{{Politics_of_New_Zealand}}
The '''Prime_Minister of New_Zealand''' is New Zealand's Head_of_government and is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament_of_New_Zealand. Since 5_December 1999 the Prime Minister has been Helen_Clark of the Labour Party.
==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 coordinating role.
The Prime Minister is regarded by convention as "First_among_equals" — he or she does indeed hold the most senior post in the administration, but is also required to adhere to any decisions taken by Cabinet. The actual ability of a Prime Minister to give direct orders is surprisingly limited — most of the position's power comes about through other means, such as:
*The ability to set the Cabinet agenda, thereby controlling what issues will be discussed.
*The ability to appoint and dismiss ministers. The extent to which this power can be exercised varies between different parties — for example, the Labour Party places most of this responsibility in the hands of the Caucus, leaving the Prime Minister only with the power to choose which portfolios a minister is given.
*The influence a Prime Minister is likely to have as leader of the dominant party — these powers may give him or her more direct control over subordinates than is attached to the Prime Minister's role itself.
*The power gained simply from being central to most significant decision-making, and from being able to comment on and criticise any decisions taken by other ministers.
The Prime Minister also can call elections by notifying the Governor-General.
By convention, the Prime_Minister is the leader of the party or coalition of parties which has the most seats in Parliament. There is also a Deputy Prime Minister, who may or may not be from the same party.
==History of the office==
The exact origins of the office of Prime Minister are disputed. Use of the words "prime minister" as a descriptive term date back to the 1st Parliament, where they are applied to James_FitzGerald and Thomas_Forsaith. FitzGerald and Forsaith had no official titles, however, and New Zealand had not yet obtained self-rule. As such, they are not usually considered Prime Ministers in any substantive sense.
The first person to be formally appointed to a position of leadership was Henry_Sewell, who formed a government at the beginning of the 2nd Parliament. Despite his formal leadership role, however, his only actual title was Colonial Secretary. His successor, William Fox, was also given a formal leadership role, but was not Colonial Secretary. It was not until Frederick_Weld, the sixth person appointed to formal leadership, that a substantive leadership title—Premier—appeared. Weld's successor, Edward_Stafford, briefly changed the title to First Minister but it was soon afterwards restored to Premier by William Fox. From that point, Premier became the usual designation. Towards the end of the nineteenth century the term Prime Minister arose as a common alternative to Premier and Richard_Seddon used the title almost exclusively. Seddon's successor, William_Hall-Jones, was officially appointed Prime Minister rather than Premier. The title ''Prime Minister'' has been used ever since.
Assuming that Sewell is counted as the first Prime Minister, thirty-seven people have held the office since it was established. Some of these people have held it on several different occasions, with the record for maximum number of times being shared between William Fox and Harry_Atkinson (both of whom served four times). The longest that anyone has served in the office is thirteen years, a record set by Richard_Seddon. The first holder of the office, Henry_Sewell, led the country for the shortest total time; his only term lasted only thirteen days (the shortest term actually belonged to Harry Atkinson, whose third term lasted only seven days, but Atkinson served longer than Sewell in total).
New Zealand is also one of the few countries in the world to have had two female heads of government, and one of only two countries to have two females heads of government directly succeed the other.
==List of New Zealand Prime Ministers==
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|-
!
!Name
!Took Office
!Left Office
!Party
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 1 ||Henry_Sewell || 7_May 1856 || 20_May 1856 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 2 ||William Fox || 20_May 1856 || 2_June 1856 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 3 || Edward Stafford || 2_June 1856 || 12_July 1861 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||William Fox, 2nd time || 12_July 1861 || 6_August 1862 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 4 ||Alfred_Domett || 6_August 1862 || 30_October 1863 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 5 ||Frederick_Whitaker || 30_October 1863 || 24_November 1864 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 6 ||Frederick_Weld || 24_November 1864 || 16_October 1865 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| || Edward Stafford, 2nd time || 16_October 1865 || 28_June 1869 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||William Fox, 3rd time || 28_June 1869 || 10_September 1872 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| || Edward Stafford, 3rd time || 10_September 1872 || 11_October 1872 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 7 ||George Waterhouse || 11_October 1872 || 3_March 1873 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||William Fox, 4th time || 3_March 1873 || 8_April 1873 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 8 ||Julius_Vogel || 8_April 1873 || 6_July 1875 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 9 ||Daniel_Pollen|| 6_July 1875 || 15_February 1876 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||Julius_Vogel, 2nd time || 15_February 1876 || 1_September 1876 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 10 ||Harry_Atkinson || 1_September 1876 || 13_October 1877 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 11 || George Grey || 13_October 1877 || 8_October 1879 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 12 ||John Hall || 8_October 1879 || 21_April 1882 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||Frederick_Whitaker, 2nd time || 21_April 1882 || 25_September 1883 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||Harry_Atkinson, 2nd time || 25_September 1883 || 16_August 1884 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| 13 ||Robert_Stout || 16_August 1884 || 28_August 1884 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||Harry_Atkinson, 3rd time || 28_August 1884 || 3_September 1884 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||Robert_Stout, 2nd time || 3_September 1884 || 8_October 1887 || None
|- style="background:#EEEEEE;"
| ||Harry_Atkinson, 4th time || 8_October 1887 || 24_January 1891 || None
|- style="background:#FFFFDD;"
| 14 ||John_Ballance || 24_January 1891 || 27_April 1893 || Liberal
|- style="background:#FFFFDD;"
| 15 ||Richard_Seddon || 27_April 1893 || 10_June 1906 || Liberal
|- style="background:#FFFFDD;"
| 16 ||William_Hall-Jones || 10_June 1906 || 6_August 1906 || Liberal
|- style="background:#FFFFDD;"
| 17 ||Joseph_Ward || 6_August 1906 || 28_March 1912 || Liberal
|- style="background:#FFFFDD;"
| 18 ||Thomas_Mackenzie || 28_March 1912 || 10_July 1912 || Liberal
|- style="background:#DDFFDD;"
| 19 ||William_Massey || 10_July 1912 || 10_May 1925 || Reform
|- style="background:#DDFFDD;"
| 20 ||Francis_Bell || 10_May 1925 || 30_May 1925 || Reform
|- style="background:#DDFFDD;"
| | 21 ||Gordon_Coates || 30_May 1925 || 10_December 1928 || Reform
|- style="background:#FFFFDD;"
| ||Joseph_Ward, 2nd time || 10_December 1928 || 28_May 1930 || United (Liberal)
|- style="background:#FFFFDD;"
| 22 ||George Forbes || 28_May 1930 || 6_December 1935 || United (Liberal)
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|23 ||Michael_Joseph_Savage || 6_December 1935 || 27_March 1940 || Labour
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|24 ||Peter_Fraser || 27_March 1940 || 13_December 1949 || Labour
|- style="background:#DDEEFF;"
|25 ||Sidney_Holland || 13_December 1949 || 20_September 1957 || National
|- style="background:#DDEEFF;"
|26 ||Keith_Holyoake || 20_September 1957 || 12_December 1957 || National
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|27 ||Walter_Nash || 12_December 1957 || 12_December 1960 || Labour
|- style="background:#DDEEFF;"
| ||Keith_Holyoake, 2nd time || 12_December 1960 || 7_February 1972 || National
|- style="background:#DDEEFF;"
|28 ||Jack_Marshall|| 7_February 1972 || 8_December 1972 || National
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|29 ||Norman_Kirk|| 8_December 1972 || 31_August 1974 || Labour
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|30 ||Bill_Rowling|| 6_September 1974 || 12_December 1975 || Labour
|- style="background:#DDEEFF;"
|31 ||Robert_Muldoon|| 12_December 1975 || 26_July 1984 || National
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|32 ||David_Lange|| 26_July 1984 || 8_August 1989 || Labour
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|33 ||Geoffrey_Palmer|| 8_August 1989 || 4_September 1990 || Labour
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|34 ||Mike_Moore|| 4_September 1990 || 2_November 1990 || Labour
|- style="background:#DDEEFF;"
|35 || Jim Bolger|| 2_November 1990 || 8_December 1997 || National
|- style="background:#DDEEFF;"
|36 ||Jenny_Shipley|| 8_December 1997 || 5_December 1999 || National
|- style="background:#FFE8E8;"
|37 ||Helen_Clark || 5_December 1999 || (present) || Labour
|-
|}
==Timeline==
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id:Ind value:gray(0.8) legend:Independent
id:Lab value:red legend:Labour
id:Lib value:rgb(0.9,0.8,0.0) legend:Liberal/United
id:Nat value:blue legend:National
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from:start till:20/04/1856 color:Ind $left text:"Henry_Sewell_1856"
from:20/04/1856 till:02/06/1856 color:Ind $right text:"1856_William Fox"
from:03/06/1856 till:12/07/1861 color:Ind $left text:"Edward Stafford_1856-1861"
from:12/07/1861 till:06/08/1862 color:Ind $right text:"1861-1862_William Fox"
from:06/08/1862 till:30/10/1863 color:Ind $left text:"Alfred_Domett_1862-1863"
from:30/10/1863 till:24/11/1864 color:Ind $right text:"1863-1864_Frederick_Whitaker"
from:24/11/1864 till:16/10/1865 color:Ind $left text:"Frederick_Weld_1864-1865"
from:16/10/1865 till:28/06/1869 color:Ind $right text:"1865-1869_Edward Stafford"
from:28/06/1869 till:10/08/1872 color:Ind $left text:"William Fox_1869-1872"
from:10/08/1872 till:11/10/1872 color:Ind $right text:"1872_Edward Stafford"
from:11/10/1872 till:03/03/1873 color:Ind $left text:"George Waterhouse_1872-1873"
from:03/03/1873 till:08/05/1873 color:Ind $rightup text:"1873_William Fox"
from:08/05/1873 till:06/07/1875 color:Ind $left text:"Julius_Vogel_1873-1875"
from:06/07/1875 till:15/02/1876 color:Ind $right text:"1875-1876_Daniel_Pollen"
from:15/02/1876 till:01/09/1876 color:Ind $left text:"Julius_Vogel_1876"
from:01/09/1876 till:13/10/1877 color:Ind $right text:"1876-1877_Harry_Atkinson"
from:13/10/1877 till:08/10/1879 color:Ind $left text:"George Grey_1877-1879"
from:08/10/1879 till:21/04/1882 color:Ind $right text:"1879-1882_John Hall"
from:21/04/1882 till:25/09/1883 color:Ind $left text:"Frederick_Whitaker_1882-1883"
from:25/09/1883 till:05/06/1884 color:Ind $right text:"1883-1884_Harry_Atkinson"
from:05/06/1884 till:28/07/1884 color:Ind $left text:"Robert_Stout_1884"
from:28/07/1884 till:03/09/1884 color:Ind $rightup text:"1884_Harry_Atkinson"
from:03/09/1884 till:08/10/1887 color:Ind $left text:"Robert_Stout_1884-1887"
from:08/10/1887 till:24/01/1891 color:Ind $right text:"1887-1891_Harry_Atkinson"
from:24/01/1891 till:27/04/1893 color:Lib $left text:"John_Ballance_1891-1893"
from:27/04/1893 till:10/06/1906 color:Lib $right text:"1893-1906_Richard_Seddon"
from:10/06/1906 till:06/08/1906 color:Lib $left text:"William_Hall-Jones_1906"
from:06/08/1906 till:28/03/1912 color:Lib $right text:"1906-1912_Joseph_Ward"
from:28/03/1912 till:10/07/1912 color:Lib $left text:"Thomas_Mackenzie_1912"
from:10/07/1912 till:10/04/1925 color:Ref $right text:"1912-1925_William_Massey"
from:10/04/1925 till:30/05/1925 color:Ref $left text:"Francis_Bell_1925"
from:30/05/1925 till:10/12/1925 color:Ref $right text:"1925-1928_Gordon_Coates"
from:10/12/1925 till:28/05/1930 color:Lib $left text:"Joseph_Ward_1925-1930"
from:28/05/1930 till:06/12/1935 color:Lib $right text:"1930-1935_George Forbes"
from:06/12/1935 till:27/03/1940 color:Lab $left text:"Michael_Joseph_Savage_1935-1940"
from:27/03/1940 till:13/12/1949 color:Lab $right text:"1940-1949_Peter_Fraser"
from:13/12/1949 till:20/09/1957 color:Nat $left text:"Sidney_Holland_1949-1957"
from:20/09/1957 till:12/12/1957 color:Nat $right text:"1957-1957_Keith_Holyoake"
from:12/12/1957 till:12/12/1960 color:Lab $left text:"Walter_Nash_1957-1960"
from:12/12/1960 till:07/02/1972 color:Nat $right text:"1960-1972_Keith_Holyoake"
from:07/02/1972 till:08/12/1972 color:Nat $left text:"Jack_Marshall_1972"
from:08/12/1972 till:06/09/1974 color:Lab $right text:"1972-1974_Norman_Kirk"
from:06/09/1974 till:12/12/1975 color:Lab $left text:"Bill_Rowling_1974-1975"
from:12/12/1975 till:26/07/1984 color:Nat $right text:"Robert_Muldoon_1975-1984"
from:26/07/1984 till:08/08/1989 color:Lab $left text:"David_Lange_1984-1989"
from:08/08/1989 till:04/09/1990 color:Lab $right text:"Geoffrey_Palmer_1989-1990"
from:04/09/1990 till:02/11/1990 color:Lab $left text:"Mike_Moore_1990"
from:02/11/1990 till:08/12/1997 color:Nat $right text:"Jim_Bolger_1990-1997"
from:08/12/1997 till:05/12/1999 color:Nat $left text:"Jenny_Shipley_1997-1999"
from:05/12/1999 till:end color:Lab $right text:"Helen_Clark_1999-present"
==External link==
*New Zealand Prime Minister's official website
*/ New Zealand Prime Minister's
New Zealand, Prime Minister
Prime Minister
*
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Es:Primer_Ministro_de_Nueva_Zelanda
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