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.

1 Responsibilities and powers
2 List of New Zealand Prime Ministers
3 Time line
4 Other websites

[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