The

New Zealand Government The New Zealand Government () is the central government through which political authority is exercised in New Zealand. As in most other parliamentary democracies, the term "Government" refers chiefly to the executive branch, and more specifica ...

exercises executive power in New Zealand. This article lists spans of government under a party or coalition, as well as

ministries Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian mi ...

under a prime minister. There have been three distinctly different periods of government in New Zealand—firstly, the period before

responsible government Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive br ...

; second, from 1856 to 1890, the period of responsible government; and the third period started with the formation of

political parties A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific ideological or p ...

in 1891.

Guide to list

This article lists the successive governments of New Zealand since 1856. The first government which formed along political lines did not appear until 1891, when

John Ballance John Ballance (27 March 1839 – 27 April 1893) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 14th premier of New Zealand from January 1891 until his death in April 1893. He governed as the leader of New Zealand's first organised List of pol ...

formed the

Liberal Party The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left. For example, while the political systems ...

and the Liberal Government. A government is named (by political commentators, as well as self-referentially) for the largest party that leads it – though compare the United–Reform coalition Government of 1931–1935. The term ' ministry', as used in this article, refers collectively to all the ministers who direct the government. It is described by

Oxford Dictionaries Oxford dictionary may refer to any dictionary published by Oxford University Press, particularly: Historical dictionaries * ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED'') * ''Shorter Oxford English Dictionary'', an abridgement of the ''OED'' Single-volu ...

as "a period of government under one prime minister". At the same time, a period of government under a particular party might be led by a succession of prime ministers and comprise multiple ministries. The ministry includes ''all'' government ministers, inside and outside of cabinet alike (up to the introduction of MMP in

1996 1996 was designated as: * International Year for the Eradication of Poverty Events January * January 8 – A Zairean cargo plane crashes into a crowded market in the center of the capital city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo ...

, most ministers were in the cabinet).

Elections An election is a formal group decision-making process whereby a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated ...

do not cause dissolution of the ministry unless they result in the government's defeat. Since the introduction of MMP in 1996, most New Zealand governments have comprised coalitions of two or more political parties, whether coalescing before and/or after general elections; thus referring to such governments as "''n''th National Government" or as "''n''th Labour Government" simplifies somewhat. An exception to this occurred in 2020, when the incumbent Labour Government, led by Prime Minister

Jacinda Ardern Dame Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern ( ; born 26 July 1980) is a New Zealand politician and activist who was the 40th prime minister of New Zealand and Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, leader of the Labour Party from 2017 to 2023. She was ...

, received a 'clear majority' (over 50%). In 2023, the National Party won the most seats and formed a coalition government with two smaller parties—the government is referred to by the media (and prospectively by the National Party itself) as the "sixth National Government".

List of ministries

Period without responsible Government (1854–1856)

The

New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 ( 15 & 16 Vict. c. 72) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that granted self-government to the Colony of New Zealand. It was the second such act, the New Zealand Constitution Act 1846 not ...

was an Act of the

Parliament of the United Kingdom The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body of the United Kingdom, and may also legislate for the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories. It meets at the Palace ...

and was the second enactment to grant the colony of New Zealand

self-government Self-governance, self-government, self-sovereignty or self-rule is the ability of a person or group to exercise all necessary functions of regulation without intervention from an external authority. It may refer to personal conduct or to any ...

. The first elections for a

New Zealand House of Representatives The House of Representatives () is the Unicameral, sole chamber of the New Zealand Parliament. The House passes Law of New Zealand, laws, provides Ministers in the New Zealand Government, ministers to form the Cabinet of New Zealand, Cabinet, ...

were held during 1853, and this lower house met for the first time in 1854 in

Auckland Auckland ( ; ) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. It has an urban population of about It is located in the greater Auckland Region, the area governed by Auckland Council, which includes outlying rural areas and ...

. In practice, the country was initially governed by the

Governor A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...

George Grey Sir George Grey, KCB (14 April 1812 – 19 September 1898) was a British soldier, explorer, colonial administrator and writer. He served in a succession of governing positions: Governor of South Australia, twice Governor of New Zealand, Gov ...

, with the advice of the Civil Secretary and some officials that were appointed back in 1840/41, namely Andrew Sinclair (Colonial Secretary),

William Swainson William Swainson Fellow of the Linnean Society, FLS, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS (8 October 1789 – 6 December 1855), was an English ornithologist, Malacology, malacologist, Conchology, conchologist, entomologist and artist. Life Swains ...

(

Attorney-General In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...

), and Alexander Shepherd ( Colonial Treasurer). In the first session of the

1st New Zealand Parliament The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. It opened on 24 May 1854, following New Zealand's first general election (held the previous year). It was dissolved on 15 September 1855 in preparation for that year's ...

, three elected members took office under the leadership of James FitzGerald, to be later joined by two members of the

Legislative Council A legislative council is the legislature, or one of the legislative chambers, of a nation, colony, or subnational division such as a province or state. It was commonly used to label unicameral or upper house legislative bodies in the Brit ...

. Whilst they were the first official Executive Government under the Constitution, the practical administration remained with the Government officials. The second Ministry led by

Thomas Forsaith Thomas Spencer Forsaith, JP (18 July 1814 – 29 November 1898), was a New Zealand politician and an Auckland draper. According to some historians, he was the country's second premier, although a more conventional view states that neither he no ...

, which briefly formed during the second session of the 1st Parliament, also had no real power. *Unofficial members: Fitzgerald Ministry, 1854; 14 June 1854 to 2 August 1854 *Unofficial members:

Forsaith Ministry, 1854 Thomas Spencer Forsaith, JP (18 July 1814 – 29 November 1898), was a New Zealand politician and an Auckland draper. According to some historians, he was the country's second premier, although a more conventional view states that neither he no ...

; 31 August 1854 to 2 September 1854

Cabinet Government (1856–1890)

Responsible government Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive br ...

commenced with the third ministry, led by Henry Sewell during the term of the 2nd New Zealand Parliament: * Sewell Ministry, 1856: 18 April 1856 to 20 May 1856 * Fox Ministry, 1856: 20 May 1856 to 2 June 1856 *

Stafford Stafford () is a market town and the county town of Staffordshire, England. It is located about south of Stoke-on-Trent, north of Wolverhampton, and northwest of Birmingham. The town had a population of 71,673 at the 2021–2022 United Kingd ...

Ministry, 1856–61: 2 June 1856 to 12 July 1861 *Fox Ministry, 1861–62: 12 July 1861 to 6 August 1862 * Domett Ministry, 1862–63: 6 August 1862 to 30 October 1863 * Whitaker-Fox Ministry, 1863–64: 30 October 1863 to 24 November 1864 * Weld Ministry, 1864–65: 24 November 1864 to 16 October 1865 *Stafford Ministry, 1865–69: 16 October 1865 to 28 June 1869 :Note that Wilson says: "Ministry was defeated on 15 August 1866 and resigned, but carried on in a caretaker capacity. However 3 Ministers resigned and were replaced. Though this was regarded as a new ministry, it was in fact a reconstruction, and is so regarded here." * Fox Ministry, 1869–72: 28 June 1869 to 10 September 1872 *Stafford Ministry, 1872: 10 September 1872 to 11 October 1872 * Waterhouse Ministry, 1872–73: 11 October 1872 to 3 March 1873 *Fox Ministry, 1873: 3 March 1873 to 8 April 1873 * Vogel Ministry, 1873–75: 8 April 1873 to 6 July 1875 *

Pollen Pollen is a powdery substance produced by most types of flowers of seed plants for the purpose of sexual reproduction. It consists of pollen grains (highly reduced Gametophyte#Heterospory, microgametophytes), which produce male gametes (sperm ...

Ministry, 1875–76: 6 July 1875 to 15 February 1876 *Vogel Ministry, 1876: 15 February 1876 to 1 September 1876 * Atkinson Ministry, 1876: 1 September 1876 to 13 September 1876 ('' Continuous Ministry'') *Atkinson Ministry, 1876–77 (Reconstituted): 13 September 1876 to 13 October 1877 ('' Continuous Ministry'') *

Grey Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...

Ministry, 1877–79: 13 October 1877 to 8 October 1879 *Hall Ministry, 1879–82: 8 October 1879 to 21 April 1882 ('' Continuous Ministry'') *Whitaker Ministry, 1882–83: 21 April 1882 to 25 September 1883 ('' Continuous Ministry'') *Atkinson Ministry, 1883–84: 25 September 1883 to 16 August 1884 ('' Continuous Ministry'') *Stout-Vogel Ministry, 1884: 16 August 1884 to 28 August 1884 *Atkinson Ministry, 1884: 28 August 1884 to 3 September 1884 ('' Continuous Ministry'') *Stout-Vogel Ministry, 1884–87: 3 September 1884 to 8 October 1887 *Atkinson Ministry, 1887–91: 8 October 1887 to 24 January 1891 (known as the '' Scarecrow Ministry'') :Note that the '' Continuous Ministry'' is a term for the government of New Zealand from 1876 to 1890 (or 1887), except for 1877–79 and 1884–87. Sir

Harry Atkinson Sir Harry Albert Atkinson (1 November 1831 – 28 June 1892) served as the tenth Prime Minister of New Zealand, premier of New Zealand on four separate occasions in the late 19th century, and was Minister of Finance (New Zealand), Colonial Tr ...

was Premier, also Sir John Hall and Sir

Frederick Whitaker Sir Frederick Whitaker (23 April 1812 – 4 December 1891) was an English-born New Zealand politician who served twice as the premier of New Zealand and six times as Attorney-General. Early life Whitaker was born at the Deanery Manor House, ...

. The ''Scarecrow Ministry'' of 1889–90 is sometimes included in the term.

Liberal Government of New Zealand (1891–1912)

*Ballance Ministry, 1891–93: 24 January 1891 to 1 May 1893 *Seddon Ministry, 1893–1906: 1 May 1893 to 21 June 1906 *Hall-Jones Ministry, 1906: 21 June 1906 to 6 August 1906 *Ward Ministry, 1906–1912: 6 August 1906 to 28 March 1912 *MacKenzie Ministry, 1912: 28 March 1912 to 10 July 1912

Reform Government of New Zealand (1912–1928)

*Massey Ministry, 1912–1915: 10 July 1912 to 12 August 1915 *National Ministry, 1915–1919: 12 August 1915 to 3 September 1919 (?) *Massey Ministry, 1919–1925: 4 September 1919 to 14 May 1925 *Bell Ministry, 1925: 14 May 1925 to 30 May 1925 *Coates Ministry, 1925–1928: 30 May 1925 to 10 December 1928

United Government of New Zealand (1928–1931)

*Ward Ministry, 1928–1930: 10 December 1928 to 28 May 1930 *Forbes Ministry, 1930–1931: 28 May 1930 to 22 September 1931

United–Reform coalition Government of New Zealand (1931–1935)

*Forbes (Coalition) Ministry, 1931–1935: 22 September 1931 to 6 December 1935

First Labour Government of New Zealand (1935–1949)

* Savage Ministry, 1935–1940: 6 December 1935 to 1 April 1940 * Fraser Ministry, 1940–1949: 1 April 1940 to 13 December 1949 * "War Cabinet": 16 July 1940 to 21 August 1945 *"War Administration": 30 June 1942 to 2 October 1945 :Note: The War Cabinet was responsible for all decisions related to war matters. The War Administration was charged with the responsibility for all matters connected with the war and with New Zealand's war effort. The War Cabinet acted as its executive body. Both included opposition members. :Note: Wood has three Fraser Ministries: 1 April 1940 to 29 October 1943; 29 October 1943 to 19 December 1946; 19 December 1946 to 13 December 1949.

First National Government of New Zealand (1949–1957)

* Holland Ministry: 1949–1957: 13 December 1949 to 20 September 1957 * Holyoake (First) Ministry: 1957: 20 September 1957 to 12 December 1957 Note: Wood has two Holland Ministries: 13 December 1949 to 26 November 1954; 26 November 1954 to 20 September 1957

Second Labour Government of New Zealand (1957–1960)

* Nash Ministry: 1957–1960: 12 December 1957 to 12 December 1960

Second National Government of New Zealand (1960–1972)

* Holyoake (Second) Ministry: 1960–1972: 12 December 1960 to 7 February 1972 * Marshall Ministry: 1972: 7 February 1972 to 8 December 1972

Third Labour Government of New Zealand (1972–1975)

* Kirk Ministry: 1972–1974: 8 December 1972 to 10 September 1974 * Rowling Ministry, 1974–1975: 6 September 1974 to 12 December 1975 :Note: while Rowling was sworn in on 6 September, his ministers were not sworn in until 10 September

Third National Government of New Zealand (1975–1984)

* Muldoon Ministry, 1975–1984: 12 December 1975 to 26 July 1984 :Note: Wood has three Muldoon Ministries: 12 December 1975 to 13 December 1978; 13 December 1978 to 11 December 1981; 11 December 1981 to 26 July 1984

Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand (1984–1990)

*Lange Ministry, 1984–1989: from 26 July 1984 to 8 August 1989 *Palmer/Moore Ministry, 1989–1990: from 8 August 1989 to 2 November 1990 :Note:

Geoffrey Palmer Geoffrey Palmer may refer to: Politicians *Sir Geoffrey Palmer, 1st Baronet (1598–1670), English lawyer and politician *Sir Geoffrey Palmer, 3rd Baronet (1655–1732), English politician, member of parliament (MP) for Leicestershire *Geoffrey Pal ...

succeeded

David Lange David Russell Lange ( ; 4 August 1942 – 13 August 2005) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 32nd prime minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. A member of the New Zealand Labour Party, Lange was also the Minister of Education ...

as Prime Minister on 8 August 1989; his ministers were appointed on 14 August 1989. Palmer was succeeded by Mike Moore on 4 September 1990. Moore made no separate ministerial appointments from those already appointed by Palmer.

Fourth National Government of New Zealand (1990–1999)

*Bolger Ministry, 1990–1997: from 2 November 1990 to 8 December 1997 *Shipley Ministry, 1997–1999: from 8 December 1997 to 10 December 1999

Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand (1999–2008)

*Clark Ministry, 1999–2008: from 10 December 1999 to 19 November 2008.''Evening Post'' (Wellington) 8 December page 1 & 10 December page 1

Fifth National Government of New Zealand (2008–2017)

*Key Ministry, 2008–2016: from 19 November 2008 to 12 December 2016 *English Ministry, 2016–2017: from 12 December 2016 to 26 October 2017

Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand (2017–2023)

*Ardern Ministry, 2017–2023: 26 October 2017 to 25 January 2023 *Hipkins Ministry, 2023: 25 January 2023 to 27 November 2023

Sixth National Government of New Zealand (2023–present)

*Luxon Ministry, 2023–present: 27 November 2023 to present

Graphical timeline

''Note:'' Colours signify the largest party within each government, i.e. the senior partner in a coalition government (with the exception of the United–Reform Coalition).

References

Citations

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:New Zealand governments

Governments A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a m ...