Prime Minister of New Zealand
From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government. This job is given to the leader of the party or coalition with the most support in the Parliament of New Zealand. Since 5 December 1999, the Prime Minister has been Helen Clark of the Labour Party.
Contents |
[change] Responsibilities and powers
The role of the Prime Minister is not formally defined, being based on constitutional convention rather than specific legislation. According to these conventions, the Prime Minister is leader of Cabinet (itself a body existing by convention), and takes a co-ordinating role.
The Prime Minister holds the most senior post in the New Zealand Parliment. The Prime Minister is not able to give direct orders to other people in their party.
The Prime Minister can call for an election by asking the Governor-General to close Parliament
[change] List of New Zealand Prime Ministers
| Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry Sewell | 7 May 1856 | 20 May 1856 | None |
| 2 | William Fox | 20 May 1856 | 2 June 1856 | None |
| 3 | Edward Stafford | 2 June 1856 | 12 July 1861 | None |
| (2) | William Fox, 2nd time | 12 July 1861 | 6 August 1862 | None |
| 4 | Alfred Domett | 6 August 1862 | 30 October 1863 | None |
| 5 | Frederick Whitaker | 30 October 1863 | 24 November 1864 | None |
| 6 | Frederick Weld | 24 November 1864 | 16 October 1865 | None |
| (3) | Edward Stafford, 2nd time | 16 October 1865 | 28 June 1869 | None |
| (2) | William Fox, 3rd time | 28 June 1869 | 10 September 1872 | None |
| (3) | Edward Stafford, 3rd time | 10 September 1872 | 11 October 1872 | None |
| 7 | George Waterhouse | 11 October 1872 | 3 March 1873 | None |
| (2) | William Fox, 4th time | 3 March 1873 | 8 April 1873 | None |
| 8 | Julius Vogel | 8 April 1873 | 6 July 1875 | None |
| 9 | Daniel Pollen | 6 July 1875 | 15 February 1876 | None |
| (8) | Julius Vogel, 2nd time | 15 February 1876 | 1 September 1876 | None |
| 10 | Harry Atkinson | 1 September 1876 | 13 October 1877 | None |
| 11 | George Grey | 13 October 1877 | 8 October 1879 | None |
| 12 | John Hall | 8 October 1879 | 21 April 1882 | None |
| (5) | Frederick Whitaker, 2nd time | 21 April 1882 | 25 September 1883 | None |
| (10) | Harry Atkinson, 2nd time | 25 September 1883 | 16 August 1884 | None |
| 13 | Robert Stout | 16 August 1884 | 28 August 1884 | None |
| (10) | Harry Atkinson, 3rd time | 28 August 1884 | 3 September 1884 | None |
| (13) | Robert Stout, 2nd time | 3 September 1884 | 8 October 1887 | None |
| (10) | Harry Atkinson, 4th time | 8 October 1887 | 24 January 1891 | None |
| 14 | John Ballance | 24 January 1891 | 27 April 1893 | Liberal |
| 15 | Richard Seddon | 27 April 1893 | 10 June 1906 | Liberal |
| 16 | William Hall-Jones | 10 June 1906 | 6 August 1906 | Liberal |
| 17 | Joseph Ward | 6 August 1906 | 28 March 1912 | Liberal |
| 18 | Thomas Mackenzie | 28 March 1912 | 10 July 1912 | Liberal |
| 19 | William Massey | 10 July 1912 | 10 May 1925 | Reform |
| 20 | Francis Bell | 10 May 1925 | 30 May 1925 | Reform |
| 21 | Gordon Coates | 30 May 1925 | 10 December 1928 | Reform |
| (17) | Joseph Ward, 2nd time | 10 December 1928 | 28 May 1930 | United (Liberal) |
| 22 | George Forbes | 28 May 1930 | 6 December 1935 | United (Liberal) |
| 23 | Michael Joseph Savage | 6 December 1935 | 27 March 1940 | Labour |
| 24 | Peter Fraser | 27 March 1940 | 13 December 1949 | Labour |
| 25 | Sidney Holland | 13 December 1949 | 20 September 1957 | National |
| 26 | Keith Holyoake | 20 September 1957 | 12 December 1957 | National |
| 27 | Walter Nash | 12 December 1957 | 12 December 1960 | Labour |
| (26) | Keith Holyoake, 2nd time | 12 December 1960 | 7 February 1972 | National |
| 28 | Jack Marshall | 7 February 1972 | 8 December 1972 | National |
| 29 | Norman Kirk | 8 December 1972 | 31 August 1974 | Labour |
| Hugh Watt (Acting) | 31 August 1974 | 6 September 1974 | Labour | |
| 30 | Bill Rowling | 6 September 1974 | 12 December 1975 | Labour |
| 31 | Robert Muldoon | 12 December 1975 | 26 July 1984 | National |
| 32 | David Lange | 26 July 1984 | 8 August 1989 | Labour |
| 33 | Geoffrey Palmer | 8 August 1989 | 4 September 1990 | Labour |
| 34 | Mike Moore | 4 September 1990 | 2 November 1990 | Labour |
| 35 | Jim Bolger | 2 November 1990 | 8 December 1997 | National |
| 36 | Jenny Shipley | 8 December 1997 | 5 December 1999 | National |
| 37 | Helen Clark | 5 December 1999 | (present) | Labour |
- See also: List of New Zealand Prime Ministers by term
[change] Time line
