Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use New Zealand English Template:Infobox official post

The deputy prime minister of New Zealand (Template:Langx) 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 David Seymour of the ACT Party. He replaced Winston Peters on 31 May 2025, halfway through the parliamentary term, as part of a coalition agreement.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Seymour is the first deputy prime minister from the ACT Party.

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.Template:Sfn This means that Keith Holyoake is considered the first deputy prime minister. It was formally designated as a full cabinet level position in 1954.<ref>Template:DNZB</ref>

Appointment and dutiesEdit

The post of deputy prime minister was formally established in 1949.<ref group="N">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.</ref> Eighteen individuals have held the position (with one of them doing so twice, and one doing so thrice) and of those people: Holyoake, Marshall, Watt, Muldoon, Palmer, Clark and English have eventually served as prime minister.<ref group="N">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.</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They can also do the same as acting prime minister, in consultation with the prime minister if it is appropriate and practicable.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The position was 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 has occurred three times with Winston Peters, leader of New Zealand First,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and once Jim Anderton, leader of the Alliance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="Barnes">Template:Cite journal</ref> 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.<ref name="Barnes"/>

List of deputy prime ministers of New ZealandEdit

Key

Template:Legend inline Template:Legend inline Template:Legend inline Template:Legend inline Template:Legend inline

No.		Portrait	Name	Term of office		Concurrent portfolio(s)	Prime Minister
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	1	File:Keith Holyoake 1954 (cropped).jpg	Keith Holyoake MP for Pahiatua (1904–1983)	13 December 1949	20 September 1957	Minister of Agriculture	width=1 style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Holland
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	2	File:Jack Marshall 1957 (cropped).jpg	Jack Marshall MP for Karori (1912–1988)	20 September 1957	12 December 1957	Attorney-General Minister of Justice	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Holyoake
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	3	File:Jerry Skinner, 1959 (cropped).jpg	Jerry Skinner MP for Buller (1900–1962)	12 December 1957	12 December 1960	Minister of Agriculture Minister of Lands	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Nash
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	(2)	File:Jack Marshall, 1972.jpg	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)	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Holyoake
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	4	File:Robert Muldoon 1970 (cropped).jpg	Robert Muldoon MP for Tamaki (1921–1992)	9 February 1972	8 December 1972	Minister of Finance	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Marshall
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	5	File:Hugh Watt, 1951 (cropped).jpg	Hugh Watt MP for Onehunga (1912–1980)	8 December 1972	1 September 1974	Minister of Labour Minister of Works (until 1974)	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Kirk
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	6	File:Bob Tizard, 1968.jpg	Bob Tizard MP for Otahuhu (1924–2016)	10 September 1974	12 December 1975	Minister of Finance	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Rowling
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	7	File:Brian Talboys 1980 (cropped).jpg	Brian Talboys MP for Wallace (1921–2012)	12 December 1975	4 March 1981	Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Overseas Trade	rowspan=3 style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Muldoon
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	8	File:Duncan MacIntyre (cropped).jpg	Duncan MacIntyre MP for East Cape (1915–2001)	4 March 1981	15 March 1984	Minister of Agriculture
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	9	File:Jim McLay 1986 (cropped).jpg	Jim McLay MP for Birkenhead (born 1945)	15 March 1984	26 July 1984	Attorney-General Minister of Justice
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	10	File:Geoffrey Palmer (red background).jpg	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)	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Lange
rowspan=2 style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	11	File:Helen Clark 2002 (cropped).jpg	Helen Clark MP for Mount Albert (born 1950)	8 August 1989	2 November 1990	Minister of Health Minister of Labour	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Palmer
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	11	File:Helen Clark 2002 (cropped).jpg	Helen Clark MP for Mount Albert (born 1950)	8 August 1989	2 November 1990	Minister of Health Minister of Labour	Moore
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	12	File:Don McKinnon 1994 (cropped).jpg	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)	rowspan=2 height=15 style="border-top:solid 0 gray; background:Template:Party color"\|	Bolger
height=40 style="border-bottom:solid 0 grey; background:Template:Party color"\|	13	File:Winston Peters 2008.jpg	Winston Peters MP for Tauranga (born 1945)	16 December 1996	14 August 1998	Treasurer		Bolger
height=40 style="border-top:solid 0 grey; background:Template:Party color"\|	13	File:Winston Peters 2008.jpg	Winston Peters MP for Tauranga (born 1945)	16 December 1996	14 August 1998	Treasurer	rowspan=2 style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Shipley
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	14	File:Wyatt Creech, 1998 (cropped 3 by 4).jpg	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
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	15	File:Jim Anderton 2001 (cropped).jpg	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)	rowspan=2 style="border-top:solid 0 gray; background:Template:Party color"\|	Clark
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	16	File:Michael Cullen, 2008 (cropped).jpg	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) Attorney-General (2005, 2006–2008)		Clark
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	17	File:Bill English 09-16 (2).jpg	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)	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Key
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	18	File:Paula Bennett (cropped).jpg	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 Police Minister for Women	style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	English
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	(13)	File:Winston Peters, 2019.jpg	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)	rowspan=2 height=15 style="border-top:solid 0 gray; background:Template:Party color"\|	Ardern
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	19	File:Grant Robertson (cropped).jpg	Grant Robertson MP for Wellington Central (born 1971)	6 November 2020	25 January 2023	Minister of Finance Minister for Infrastructure Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Racing (until 2022)		Ardern
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	20	File:Carmel Sepuloni (cropped).jpg	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 Workplace Relations and Safety Minister for Auckland	height=15 style="border-top:solid 0 gray; background:Template:Party color"\|	Hipkins
height=40 style="border-bottom:solid 0 grey; background:Template:Party color"\|	(13)	File:Winston Peters 2023 cropped headshot.jpg	Winston Peters List MP (born 1945)	27 November 2023	31 May 2025	Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for Racing Minister for Rail (from 2024)	rowspan="2" height=15 style="border-top:solid 0 gray;color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	Luxon
style="color:inherit;background:Template:Party color"\|	21	File:David Seymour 2023 (cropped) (cropped).jpg	David Seymour MP for Epsom (born 1983)	31 May 2025	Incumbent	Minister for Regulation		Luxon

TimelineEdit

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 from: 13/12/1949 till: 20/09/1957 color:Nat text:"Keith Holyoake"
bar:Marshall
 from: 20/09/1957 till: 12/12/1957 color:Nat
 from: 12/12/1960 till: 09/02/1972 color:Nat text:"Jack Marshall"
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 from: 12/12/1957 till: 12/12/1960 color:Lab text:"Jerry Skinner"
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 from: 09/02/1972 till: 08/12/1972 color:Nat text:"Robert Muldoon"
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 from: 08/12/1972 till: 01/09/1974 color:Lab text:"Hugh Watt"
bar:Tizard
 from: 10/09/1974 till: 12/12/1975 color:Lab text:"Bob Tizard"
bar:Talboys
 from: 12/12/1975 till: 04/03/1981 color:Nat text:"Brian Talboys"
bar:MacIntyre
 from: 04/03/1981 till: 15/03/1984 color:Nat text:"Duncan MacIntyre"
bar:McLay
 from: 15/03/1984 till: 26/07/1984 color:Nat text:"Jim MacLay"
bar:Palmer
 from: 26/07/1984 till: 08/08/1989 color:Lab text:"Geoffrey Palmer"
bar:Clark
 from: 08/08/1989 till: 02/11/1990 color:Lab text:"Helen Clark"
bar:McKinnon
 from: 02/11/1990 till: 16/12/1996 color:Nat text:"Don McKinnon"
bar:Peters
 from: 16/12/1996 till: 14/08/1998 color:NZF
 from: 26/10/2017 till: 06/11/2020 color:NZF
 from: 27/11/2023 till: 31/05/2025 color:NZF text:"Winston Peters"
bar:Creech
 from: 14/08/1998 till: 10/12/1999 color:Nat text:"Wyatt Creech"
bar:Anderton
 from: 10/12/1999 till: 15/08/2002 color:All text:"Jim Anderton"
bar:Cullen
 from: 15/08/2002 till: 19/11/2008 color:Lab text:"Michael Cullen"
bar:English
 from: 19/11/2008 till: 12/12/2016 color:Nat text:"Bill English"
bar:Bennett
 from: 12/12/2016 till: 26/10/2017 color:Nat text:"Paula Bennett"
bar:Robertson
 from: 06/11/2020 till: 25/01/2023 color:Lab text:"Grant Robertson"
bar:Sepuloni
 from: 25/01/2023 till: 27/11/2023 color:Lab text:"Carmel Sepuloni"
bar:Seymour
 from: 31/05/2025 till: $now       color:ACT text:"David Seymour"

</timeline>

NotesEdit

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ReferencesEdit

Template:Cite book

External linksEdit

Template:Subject bar Template:Deputy Prime Ministers of New Zealand Template:NZ ministerial portfolios Template:Deputy heads of government of Oceania