October 2011}}</ref> National won the election, but New Zealand's credit rating was subsequently downgraded anyway – by two different agencies – Standard and Poor's and [[Fitch Group]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10760327|title= Key can't rule out Moody's downgrade|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 18 October 2011|access-date= 20 September 2014}}</ref>

===Second term: 2011–2014===
[[File:Sir Jerry Mateparae and John Key.jpg|thumb|Sir [[Jerry Mateparae]], the Governor-General, arrives at Parliament to be met by Key, July 2011.]]
The [[2011 New Zealand general election|general election on 26 November 2011]] saw National increase its share of the vote and gain a seat, while Labour suffered further losses.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-government/news/article.cfm?c_id=144&objectid=10797157|title=National defies the pundits|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=5 April 2012 |access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> Key called the election a "very happy night" and a "strong and solid win" for his party.<ref name="stuff1">{{cite web|title=Key to hold confidence and supply talks|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/6042265/Key-to-hold-confidence-and-supply-talks|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=29 August 2016|language=en|date=27 November 2011}}</ref> The Prime Minister re-negotiated confidence and supply agreements with United Future,<ref name="cas">{{cite web|title=Key signs deals with United Future and ACT|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/92859/key-signs-deals-with-united-future-and-act|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=30 August 2016|date=5 December 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913102938/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/92859/key-signs-deals-with-united-future-and-act|archive-date=13 September 2016}}</ref> the ACT Party<ref name="cas" /> and the Māori Party,<ref>{{cite web|title=Nats and Maori Party sign|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10772529|publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=30 August 2016|date=11 December 2011}}</ref> to secure a second term of government.

In 2012, Key was implicated in the arrest of [[Kim Dotcom]] and the subsequent revelations that the [[Government Communications Security Bureau]] (GCSB) had illegally spied on Dotcom.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vance|first1=Andrea|title=GCSB acted illegally on Kim Dotcom|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9103159/GCSB-acted-illegally-on-Kim-Dotcom|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=29 August 2016|language=en|date=29 August 2013}}</ref> As prime minister, Key was directly responsible for the GCSB,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10836179|title= Dotcom: Illegal spying revealed|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 29 August 2012|access-date= 20 September 2014}}</ref> which is not allowed to spy on New Zealand citizens – and Dotcom had been granted permanent residency. Three days later,  Key apologised for the illegal spying. "I apologize to Mr Dotcom. I apologize to New Zealanders because every New Zealander…is entitled to be protected from the law when it comes to the GCSB, and we failed to provide that appropriate protection for him."<ref>{{cite news |title= New Zealand Prime Minister John Key Apologizes To Kim Dotcom, Says Spying Was Illegal |url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/27/new-zealand-prime-minister-illegally-spied-on-kim-dotcom_n_1919275.html |date= 27 September 2012 |access-date= 27 September 2012 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120929222038/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/27/new-zealand-prime-minister-illegally-spied-on-kim-dotcom_n_1919275.html |archive-date= 29 September 2012 |df= dmy-all }}</ref> It subsequently came to light that Deputy Prime Minister Bill English had been asked by the GCSB to sign a "ministerial certificate" suppressing details of the bureau's involvement in the case while Key was overseas – the only time this had been done in the last ten years.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Spy agency's secrecy order one-in-10-year case|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10851774|newspaper = [[The New Zealand Herald]]|date = 4 December 2012|access-date = 18 June 2015|issn = 1170-0777|language = en|first = David|last = Fisher}}</ref>

The fallout from Dotcom's arrest continued in December when the High Court ordered the GCSB to "confirm all entities" to which it gave information, opening the door for Dotcom to sue for damages – against the spy agency and the police.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10852335|title= Dotcom can pursue case against police|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 29 November 2012|access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> Later that month, Key's rating as preferred PM dropped to 39% – the first time in his four years as prime minister that his rating had slipped below 40%.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Polls have Labour closing in on Nats|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/8025925/Polls-have-Labour-closing-in-on-Nats|newspaper = [[Stuff.co.nz]]|date = 3 December 2012|access-date = 18 June 2015|first1 = Vernon|last1 = Small|last2 = Daly|first2 = Michael}}</ref> It emerged that Key had known [[Ian Fletcher (diplomat)|Ian Fletcher]], head of the GCSB, since they were at school, but Key denied he had 'shoulder-tapped' Fletcher for the role.<ref name="3news" /> Later Key's office released a statement saying he rang Fletcher and recommended he apply for the position at GCSB.<ref name="3news">{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-admits-Fletcher-shoulder-tap/tabid/1607/articleID/292821/Default.aspx| archive-url= https://archive.today/20130413224134/http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-admits-Fletcher-shoulder-tap/tabid/1607/articleID/292821/Default.aspx| url-status= dead| archive-date= 13 April 2013|work= 3 News NZ |title= Key admits Fletcher shoulder-tap| date= 3 April 2013}}</ref> Key said he hadn't originally mentioned the phone call because he "forgot".<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Keys-faulty-memory-on-GCSB-an-excuse---Shearer/tabid/1607/articleID/292940/Default.aspx| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140112035626/http://www.3news.co.nz/Keys-faulty-memory-on-GCSB-an-excuse---Shearer/tabid/1607/articleID/292940/Default.aspx| url-status= dead| archive-date= 12 January 2014|work=3 News NZ |title= Key's faulty memory on GCSB an 'excuse'| date= 4 April 2013}}</ref> Political commentator [[Bryce Edwards]] called it the "most appalling political management since he became Prime Minister back in 2008".<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Key-The-honeymoon-is-over/tabid/1607/articleID/293391/Default.aspx | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130412164327/http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Key-The-honeymoon-is-over/tabid/1607/articleID/293391/Default.aspx | url-status= dead | archive-date= 12 April 2013 |work= 3 News NZ |title= John Key: The honeymoon 'is over'| date=8 April 2013}}</ref>

Key continued New Zealand's push for a spot on the UN Security Council while in New York in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-lobbying-for-NZ-at-UN-General-Assembly/tabid/1607/articleID/314482/Default.aspx|title=Key lobbying for NZ at UN General Assembly|author=Patrick Gower|access-date=20 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928141735/http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-lobbying-for-NZ-at-UN-General-Assembly/tabid/1607/articleID/314482/Default.aspx|archive-date=28 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11130251|title=NZ UN seat campaign run 'on a shoe string'|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=24 September 2013 |access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> There he accused rival candidates Spain and Turkey of using aid money to buy votes from small African countries, and said New Zealand would not be spending its way onto the Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/OPINION-UN-Security-Council-bribery-just-plain-wrong/tabid/1382/articleID/314715/Default.aspx|title=UN Security Council 'bribery' just plain wrong|author=Patrick Gower|access-date=20 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928141739/http://www.3news.co.nz/OPINION-UN-Security-Council-bribery-just-plain-wrong/tabid/1382/articleID/314715/Default.aspx|archive-date=28 September 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9200082/Key-in-honest-broker-pitch-to-UN|title=Key in 'honest broker' pitch to UN|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=23 September 2013|access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref> While in New York, Key suddenly fell ill, but recovered in time for meetings with representatives from other countries ahead of the General Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Key-sick-before-spying-talks/tabid/1607/articleID/314631/Default.aspx|title=John Key sick before spying talks|author=Patrick Gower|access-date=20 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928141732/http://www.3news.co.nz/John-Key-sick-before-spying-talks/tabid/1607/articleID/314631/Default.aspx|archive-date=28 September 2013}}</ref>

In April 2013, whilst visiting Chinese president [[Xi Jinping]] in Beijing, Key made headlines by suggesting New Zealand would back any [[United States]] or [[Australia]]n military action against [[North Korea]].<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-in-China-heeds-NKorea-threats/tabid/1607/articleID/293331/Default.aspx| work= 3 News NZ| title= Key in China heeds NKorea threats| date= 7 April 2013| url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131017015456/http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-in-China-heeds-NKorea-threats/tabid/1607/articleID/293331/Default.aspx| archive-date= 17 October 2013| df= dmy-all}}</ref> The following day he backtracked, saying the chance of New Zealand troops entering North Korea was "so far off the planet".<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-backs-off-South-Korea-war-remarks/tabid/1607/articleID/293365/Default.aspx| work= 3 News NZ| title= Key backs off South Korea war remarks| date= 8 April 2013| url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130719044516/http://www.3news.co.nz/Key-backs-off-South-Korea-war-remarks/tabid/1607/articleID/293365/Default.aspx| archive-date= 19 July 2013| df= dmy-all}}</ref>

===Third term: 2014–2016===
[[File:Prime Minister Narendra Modi in conversation with Prime Minister John Key of New Zealand.jpg|thumb|Key with the Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]], 31 March 2016.]]
The [[2014 New Zealand general election|general election on 20 September 2014]] saw the National Government returned again. National won a plurality with 47.0% of the party vote and 60 of the 121 seats. On election night counts the party appeared to hold the first majority since 1994 with 61 seats, but lost a list seat (for [[Maureen Pugh]]) to the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] on the official count (including special votes) of the party vote.<ref>{{cite news |first= Hamish |last= Rutherford |date= 4 October 2014 |title= National loses majority, Greens pick up one |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10580208/National-loses-majority-Greens-pick-up-one |publisher= Fairfax NZ News |access-date= 4 October 2014}}</ref> National re-entered a confidence and supply arrangement with United Future, the ACT Party and the Māori Party.<ref>{{cite news |first= Issac |last= Davison |date= 29 September 2014 |title= Dunne deal: United Future signs agreement with National-led govt |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11333482 |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date= 29 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Adam |last= Bennett |date= 5 October 2014 |title= National signs deal with Maori Party |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11337362 |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date= 5 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first= Issac |last= Davison |date= 29 September 2014 |title= Act deal: No portfolio for David Seymour |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11333521 |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date= 29 September 2014}}</ref>

In October, Key created a new ministerial portfolio called the [[Minister of National Security and Intelligence (New Zealand)|Minister of National Security and Intelligence]] to serve the newly established [[Cabinet National Security Committee]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=National Security and Intelligence role created |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1410/S00026/national-security-and-intelligence-role-created.htm |newspaper=Scoop Media |location=New Zealand |date=6 October 2014 |access-date=7 October 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007124939/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1410/S00026/national-security-and-intelligence-role-created.htm |archive-date=7 October 2014 }}</ref> The Prime Minister assumed the new portfolio while the [[Attorney General]] [[Christopher Finlayson]] became Minister Responsible for the GCSB and Minister in Charge of the [[New Zealand Security Intelligence Service]] (NZSIS), portfolios which have traditionally been held by a prime minister.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1410/Outline_of_security_portfolio_responsibilties.pdf
 |title       = Outline of security portfolio responsibilities
 |author      = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->
 |date        = 6 October 2014
|website     = Scoop Media
 |access-date  = 7 October 2014
|url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20141023214420/http://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/1410/Outline_of_security_portfolio_responsibilties.pdf
 |archive-date = 23 October 2014
|df          = dmy-all
}}
</ref> Key was elected Chairman of the [[International Democrat Union]] (IDU), an international alliance of [[centre-right]] political parties.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Right Honourable John Key MP|url=http://idu.org/officers/the-right-honourable-john-key-mp/|publisher=International Democrat Union|access-date=29 August 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901085240/http://idu.org/officers/the-right-honourable-john-key-mp/|archive-date=1 September 2016}}</ref> The National Party was a founding member party in 1983.<ref>{{cite web|title=Key elected chair of conservative union|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/259948/key-elected-chair-of-conservative-union|publisher=[[Radio New Zealand]] |access-date=29 August 2016|date=21 November 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913055928/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/259948/key-elected-chair-of-conservative-union|archive-date=13 September 2016}}</ref>

In April 2015, Key acknowledged that he had pulled a waitress' ponytail multiple times over several months;<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/04/21/world/asia/ap-as-new-zealand-ponytail-pulling-.html?_r=1 |title=New Zealand Prime Minister Apologizes for Ponytail Pulling |agency=Associated Press |work=New York Times |date= 21 April 2015 |access-date=5 August 2015}}</ref> when Key learnt she had taken offence, he apologised. International media reported the incident as "ponytail-gate".<ref>{{cite web|title = Ponytail-pulling PM makes world headlines|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/67975327/ponytailpulling-prime-minister-john-key-makes-world-headlines|website = [[Stuff.co.nz]]|access-date = 18 June 2015|date = 23 April 2015}}</ref>

Key had long supported [[New Zealand flag debate|changing the flag of New Zealand]], and during the [[2014 New Zealand general election|2014 general election]] campaign promised a referendum on the issue.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Kiwis could vote on flag next year|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/10528332/Kiwis-could-vote-on-flag-next-year|newspaper = [[Stuff.co.nz]]|date = 22 September 2014|access-date = 18 June 2015}}</ref> Following the election win, [[2015–2016 New Zealand flag referendums|two New Zealand flag referendums]] were held in November/December 2015 and March 2016. The second resulted in the retention of the current flag.<ref name="flag2">{{cite web|title='Wasteful vanity project' and 'starry-eyed sheep' – How world reacted to flag result| date=24 March 2016 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11611470|publisher=[[New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=25 October 2016}}</ref> Critics (both national and international) charged that the referendums were unnecessary, expensive and a "wasteful vanity project".<ref name="flag2" />

The [[New Zealand property bubble|New Zealand housing crisis]] took hold substantially following Key's third term. From the time Key took office until the year he left, average housing prices had more than doubled.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=6 July 2016 |title=Housing 'challenge' still not a 'crisis' |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/308084/housing-%27challenge%27-still-not-a-%27crisis%27 |access-date=18 July 2022 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> Key repeatedly refused to call the property bubble a crisis, claiming it instead was a "challenge". The prime minister was challenged over his criticism of Helen Clark's government's response to the housing crisis during the 2008 campaign, but reluctance to take a stand now it had worsened considerably.<ref name=":4" /> A ''[[Newshub]]'' poll released in May 2016 showed that 76% of New Zealanders felt the government was not doing enough to control the housing market, while only 20% thought it had housing under control.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sachdeva |first=Sam |date=24 May 2016 |title=John Key says no Auckland housing crisis, but 76 per cent of voters want more action |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/80320513/john-key-defends-govt-housing-action-rules-out-misplaced-housebuilding-programme |access-date=18 July 2022 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Secretary of State John Kerry visit to New Zealand, November 9 - 13, 2016 (30946830275).jpg|thumb|upright|U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] meets Key at [[Premier House]], 13 November 2016.]]
[[International trade]] and the negotiation of [[New Zealand free-trade agreements|free-trade agreements]] were a priority in Key's third term. He was a leading advocate of the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]] (TPP), also supporting the [[Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership]] (TPSEP). Both agreements provide for a multilateral [[free-trade area]] in the Asia–Pacific region. In a September 2016 speech to the [[Council of Foreign Relations]], Key said "[TPP] will boost our economy by at least $2.7 billion a year by 2030. It will help diversify our economy and create more jobs and higher incomes for New Zealanders".<ref>{{cite web|title=PM reinforces TPP benefits in New York|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-reinforces-tpp-benefits-new-york|website=The Beehive|access-date=11 November 2016|date=20 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112024144/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-reinforces-tpp-benefits-new-york|archive-date=12 November 2016}}</ref> Key was particularly intent on securing the participation of the United States in the agreement; to this end, he discussed TPP with President Barack Obama in April 2016,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Audrey|title=John Key catches up with Obama in Washington|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11615359|access-date=5 June 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=1 April 2016|language=en-NZ}}</ref> and hosted Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] in Wellington, 9–13 November 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Moir|first1=Jo|title=US Secretary of State John Kerry meets with John Key in Wellington with the future of TPPA on the line|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/86402437/us-secretary-of-state-john-kerry-meets-with-john-key-in-wellington-with-the-future-of-tppa-is-on-the-line|date=13 November 2016|access-date=5 June 2017|work=Stuff.co.nz}}</ref> The finalised TPP proposal was signed on 4 February 2016 in [[Auckland]], concluding seven years of negotiations.<ref>{{cite web|title=How TPP Countries Will Ratify the Trans-Pacific Partnership|url=http://www.ecattrade.com/single-post/2016/03/10/How-TPP-Countries-Will-Ratify-the-Trans-Pacific-Partnership-Part-II|website=ecat|access-date=11 November 2016|date=10 March 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112025741/http://www.ecattrade.com/single-post/2016/03/10/How-TPP-Countries-Will-Ratify-the-Trans-Pacific-Partnership-Part-II|archive-date=12 November 2016}}</ref> In January 2017, US President [[Donald Trump]] signed a [[presidential memorandum]] to withdrawing the United States' signature from the agreement, making its ratification virtually impossible.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/23/politics/trans-pacific-partnership-trade-deal-withdrawal-trumps-first-executive-action-monday-sources-say/|title=Trump signs order withdrawing from TPP, reinstate 'Mexico City policy' on abortion|date=23 January 2017|publisher=CNN.com}}</ref>

In February 2016, Key reached an agreement with Australian [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]] [[Malcolm Turnbull]] to grant New Zealanders living in Australia a pathway to citizenship if they were earning five times over the average wage.{{sfn|Roughan|2017|p=251-52}} As a result of this agreement, the Australian Government introduced the "Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)" in July 2017 to fast-track the [[Australian nationality law|Australian citizenship]] naturalisation process for New Zealanders living in Australia. New Zealanders living in Australia for at least five years and earning an annual income over A$53,900 were eligible for the visa. By late February 2018, 1,512 Subclass 189 visas had been issued.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karp |first1=Paul |title=Visa pathway for New Zealanders resident in Australia will cut migrant intake |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/apr/13/visa-pathway-for-new-zealanders-resident-in-australia-will-cut-migrant-intake |access-date=20 July 2018 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=13 April 1018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Goethe-Snape |first1=Jackson |title=Government's immigration tweak sees overseas Asians out, integrated Kiwis in |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-13/how-dutton-slowed-immigration/9646602 |access-date=20 July 2018 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |date=13 April 2018}}</ref> However, this visa scheme was criticised by the "Ozkiwi lobby" since two-thirds of New Zealanders living in Australia did not meet the qualifying wage.{{sfn|Roughan|2017|p=252}}

In March 2016, [[Queen Elizabeth II]], [[Queen of New Zealand]], approved the appointment of Dame [[Patsy Reddy]] as the next [[Governor-General of New Zealand]], for a five-year term starting in September 2016, on the [[Advice (constitutional)|advice]] of John Key.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-welcomes-dame-patsy-reddy-next-governor-general|title=PM welcomes Dame Patsy Reddy as the next Governor-General|website=beehive.govt.nz|date=22 March 2016|first=John|last=Key}}</ref>

Key resigned as prime minister and leader of the National Party effective from 12 December 2016, and instructed the party to put into motion the processes to elect a new leader. He expressed interest in spending more time with his family, stating that he had "never seen [himself] as a [[Politician#Careers|career politician]]" and that "this feels the right time to go". Media reports described the decision as unexpected, and noted the popularity of Key and his party.<ref name="guardian resign">{{cite web|title=New Zealand prime minister John Key resigns|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/05/john-key-resigns-new-zealand-prime-minister-to-quit|website=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=5 December 2016|date=5 December 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205044215/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/05/john-key-resigns-new-zealand-prime-minister-to-quit|archive-date=5 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="stuff resign">{{cite web|title=John Key's eight-year reign comes to an end as Bill English gets head-start in leadership race|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87203329/prime-minister-john-key-announces-plans-to-retire|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |access-date=5 December 2016|date=5 December 2016}}</ref> [[Bill English]] won the [[2016 New Zealand National Party leadership election]] to succeed Key.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Davison |first1=Isaac |title=Bill English will be next Prime Minister, Judith Collins, Jonathan Coleman stand aside |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11763085|access-date=5 June 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=8 December 2016|language=en-NZ}}</ref>

==Post-prime ministerial career==
Following his resignation, Key stated that he would leave Parliament before the [[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 general election]]. However, he stated that he would resign within six months of the election so as to not trigger a [[by-election]] in the {{NZ electorate link|Helensville}} electorate.<ref name="resignation" /> He gave his [[valediction|valedictory]] speech in Parliament on 22 March 2017 and formally resigned the following month, on 14 April.<ref>{{cite news|title=John Key's final speech to Parliament|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/03/john-key-s-final-speech-to-parliament.html|access-date=5 June 2017|work=[[Newshub]] |date=22 March 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170516145548/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2017/03/john-key-s-final-speech-to-parliament.html|archive-date=16 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Key, Cunliffe set date for final departures in move to preserve Parliament's balance|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/90448692/key-cunliffe-set-date-for-final-departures-in-move-to-preserve-parliaments-balance|access-date=5 June 2017|work=Stuff.co.nz}}</ref>

In May 2017, Key was appointed to the [[board of directors]] of [[Air New Zealand]], and took up the position on 1 September 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11848254|access-date=5 November 2017|title=John Key joins Air New Zealand's board|date=1 May 2017|publisher=New Zealand Herald – nzherald.co.nz}}</ref><ref name="The New Zealand Herald">{{cite news|title=John Key likely to earn top dollar as ANZ chairman|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11934382|access-date=5 November 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=18 October 2017|language=en-NZ}}</ref> He was also appointed chairman of [[ANZ Bank New Zealand]], taking up the position on 18 October 2017.<ref name="The New Zealand Herald"/> On 31 March 2020, Key stood down as a director of Air New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Anthony |first1=John |title=Sir John Key to stand down as Air New Zealand director in March |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/118249092/john-key-to-stand-down-as-air-new-zealand-director-in-march |access-date=4 April 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=17 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref> He joined the board of American cybersecurity company [[Palo Alto Networks]] in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Keall |first=Chris |date=21 February 2024 |title=Palo Alto Networks' shares plunge on outlook – but firm sees AI gains ahead, Key sells shares |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/palo-alto-networks-shares-plunge-on-outlook-but-firm-sees-ai-gains-ahead-key-sells-shares/PEEENF7JIVBSFBEGCYBYFQ4DZI/ |work=[[New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=16 December 2024}}</ref>

On 3 September 2025, Key along with fellow former Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] attended the [[2025 China Victory Day Parade]] held in [[Beijing]]'s [[Forbidden City]] on 3 September 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan's surrender at the end of [[World War II]]. The two former heads of governments also met with [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party]] and [[President of China|Chinese President]] [[Xi Jinping]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Helen Clark, John Key at China military parade along with Putin, Kim |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/571937/helen-clark-john-key-at-china-military-parade-along-with-putin-kim |access-date=4 September 2025 |work=[[RNZ]] |date=3 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250903023217/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/571937/helen-clark-john-key-at-china-military-parade-along-with-putin-kim |archive-date=3 September 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> The two former Prime Ministers were among 70 special international guests invited by Xi to attend the military parade alongside [[President of Russia|Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]], North Korean [[Supreme Leader (North Korean title)|Supreme Leader]] [[Kim Jong Un]] and [[President of Belarus|Belarussian President]] [[Alexander Lukashenko]]. Chinese Ambassador Wang Xiaolong praised the two Prime Ministers for attending the commemorative events, stating that China and New Zealand had fought side by side during World War II.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hayes |first1=Samantha |last2=McConnell |first2=Glenn |last3=Ellis |first3=Stan |title=Former PM Helen Clark says attending China’s military parade wasn’t an easy call |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360812469/former-pm-helen-clark-says-attending-chinas-military-parade-wasnt-easy-call |access-date=4 September 2025 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=3 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250904061545/https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360812469/former-pm-helen-clark-says-attending-chinas-military-parade-wasnt-easy-call |archive-date=4 September 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Political and social views==
{{Conservatism New Zealand}}
Key's views were largely aligned with his own party's view. However, he noted that his differences from his predecessor are more of style and focus rather than view.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.agendatv.co.nz/Site/agenda/transcripts/2007/Episode-01.aspx|title=Agenda Interview with Lisa Owen|year=2007|publisher=[[Agenda (TVNZ programme)|Agenda]]|access-date=22 February 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014074351/http://www.agendatv.co.nz/Site/agenda/transcripts/2007/Episode-01.aspx|archive-date=14 October 2008}}</ref> 

===Alcohol regulation===
In 2008 Key voted for an attempt to raise the legal drinking age from 18 back to 20,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10409882&pnum=0 |title=Drinking age stays at 18, review announced |date=9 November 2006 |first=Mike|last=Houlahan |access-date=26 February 2008 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] }}</ref> but ignored a [[New Zealand Law Commission|Law Commission]] recommendation to increase levies on alcohol.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/project/review-regulatory-framework-sale-and-supply-liquor?quicktabs_23=report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101025030206/http://www.lawcom.govt.nz/project/review-regulatory-framework-sale-and-supply-liquor?quicktabs_23=report |url-status=dead |archive-date=25 October 2010 |title=Review of Regulatory Framework for the Sale and Supply of Liquor |access-date=20 September 2014 }}</ref> He claimed there was "no appetite" for such a move.<ref>{{cite news| title=Editorial: Failure of nerve on liquor law |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/advertising/news/article.cfm?c_id=111&objectid=10642127 | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | date=2 May 2010}}</ref> A report on public attitudes to alcohol law reform was later discovered, which indicated that in 2010, when he made this claim, 56% of New Zealanders supported a price increase.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/politics/6123208/Dunne-in-gun-over-survey-backing-booze-crackdown|title=Dunne in gun over survey backing booze crackdown|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=11 December 2011|access-date=20 September 2014}}</ref>

===Climate change===
Key says that [[global warming]] is a real phenomenon, and that the Government needed to implement measures to reduce human contribution to global warming.<ref name="2005vs2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0611/S00487.htm|title=2005 Vs 2006: Key And Climate Change|first=Kevin|last=List|publisher=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]|date=29 November 2006|access-date=13 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121045157/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0611/S00487.htm|archive-date=21 November 2010}}</ref> Key committed the National Party to working towards reducing [[greenhouse gas emissions|greenhouse emissions]] in New Zealand by 50% within the next fifty years.<ref>{{cite speech | title = Federated Farmers National Conference | first = John | last = Key | date = 2 July 2009 | url = http://www.johnkey.co.nz/archives/743-Speech-Federated-Farmers-National-Conference.html | access-date = 13 June 2010 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100526132054/http://johnkey.co.nz/archives/743-Speech-Federated-Farmers-National-Conference.html | archive-date = 26 May 2010 | df = dmy-all }}</ref> Commentators note that as late as 2005, Key made statements indicating that he was sceptical of the effects and [[effects of climate change|impact of climate change]].<ref name="2005vs2006"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0611/S00505.htm|title=FULL COVERAGE: John Key ChChChanges On Climate|publisher=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]|date=30 November 2006|access-date=22 December 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080521103454/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0611/S00505.htm|archive-date=21 May 2008}}</ref>

===COVID-19===
In September 2021, Key criticised the [[Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand|Labour Government]]'s elimination-based lockdown policies  in response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand]], likening it to making New Zealand a [[hermit kingdom]] like [[North Korea]]. He also accused the Government of ruling by fear and lacking a post-lockdown strategy. To speed up [[COVID-19 vaccination in New Zealand|COVID-19 vaccination]], he recommended boosting funding for [[Māori people|Māori]] and [[Pasifika New Zealanders|Pasifika]] health providers, introducing financial incentives for young people, and allowing only vaccinated people into licensed premises.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Key |first1=John |title=We need to break free of the hermit kingdom and stop ruling by fear on Covid-19 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/300414808/sir-john-key-we-need-to-break-free-of-the-hermit-kingdom-and-stop-ruling-by-fear-on-covid19?rm=a |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=25 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210925225134/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/opinion/300414808/sir-john-key-we-need-to-break-free-of-the-hermit-kingdom-and-stop-ruling-by-fear-on-covid19 |archive-date=25 September 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title='Take away some of their rights' – Sir John Key on incentivising vaccinations |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/452377/take-away-some-of-their-rights-sir-john-key-on-incentivising-vaccinations |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=27 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927022048/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/452377/take-away-some-of-their-rights-sir-john-key-on-incentivising-vaccinations |archive-date=27 September 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> [[TVNZ]] journalist [[Jack Tame]] described Key's views on the Government's handling of COVID-19 as provocative but praised his five-point plan as a "collection of sensible ideas worthy of consideration."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tame |first1=Jack |title=Sir John Key is being provocative but his ideas make sense, writes Jack Tame |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/sir-john-key-being-provocative-but-his-ideas-make-sense-writes-jack-tame |access-date=27 September 2021 |work=[[1News]] |publisher=[[TVNZ]] |date=26 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927022459/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/sir-john-key-being-provocative-but-his-ideas-make-sense-writes-jack-tame |archive-date=27 September 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Euthanasia===
During the [[2020 New Zealand euthanasia referendum]], Key publicly expressed support for the [[End of Life Choice Act 2019]], saying that his mother's struggle with [[Alzheimer's disease]] prior to her death convinced him to support the decriminalisation of [[euthanasia]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Quinlivan |first1=Mark |title=Euthanasia referendum: Emotional Sir John Key's plea on End of Life Choice Act and why he's voting 'yes' |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/10/euthanasia-referendum-emotional-sir-john-key-s-plea-on-end-of-life-choice-act-and-why-he-s-voting-yes.html |access-date=7 November 2020 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=14 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016191732/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/10/euthanasia-referendum-emotional-sir-john-key-s-plea-on-end-of-life-choice-act-and-why-he-s-voting-yes.html |archive-date=16 October 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Election 2020: Sir John Key makes emotional plea ahead of the End of Life Choice Act referendum |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123092910/election-2020-sir-john-key-makes-emotional-plea-ahead-of-the-end-of-life-choice-act-referendum |access-date=7 November 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=15 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107040428/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123092910/election-2020-sir-john-key-makes-emotional-plea-ahead-of-the-end-of-life-choice-act-referendum |archive-date=7 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Foreign policy issues===
[[File:John Key Helen Clark handshake.jpg|thumb|left|Key with his predecessor, [[Helen Clark]]]]
As a first-term MP in 2003, Key criticised the Labour-led government's stance on the [[2003 Invasion of Iraq|Invasion of Iraq]], claiming that New Zealand was "[[missing in action]]" by failing to support its [[ANZUS]] allies, the [[United States]] and [[Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sachdeva|first1=Sam|title=John Key stands by support for Iraq war in 2003, in wake of damning UK report|date=7 July 2016|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/81879383/John-Key-stands-by-support-for-Iraq-war-in-2003-in-wake-of-damning-UK-report|publisher=stuff.co.nz / Fairfax Media|access-date=2 September 2016}}</ref> In August 2007 Key claimed that he would have taken a similar position to Clark and not sent troops to Iraq.<ref name="nzh_iraq">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10459857 |title=All you wanted to know about John Key but were afraid to ask |first=Matt |last=McCarten |author-link=Matt McCarten |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=26 August 2007 |access-date=29 August 2007 |archive-date=29 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929223259/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10459857 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In response, the Labour-led government argued that his comments from 2003 suggest that Key would have deployed troops had he been prime minister at the time.<ref name="nzh_iraq" />

In August 2022, Key described [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives]] [[Nancy Pelosi]]'s visit to [[Taiwan]] as "reckless" and provocative towards China during an interview with TVNZ journalist Jack Tame. Since Beijing regarded the visit as a violation of the [[One China Policy]], China had downgraded bilateral relations with the United States. During his premiership, Key had cultivated a close relationship with [[President of the People's Republic of China|President of China]] [[Xi Jinping]], describing Xi as "extremely trustworthy, very open, consistent."<ref>{{cite news |title=John Key: Pelosi's Taiwan trip 'reckless, provocative and dangerous' |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/07/john-key-pelosis-taiwan-trip-reckless-provocative-and-dangerous/ |access-date=7 August 2022 |work=[[1News]] |publisher=[[TVNZ]] |date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806230137/https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/07/john-key-pelosis-taiwan-trip-reckless-provocative-and-dangerous/ |archive-date=6 August 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Daly |first1=Michael |title=US Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan ' poking the bear', former PM John Key says |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/129503994/us-speaker-nancy-pelosis-visit-to-taiwan--poking-the-bear-former-pm-john-key-says |access-date=7 August 2022 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=7 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807032047/https://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/129503994/us-speaker-nancy-pelosis-visit-to-taiwan--poking-the-bear-former-pm-john-key-says |archive-date=7 August 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early October 2024, Key opined that [[Donald Trump]] was better for the economy while expressing disagreement with his "isolationist" [[America First (policy)|America First]] foreign policy during the leadup up to the [[2024 United States presidential election]]. During an interview with [[Stuff (company)|Stuff]], Key said: he's [Trump] likely to embrace a bit more market. He's likely to have less red tape and he's certainly going to have lower taxes. So that bit is good."  Key also described the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] candidate and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Kamala Harris]]' economic policies as "radically left-wing" and more aligned with [[Senator]] [[Bernie Sanders]] than [[President of the United States|President]] [[Joe Biden]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Hayes |first=Samantha |date=30 September 2024 |title=Why Sir John Key thinks Donald Trump should win the US election |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350434743/why-sir-john-key-thinks-donald-trump-should-win-us-election |access-date=11 October 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]}}</ref>

===Māori issues===
In early August 2024, Key spoke at the National Party's national conference and urged the [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand|National-led government]] to thread carefully on Māori issues including the [[Treaty Principles Bill]] (which had been introduced by coalition partner [[ACT New Zealand|ACT]]), the planned repeal of section 7AA of the [[Oranga Tamariki Act 1989]] and National's decision to overrule a court ruling on the [[Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011]]. He said: {{Quote|"The important thing is that we're all New Zealanders and I think everybody wants to live in a place where we can respect one another, get along well and foster a better New Zealand. So I'd kind of encourage everyone to maybe take the temperature down a wee bit."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Trevett |first1=Claire |title=National Party conference: Sir John Key's call to 'take the temperature down' on race relations, verdict on the National coalition with NZ First and Act |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/national-party-conference-sir-john-keys-call-to-take-the-temperature-down-on-race-relations-verdict-on-the-national-coalition-with-nz-first-and-act/OPFFPXREPRAYVJ754HDSRFBDKM/ |access-date=9 August 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=4 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807195449/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/national-party-conference-sir-john-keys-call-to-take-the-temperature-down-on-race-relations-verdict-on-the-national-coalition-with-nz-first-and-act/OPFFPXREPRAYVJ754HDSRFBDKM/ |archive-date=7 August 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

===Marriage===
Key had a mixed voting record on social issues. In 2004 he voted against the bill creating [[Civil union in New Zealand|civil unions]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=9001414 |title=MPs vote 65–55 in favour of Civil Union Bill |date=2 December 2004 |access-date=27 February 2008 |author=[[Newstalk ZB]]|author2= [[The New Zealand Herald]] Staff}}</ref> stating that, while he personally supports such unions, he acted in accordance with his electorate's views.<ref>{{cite web |first=Anne |last=Else |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0810/S00433.htm |title=What I heard John Key say |publisher=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]] |date=31 October 2008 |access-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524121714/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0810/S00433.htm |archive-date=24 May 2010 }}</ref> However, in 2005, Key was part of a large bloc of MPs voting to defeat a bill that defined marriage as being between a man and a woman.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/john-key-the-unauthorised-biography/news/article.cfm?c_id=1502247&objectid=10523315|title='I'm more liberal than I look'|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=26 July 2008|access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> 

Key stated in 2008 that he did not oppose same-sex couples adopting children.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/civil-unions/news/article.cfm?c_id=565&objectid=10539197|title=Key fronts up with news for Brad|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=24 October 2008|access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> In 2013 he expressed support for [[same-sex marriage in New Zealand|same-sex marriage]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Shuttleworth|first1=Kate|title=Gay marriage gets PM's full support|date=26 July 2012 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10823210|publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=29 August 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315102356/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10823210|archive-date=15 March 2016}}</ref> and voted for the [[Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Act 2013]].<ref>{{Cite news|title = Marriage equality bill – How MPs voted|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/data/8564068/Marriage-equality-bill-How-MPs-voted|newspaper = [[Stuff.co.nz]]|date = 17 April 2013|access-date = 18 June 2015|first1 = Andy|last1 = Ball|first2 = Harkanwal|last2 = Singh|url-status = live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924134543/http://www.stuff.co.nz/data/8564068/Marriage-equality-bill-How-MPs-voted|archive-date = 24 September 2015|df = dmy-all}}</ref>

===Monarchy vs Republic===
Like his predecessor Helen Clark, Key views a [[Republicanism in New Zealand|New Zealand republic]] as "inevitable", although probably not for another decade. He said: {{Quote|If Australia becomes a republic there is no question it will set off quite an intense debate on this side of the Tasman. We would have to have a [[referendum]] if we wanted to move towards it."<ref name="times_key">{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article5119885.ece|title=John Key: victory for New Zealand's multimillionaire political novice|date=10 November 2008|work=The Times|access-date=11 December 2008 | location=[[London]] | first=Anne | last=Barrowclough}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>}} Key later stated that he was a [[monarchist]], and that a New Zealand republic would "Not [happen] under my watch".<ref>{{Cite news|title = NZ steers future of Royal succession|url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/news/world-news/4983315/NZ-steers-future-of-Royal-succession|newspaper = [[Stuff.co.nz]]|date = 10 May 2011|access-date = 18 June 2015|first = John|last = Hartevelt}}</ref> In 2009 Key's government restored [[New Zealand Royal Honours System|titular honours]], including [[knighthood]]s and [[damehood]]s — the abolishment of these titles in 2000 had been seen as an advancement towards republicanism.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Aldrich|first1=Robert|last2=McCreery|first2=Cindy|title=Crowns and Colonies: European Monarchies and Overseas Empires|date=2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9781526100894|page=436|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rh3GDQAAQBAJ&pg=436|language=en}}</ref>

===Privatisation===
Key noted others' concern at the pace of asset sales, but stated that the arguments against selling assets in the 1980s were largely irrational.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=3769|title=Lifting the performance of the state sector under a future National Government|first=John|last=Key|publisher=[[New Zealand National Party]]|date=4 March 2005|access-date=22 February 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050407124208/http://www.national.org.nz/Article.aspx?ArticleID=3769|archive-date=7 April 2005}}</ref> In a 2002 interview, he said that "some form of orientation towards privatisation" in health, education and superannuation, such as giving firms tax breaks for employer super schemes, made sense.<ref>{{cite news|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1291297|title = National's bright young hope|work = Newspaper|first = Warren|last = Gamble|date = 23 March 2002|access-date = 13 June 2010|publisher = [[The New Zealand Herald]]}}</ref> After his party won a plurality in the [[2011 New Zealand general election|2011 election]], Key rejected claims that the National Government lacked a mandate to partially privatise state-owned assets.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10769270 | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | first=Audrey | last=Young | title=Asset sales: we have a mandate – Key | date=28 November 2011}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Personal wealth===
On 25 July 2008, Key was added to the New Zealand ''[[National Business Review]]'' (NBR) Rich List for the first time. The list details the wealthiest New Zealand individuals and family groups. He had an estimated wealth of NZ$50 million,<ref name="NBR_Rich">{{cite web |url=http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/rich-list-2008-a-bad-economy-rich-still-get-richer-33373 |title=Rich List 2008: A bad economy, but the rich still get richer |author=NBR Staff |publisher=[[National Business Review]] |date=25 July 2008 |access-date=1 November 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029024119/http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/rich-list-2008-a-bad-economy-rich-still-get-richer-33373 |archive-date=29 October 2008 }}</ref> which made him the wealthiest New Zealand Member of Parliament,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10412332|title=Will the real John Key step forward|first=Ruth |last=Berry|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=25 November 2006|access-date=13 June 2010}}</ref> and the wealthiest prime minister ever.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 April 2024 |title=Personal worth makes Key richest Prime Minister yet |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/personal-worth-makes-key-richest-prime-minister-yet/SXFVBWT325745MI3CKJ3JV5M6Y/ |access-date=29 April 2024 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |language=en-NZ}}</ref> In the 2016 NBR Rich List, Key had an estimated wealth of NZ$60 million. Most of his financial investments are held in a [[blind trust]].<ref>{{cite news|title=John Key's Rich List wealth rises to $60m|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/82566495/john-keys-rich-list-wealth-rises-to-60m|access-date=30 August 2017|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=28 July 2015}}</ref>

===Family===
Key married Bronagh Irene Dougan in 1984; they met when they were both students at Burnside High School.<ref name="metroprofile"/> She has a BCom degree, and worked as a personnel consultant before becoming a full-time mother. They have two children, a daughter and [[Max Key|Max]].<ref name="metroprofile"/> Max is a night-time radio host for [[George FM]], and is also a singer.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Radio station warns staff about Max Key|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11587220&ref=NZH_FBpage|newspaper =[[New Zealand Herald]] |date = 10 February 2016|access-date = 11 February 2016|issn = 1170-0777|language = en-NZ}}</ref> Stephie is a performance artist.<ref name="stephie">{{cite news|title=Stephie Key: 'Rebellion is not the intention'|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/arts/68221614/stephie-key-rebellion-is-not-the-intention|access-date=22 January 2017|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=3 May 2015}}</ref>

===Religious views===
In 2008, Key stated that he attended church frequently with his children, but was an [[agnostic]].<ref name="nzh_religion">{{cite news |url=http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10412332 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121228001500/http://subs.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10412332 |url-status=dead |archive-date=28 December 2012 |title=Will the real John Key step forward |first=Ruth|last=Berry |date=25 November 2006 |access-date=23 August 2007 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |quote="if you're asking me if I'm religious it depends how you define religion. I look at religion as doing the right thing....I go to church a lot with the kids, but I wouldn't describe it as something that I ... I'm not a heavy believer; my mother was [[Judaism|Jewish]] which technically makes me Jewish. Yeah, I probably see it in a slightly more relaxed way."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Clark-and-Key-spar-in-final-TV-debate-before-election/tabid/209/articleID/78661/Default.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323111413/http://www.3news.co.nz/Clark-and-Key-spar-in-final-TV-debate-before-election/tabid/209/articleID/78661/Default.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 March 2012|author=NZPA|date=5 November 2008 |title=Clark and Key spar in final TV debate before election|access-date=15 June 2010}}</ref> He has said that he does not believe in an afterlife, and sees religion as "doing the right thing".<ref name="nzh_religion"/>

=== Private pilot licence ===
In October 2024, Key revealed that he began studying for [[Private pilot licence|helicopter license]] during the [[New Zealand government response to the COVID-19 pandemic|COVID-19 lockdowns]] in New Zealand and has since logged 280 hours of flight time. Key owns a [[Guimbal Cabri G2]], which he has customised with the [[2015–2016 New Zealand flag referendums|proposed alternative New Zealand flag design]], three white rabbit emblems for good luck, and his personal callsign, ZK-IJK. Key stated in the news that he mostly flies his helicopter to golf courses.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sowman-Lund |first=Stewart |date=2 October 2024 |title=Exclusive: John Key has a hobby |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/02-10-2024/exclusive-john-key-has-a-hobby |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=[[The Spinoff]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sir John Key's expensive hobby – and the superstitions we never knew he had |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350435805/sir-john-keys-expensive-hobby-and-superstitions-we-never-knew-he-had |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref>

==Honours==
[[File:The Right Honourable Sir John Key,GNZM,of Auckland, for services to the State.jpg|thumb|Key with Governor-General [[Patsy Reddy|Dame Patsy Reddy]], shortly after his investiture as a Knight Grand Companion of the [[New Zealand Order of Merit]], August 2017]]
In 2009, Key was bestowed with the mātai, or [[Faʻamatai|Samoan chiefly title]], of To'osavili (meaning 'protect from the winds') from the village of [[Poutasi]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=PM revisits tsunami-hit village |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/10111649/PM-revisits-tsunami-hit-village |access-date=13 March 2025 |website=www.stuff.co.nz}}</ref>

On 3 August 2010, Key gained the style "[[The Right Honourable]]". Previously, as he was not a [[Her Majesty's Privy Council|privy councillor]], he had not been entitled to use the style—his predecessor ended the appointment of New Zealanders to the Privy Council. However, in 2010 the Queen approved the use of the style by prime ministers, governors-general, [[Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives|speakers of the House]], and chief justices.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/right-honourable-title-back-nzs-elite-127383|title=Right Honourable title back for NZ's elite|work=[[National Business Review]]|date=3 August 2010|access-date=5 June 2017|language=en-NZ|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085329/http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/right-honourable-title-back-nzs-elite-127383|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

Key was appointed a [[New Zealand Order of Merit|Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit]], in recognition of "services to the State", in the [[2017 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2017 Queen's Birthday Honours]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/93326903/former-pm-john-key-tops-queens-birthday-honours-with-knighthood-for-services-to-the-state|title=Former PM John Key tops Queen's Birthday honours with knighthood for services to the state|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=5 June 2017|access-date=27 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dpmc.govt.nz/honours/lists/qb2017-list | title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2017 |date=5 June 2017 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | access-date=6 June 2017}}</ref> Later Key was appointed an honorary [[Order of Australia|Companion of the Order of Australia]], for "eminent service to Australia-New Zealand relations", by the [[Governor-General of Australia]] on the personal recommendation of the Australian prime minister, [[Malcolm Turnbull]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/special/KEY%20John%20Phillip%20-%20Gazette%20-%20C2017G00815.PDF | title=Honorary Appointment within the Order of Australia | date=18 July 2017 | publisher=Governor-General of Australia | access-date=18 July 2017 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814022608/https://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/special/KEY%20John%20Phillip%20-%20Gazette%20-%20C2017G00815.PDF | archive-date=14 August 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

On 7 August 2017, Key was awarded an [[honorary doctorate]] by his [[alma mater]], the [[University of Canterbury]], to become a doctor of commerce.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/95515237/university-of-canterbury-to-award-sir-john-key-an-honorary-doctorate | title=University of Canterbury to award Sir John Key an honorary doctorate |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=7 August 2017 | access-date=7 August 2017}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Electoral history of John Key]]
* [[List of New Zealand ministries]]
* [[Contents of the United States diplomatic cables leak (New Zealand)]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1=Levine |first1=Stephen |last2=Roberts |first2=Nigel |title=Key to Victory: The New Zealand General Election of 2008 |date=2009 |publisher=Victoria University Press |location=Wellington |isbn=9780864736130 |url=https://vup.victoria.ac.nz/key-to-victory-the-new-zealand-general-election-of-2008/}}
* {{cite book |last1=Roughan |first1=John |title=John Key: Portrait of a Prime Minister |date=2017 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |location=[[New Zealand]] |isbn=9780143771180 |url=https://www.penguin.co.nz/books/john-key-portrait-of-a-prime-minister-9780143771180}}

==External links==
{{subject bar|auto=y|d=y|Politics|New Zealand}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041222224120/http://national.org.nz/MP.aspx?Id=28 Profile] at New Zealand National Party website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120203232218/http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/MPP/MPs/MPs/2/a/0/50MP78101-Key-John.htm Profile] at Parliament of New Zealand website
* [http://www.beehive.govt.nz/minister/john-key Releases and speeches] at Beehive website

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