Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand

Deputy Prime Minister of
New Zealand
Deputy Prime Minister of ; New Zealand
	Coat of Arms of New Zealand
	Flag of New Zealand
	Incumbent; Winston Peters; since 27 November 2023
	Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Style	Mr Deputy Prime Minister (informal); The Honourable (formal); His Excellency (diplomatic);
Member of	Cabinet of New Zealand; Executive Council;
Reports to	Prime Minister of New Zealand
Appointer	Governor-General of New Zealand
Term length	No fixed term
Formation	13 December 1949; 74 years ago
First holder	Keith Holyoake
Salary	NZ$354,100 annually

The deputy prime minister of New Zealand (Māori: Te pirimia tuarua o Aotearoa) is the second-most senior member of the Cabinet of New Zealand. The officeholder usually deputises for the prime minister at official functions. The current deputy prime minister is Winston Peters of the NZ First party, who has held the position twice before, and will serve until 31 May 2025 due to an arrangement under the current coalition government in which he would then be succeeded in the position by ACT party leader David Seymour.

The role existed on an informal basis for as long as the office of prime minister/premier has existed, but the office of "deputy prime minister" was formally established as a ministerial portfolio in 1949.^[2] This means that Keith Holyoake is considered the first deputy prime minister. It was formally designated as a full cabinet level position in 1954.^[3]

Appointment and duties

The post of deputy prime minister was formally established in 1949.^{[N 1]} Eighteen individuals have held the position (two of them doing so twice) and of those people: Holyoake, Marshall, Watt, Muldoon, Palmer, Clark and English have eventually served as prime minister.^{[N 2]} The deputy prime minister has always been a member of the Cabinet, and has always held at least one substantive portfolio.

The deputy prime minister "...can, if necessary" exercise the statutory and constitutional functions and powers of the prime ministership if the prime minister is unavailable or unable.^[4] They can also do the same as acting prime minister, in consultation with the prime minister if it is appropriate and practicable.^[5] The deputy prime minister can also temporarily act as interim prime minister until the leadership of the government is determined in some cases, like the death of the prime minister.^[6]

The position is most commonly held by the deputy leader of the largest party, but since the adoption of the MMP electoral system in 1996 and the greater frequency of coalition governments in New Zealand, the role may instead go to the leader of a junior government party. This occurred has occurred three times with Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First,^[7] and once Jim Anderton, leader of the Alliance.^[8] The Sixth National Government, formed in 2023, intends to share the role of deputy prime minister between its two coalition partners for half the term each.^[9] Twice, the Labour Party has appointed a senior minister who was not the deputy party leader as the deputy prime minister (Grant Robertson and Carmel Sepuloni).^[10]

Little scholarly attention has focused on deputy prime ministers in New Zealand or elsewhere. In 2009, an article by Steven Barnes appeared in Political Science where nine 'qualities' of deputy prime ministership were identified: temperament; relationships with their Cabinet and caucus; relationships with their party; popularity with the public; media skills; achievements as deputy prime minister; relationship with the prime minister; leadership ambition; and method of succession.^[11] Barnes conducted a survey of journalists, academics, and former members of parliament to rank New Zealand deputy prime ministers up to that time since 1960. Across the nine deputy prime minister 'qualities', Don McKinnon achieved the number one ranking, followed by Brian Talboys, Michael Cullen, and Jack Marshall. In a second 'overall' ranking, Cullen was ranked number one, followed by Talboys, McKinnon, and Marshall. Winston Peters, Jim Anderton, and Bob Tizard were ranked lowest in both sections of the survey.^[11]

List of deputy prime ministers of New Zealand

Key

Alliance Labour National NZ First

	Name	Term of office		Concurrent portfolio(s)
1	Keith Holyoake MP for Pahiatua (1904–1983)	13 December 1949	20 September 1957	Minister of Agriculture	Holland
2	Jack Marshall MP for Karori (1912–1988)	20 September 1957	12 December 1957	Attorney-General Minister of Justice	Holyoake
3	Jerry Skinner MP for Buller (1900–1962)	12 December 1957	12 December 1960	Minister of Agriculture Minister of Lands	Nash
(2)	Jack Marshall MP for Karori (1912–1988)	12 December 1960	9 February 1972	Minister of Overseas Trade Minister of Customs (until 1962) Minister of Industries and Commerce (until 1969) Attorney-General (1969–1971) Minister of Immigration (from 1969) Minister of Labour (from 1969)	Holyoake
4	Robert Muldoon MP for Tamaki (1921–1992)	9 February 1972	8 December 1972	Minister of Finance	Marshall
5	Hugh Watt MP for Onehunga (1912–1980)	8 December 1972	1 September 1974	Minister of Labour Minister of Works (until 1974)	Kirk
6	Bob Tizard MP for Otahuhu (1924–2016)	10 September 1974	12 December 1975	Minister of Finance	Rowling
7	Brian Talboys MP for Wallace (1921–2012)	12 December 1975	4 March 1981	Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Overseas Trade	Muldoon
8	Duncan MacIntyre MP for East Cape (1915–2001)	4 March 1981	15 March 1984	Minister of Agriculture
9	Jim McLay MP for Birkenhead (born 1945)	15 March 1984	26 July 1984	Attorney-General Minister of Justice
10	Geoffrey Palmer MP for Christchurch Central (born 1942)	26 July 1984	8 August 1989	Attorney-General Minister of Justice Leader of the House (until 1987) Minister for the Environment (from 1987)	Lange
11	Helen Clark MP for Mount Albert (born 1950)	8 August 1989	2 November 1990	Minister of Health Minister of Labour	Palmer
11	Helen Clark MP for Mount Albert (born 1950)	8 August 1989	2 November 1990	Minister of Health Minister of Labour	Moore
12	Don McKinnon MP for Albany (born 1939)	2 November 1990	16 December 1996	Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Overseas Trade Leader of the House (from 1993)	Bolger
13	Winston Peters MP for Tauranga (born 1945)	16 December 1996	14 August 1998	Treasurer	Bolger
13	Winston Peters MP for Tauranga (born 1945)	16 December 1996	14 August 1998	Treasurer	Shipley
14	Wyatt Creech MP for Wairarapa (born 1946)	14 August 1998	10 December 1999	Leader of the House (until 1998) Minister of Education (until 1999) Minister of Health (from 1999)	Shipley
15	Jim Anderton MP for Wigram (1938–2018)	10 December 1999	15 August 2002	Minister of Economic Development Minister of Consumer Affairs (from 2001) Minister of Customs (from 2001)	Clark
16	Michael Cullen List MP (1945–2021)	15 August 2002	19 November 2008	Minister of Finance Leader of the House Treasurer Minister of Revenue (until 2005) Minister of Statistics (2004) Attorney-General (2005, 2006–2008)	Clark
17	Bill English MP for Clutha-Southland (until 2014) List MP (from 2014) (born 1961)	19 November 2008	12 December 2016	Minister of Finance Minister for Infrastructure (until 2011)	Key
18	Paula Bennett MP for Upper Harbour (born 1969)	12 December 2016	26 October 2017	Minister of State Services Minister of Tourism Minister for Climate Change Issues Minister of Local Government (until 2016) Minister of Police (from 2016) Minister for Women (from 2016)	English
(13)	Winston Peters List MP (born 1945)	26 October 2017	6 November 2020	Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for Racing Minister for State Owned Enterprises Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control (from 2018)	Ardern
19	Grant Robertson MP for Wellington Central (born 1971)	6 November 2020	25 January 2023	Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Finance Minister for Infrastructure Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Racing (until 2022)	Ardern
20	Carmel Sepuloni MP for Kelston (born 1977)	25 January 2023	27 November 2023	Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister for Social Development and Employment Minister for ACC (until 2023)	Hipkins
(13)	Winston Peters List MP (born 1945)	27 November 2023	Incumbent	Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for Racing	Luxon

Timeline

Notes

^ A few ministers were referred to as "deputy prime minister" before 1949, such as Peter Fraser and Walter Nash. However, this was a descriptive title and not a formal ministerial portfolio.
^ Some lists consider Hugh Watt as a New Zealand Prime Minister. Watt served as acting Prime Minister for seven days from 31 August to 6 September 1974 following the death of Norman Kirk. He is not normally counted in the official numbering of New Zealand Prime Ministers.

^ "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination 2024 (SL 2024/121) – New Zealand Legislation".
^ Wilson 1985, p. 118.
^ Wood, G. A. "Holyoake, Keith Jacka". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
^ "Cabinet Manual 2017" (PDF). New Zealand Government. 2017. 2.13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
^ "Cabinet Manual 2017" (PDF). New Zealand Government. 2017. 2.14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
^ "Cabinet Manual 2017" (PDF). New Zealand Government. 2017. 6.57. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
^ "Rt Hon Winston Peters". New Zealand First. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
^ Vernon Small (7 December 2012). "Labour leader looks to outsiders for deputy". Stuff. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
^ "Coalition deal: Peters to be deputy prime minister first, followed by Seymour". 1 News. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
^ "Carmel Sepuloni set to be deputy PM". Otago Daily Times Online News. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023. Caucus elects the Labour party's deputy leader... while the Prime Minister chooses the deputy Prime Minister. The two are usually held by the same person, but [Jacinda] Ardern has had Kelvin Davis as her deputy leader and Grant Robertson as deputy Prime Minister.
^ ^a ^b Barnes, Steven (2009). "What About Me? Deputy Prime Ministership in New Zealand". Political Science. 61 (1): 33–49. doi:10.1177/00323187090610010401. S2CID 143801855.

References

Wilson, James Oakley (1985) [1913]. New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 (4th ed.). Wellington: V R Ward, Government Printer. OCLC 154283103.

External links

[4] A few ministers were referred to as "deputy prime minister" before 1949, such as Peter Fraser and Walter Nash. However, this was a descriptive title and not a formal ministerial portfolio.

[5] Some lists consider Hugh Watt as a New Zealand Prime Minister. Watt served as acting Prime Minister for seven days from 31 August to 6 September 1974 following the death of Norman Kirk. He is not normally counted in the official numbering of New Zealand Prime Ministers.

[1] "Parliamentary Salaries and Allowances Determination 2024 (SL 2024/121) – New Zealand Legislation".

[FOOTNOTEWilson1985118-2] Wilson 1985, p. 118.

[3] Wood, G. A. "Holyoake, Keith Jacka". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 30 October 2012.

[6] "Cabinet Manual 2017" (PDF). New Zealand Government. 2017. 2.13. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

[7] "Cabinet Manual 2017" (PDF). New Zealand Government. 2017. 2.14. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

[8] "Cabinet Manual 2017" (PDF). New Zealand Government. 2017. 6.57. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 January 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2021.

[9] "Rt Hon Winston Peters". New Zealand First. Archived from the original on 22 June 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.

[10] Vernon Small (7 December 2012). "Labour leader looks to outsiders for deputy". Stuff. Retrieved 6 July 2017.

[11] "Coalition deal: Peters to be deputy prime minister first, followed by Seymour". 1 News. Retrieved 27 November 2023.

[12] "Carmel Sepuloni set to be deputy PM". Otago Daily Times Online News. 21 January 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2023. Caucus elects the Labour party's deputy leader... while the Prime Minister chooses the deputy Prime Minister. The two are usually held by the same person, but [Jacinda] Ardern has had Kelvin Davis as her deputy leader and Grant Robertson as deputy Prime Minister.

[Barnes-13] Barnes, Steven (2009). "What About Me? Deputy Prime Ministership in New Zealand". Political Science. 61 (1): 33–49. doi:10.1177/00323187090610010401. S2CID 143801855.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[N 1]

[N 2]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

v t e Ministerial portfolios of New Zealand
Current portfolios	Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister Leader of the House ACC Agriculture Arts, Culture and Heritage Attorney-General Auckland Biosecurity Building and Construction Child Poverty Reduction Children Climate Change Commerce and Consumer Affairs Community and Voluntary Sector Conservation Corrections Courts Māori–Crown Relations Customs Defence Digitising Government Disability Issues Earthquake Commission Economic Development Education Emergency Management and Recovery Energy Ethnic Communities Environment Finance Foreign Affairs Forestry Food Safety Health Housing Hunting and Fishing Immigration Internal Affairs Infrastructure Justice Land Information Local Government Māori Development Media and Communications Mental Health Ministerial Services National Security and Intelligence Oceans and Fisheries Pacific Peoples Police Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence Public Service Racing Regional Development Regulation Resources Revenue Minister for RMA Reform Rural Communities Science, Innovation and Technology Seniors Small Business and Manufacturing Social Development and Employment Sport and Recreation Space State Owned Enterprises Statistics Tertiary Education and Skills Trade Transport Tourism and Hospitality Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Veterans Whānau Ora Women Workplace Relations and Safety Youth
Former portfolios	Civil Aviation Colonial Secretary COVID-19 Response Disarmament and Arms Control Electricity Employment Industries and Commerce Island Territories Labour Lands Marine Marketing Mines Pike River Re-entry Postmaster-General Primary Industries Railways Regulatory Reform Small Business Social Housing Social Investment State Insurance Trade and Industry Treasurer Works without portfolio
Current Government

v t e Deputy heads of government of Oceania
Sovereign states	Australia Fiji Kiribati Marshall Islands Federated States of Micronesia Nauru New Zealand Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu
Associated states of New Zealand	Cook Islands Niue