Editing New Zealand National Party (section)

==History==
===Formation===
{{See also|Historic conservatism in New Zealand|Historic liberalism in New Zealand}}
The National Party was formed in May 1936, but its roots go considerably further back. The party came about as the result of a merger between the [[United Party (New Zealand)|United Party]] (known as the [[New Zealand Liberal Party|Liberal Party]] until 1927, except for a short period between 1925 and 1927 when it used the name "National Party") and the [[Reform Party (New Zealand)|Reform Party]].<ref name="Raymond 2005 32"/> The United Party gained its main support from the cities, and drew upon [[business]]es for money and upon [[middle class]] electors for votes,<ref>{{cite book|last=Miller|first=Raymond|title=Party Politics in New Zealand|year=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Australia|pages=28–31}}</ref> while the Reform Party had a [[rural]] base and received substantial support from [[farmer]]s,<ref>{{cite book|last=Miller|first=Raymond|title=Party Politics in New Zealand|year=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Australia|pages=29}}</ref> who then formed a substantial proportion of the population.
{{Formation of New Zealand National Party}}

Historically, the Liberal and Reform parties had competed against each other; however, between 1931 and 1935, the [[United–Reform Coalition]] held power in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite book|last=Miller|first=Raymond|title=Party Politics in New Zealand|year=2005|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=Australia|pages=31–32}}</ref> The coalition went into the [[1935 New Zealand general election|1935 election]] under the title of the "National Political Federation", a name adopted to indicate that the grouping intended to represent New Zealanders from all backgrounds (in contrast to the previous situation, where United served city-dwellers and Reform served farmers). However, because of the effects of the [[Great Depression]] and a perception that the existing coalition government had handled the situation poorly, the National Political Federation lost heavily in 1935 to the [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]], the rise of which had prompted the alliance.  The two parties were cut down to 19 seats between them. 

Another factor was a [[third party (politics)|third party]], the [[New Zealand Democrat Party (1934)|Democrat Party]] formed by [[Albert Davy]], a former organiser for the coalition who disapproved of the perceived "socialist" measures that the coalition had introduced. The new party split the conservative vote, and aided Labour's victory.<ref>Adams 1980{{page needed|date=May 2018}}</ref>

[[File:Adam Hamilton, 1930s.jpg|thumb|upright|left|[[Adam Hamilton]] was the first leader of the National Party.]]
In hopes of countering Labour's rise, United and Reform decided to turn their alliance into a single party.<ref name="founded"/> This party, the New Zealand National Party, was formed at a meeting held in [[Wellington]] on 13 and 14 May 1936. Erstwhile members of the United and Reform parties made up the bulk of the new party.<ref name="founded"/> The United Party's last leader, [[George Forbes (New Zealand politician)|George Forbes]], Prime Minister from 1930 until 1935, opened the conference; he served as Leader of the Opposition from May until November, when former Reform MP [[Adam Hamilton]], who had been a minister in the coalition government was elected the merged party's first leader. He got the top job primarily because of a compromise between Forbes and Reform leader [[Gordon Coates]], neither of whom wished to serve under the other. Hamilton led the party into its first election in 1938. He was unable to counter Labour's popular [[Prime Minister of New Zealand|Prime Minister]], [[Michael Joseph Savage]] effectively. Because of this, perceptions that he remained too much under the control of Coates and his lack of real support from his party colleagues, Hamilton failed to prevent Labour's re-election in [[1938 New Zealand general election|1938]].
In 1940, former Reform MP [[Sidney Holland]] replaced Hamilton. [[William Polson]] "acted effectively as Holland's deputy".{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=337}} One former Reform MP [[Bert Kyle]] resigned in 1942 in protest at the "autocratic" behaviour of Holland and the new party organisation.<ref name="Adams 1980">Adams 1980</ref>

In the [[1943 New Zealand general election|1943 election]], National reduced Labour's majority from 12 seats to four. In the [[1946 New Zealand general election|1946 election]], National made further gains, but Labour was able to cling to a one-seat majority. However, in the [[1949 New Zealand general election|1949 election]], thirteen years after the party's foundation, National won power after taking eight seats off Labour, and Holland became prime minister.

===First Government (1949–1957)===
{{Main|First National Government of New Zealand}}
[[File:Sidney George Holland (1953) 2.png|upright|thumb|[[Sidney Holland|Sir Sidney Holland]] was the first National Prime Minister, 1949–1957]]
Sidney Holland was finance minister as well as prime minister in the new government. In 1949 National had campaigned on "the private ownership of production, distribution and exchange". Once in power the new Holland Government proved decidedly administratively conservative, retaining, for instance, compulsory unionism and the [[welfare state]] set up by the previous Labour government.<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |last1=James |first1=Colin |title=National Party – Formation and rise |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/national-party/page-1 |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=15 August 2020 |date=1 July 2010}}</ref>

In 1951, the [[1951 New Zealand waterfront dispute|Waterfront Dispute]] broke out, lasting 151 days. The National government stepped into the conflict, acting in opposition to the maritime [[trade union|union]]s. Holland also used this opportunity to call the 1951 [[1951 New Zealand general election|snap election]]. Campaigning on an [[Anti-communism|anti-communist]] platform and exploiting the Labour Opposition's apparent indecisiveness, National returned with an increased majority, gaining 54 parliamentary seats out of 80.<ref>{{cite web |title=Election result, 1951 |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/interactive/25296/election-result-1951 |website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=3 February 2024}}</ref>

In the [[1954 New Zealand general election|1954 election]], National was elected to a third term, though losing some of its seats. Towards the end of his third term, however, Holland became increasingly ill, and stepped down from the leadership shortly before the general election in 1957. [[Keith Holyoake]], the party's long-standing deputy leader, took Holland's place. Holyoake, however, had insufficient time to establish himself in the public mind as prime minister, and lost in the [[1957 New Zealand general election|election later that year]] to Labour, then led by [[Walter Nash]].<ref>{{cite web |title=1957 – key events – The 1950s |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/the-1950s/1957 |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |publisher=[[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]] |access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref>

===Second Government (1960–1972)===
{{Main|Second National Government of New Zealand}}
[[File:Keith Holyoake (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Keith Holyoake|Sir Keith Holyoake]], Prime Minister, 1957 and 1960–1972]]
Nash's government became very unpopular as Labour acquired a reputation for poor economic management, and much of the public saw its [[Black Budget (New Zealand)|1958 Budget]], known since as the "Black Budget", as miserly.<ref>{{cite book|author=Brian Roper|title=State and economy in New Zealand|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bLG0AAAAIAAJ|year=1993|publisher=Oxford U.P.|page=204|isbn=9780195582734}}</ref> After only one term in office, Labour suffered defeat at the hands of Holyoake and the National Party in the [[1960 New Zealand general election|elections of 1960]].

Holyoake's government lasted twelve years, the party winning re-election three times (in [[1963 New Zealand general election|1963]], [[1966 New Zealand general election|1966]], and [[1969 New Zealand general election|1969]]). However, during this period [[Social Credit Party (New Zealand)|Social Credit]] arose, which broke the National/Labour duopoly in parliament, winning former National seats from 1966. Holyoake retired from the premiership and from the party leadership at the beginning of 1972, and his deputy, [[Jack Marshall]], replaced him.<ref name="Adams 1980"/>

Marshall suffered the same fate as Holyoake. Having succeeded an experienced leader in an election-year, he failed to establish himself in time. Marshall had an added disadvantage; he had to compete against the much more popular and charismatic Labour leader [[Norman Kirk]], and lost the ensuing [[1972 New Zealand general election|election]]. Unpopular policies, including initiating clear felling of parts of the Warawara kauri forest, also needlessly alienated voters.<ref name="Adams 1980"/>

===Third Government (1975–1984)===
{{Main|Third National Government of New Zealand}}
[[File:Robert Muldoon 1978.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Robert Muldoon|Sir Robert Muldoon]], Prime Minister, 1975–1984]]
Within two years, the National Party removed Marshall as its parliamentary leader and replaced him with [[Robert Muldoon]], who had previously served as [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Minister of Finance]]. An intense contest between Kirk and Muldoon followed. Kirk became ill and died in office (1974); his successor, [[Bill Rowling]], proved no match for Muldoon, and in the [[1975 New Zealand general election|1975 election]], National under Muldoon returned comfortably to power.

The Muldoon administration, which favoured [[economic interventionism|interventionist]] economic policies, arouses mixed opinions amongst the [[free-market]] adherents of the modern National. [[Bill Birch]]'s "[[Think Big]]" initiatives, designed to invest public money in energy self-sufficiency, stand in contrast to the party's {{As of|2007|alt= contemporary}} views.<ref name="Scharpf-Schmidt" /> Muldoon's autocratic leadership style became increasingly unpopular with both the public and the party, and together with disgruntlement over economic policy led to an attempted leadership change in 1980. Led by ministers [[Derek Quigley]], [[Jim McLay]], and [[Jim Bolger]], the challenge (dubbed the "colonels' coup") against Muldoon aimed to replace him with [[Brian Talboys]], his deputy. However, the plan collapsed as the result of Talboys' unwillingness, and Muldoon kept his position.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gustafson|first1=Barry|title=His Way: a Biography of Robert Muldoon|date=2013|publisher=Auckland University Press|isbn=9781869405175|page=109|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8tRaAwAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PA109|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:New Zealand National Party logo (1970s variant).svg|upright|left|thumb|A former National Party logo, used during the Muldoon era]]
Under Muldoon, National won three consecutive general elections in 1975, [[1978 New Zealand general election|1978]] and [[1981 New Zealand general election|1981]]. However, public dissatisfaction grew, and Muldoon's controlling and belligerent style of [[leadership]] became less and less appealing. In both the 1978 and 1981 elections, National gained fewer votes than the Labour opposition, but could command a small majority in Parliament because of the then-used [[First Past the Post]] electoral system.

Dissent within the National Party continued to grow, however, with rebel National MPs [[Marilyn Waring]] and [[Mike Minogue (politician)|Mike Minogue]] causing particular concern to the leadership, threatening National's thin majority in parliament. When, in 1984, Marilyn Waring refused to support Muldoon's policies on visits by nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ships, Muldoon called a snap [[1984 New Zealand general election|election]]. Muldoon made the television announcement of this election while visibly [[drunkenness|inebriated]], and some believe<ref name="Adams 1980"/> that he later regretted the decision to "go to the country". National lost the election to Labour under [[David Lange]].

===Fourth Government (1990–1999)===
[[File:Jim Bolger, 1990s.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jim Bolger]], Prime Minister, 1990–1997]]
{{Main|Fourth National Government of New Zealand}}
Shortly after this loss, the National Party removed Muldoon from the leadership. [[Jim McLay]], who had replaced [[Duncan MacIntyre (New Zealand politician)|Duncan MacIntyre]] as deputy leader shortly before the election, became the new leader.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=158}} McLay, an urban liberal with right-wing views on economics, however, failed to restore the party's fortunes. In 1986 [[Jim Bolger]] took over the leadership with the support of centrists within the party.{{sfn|Gustafson|1986|p=164}}

In the [[1990 New Zealand general election|1990 election]], National defeated Labour in an electoral landslide and formed a new government under [[Jim Bolger]]. However, the party lost some support from Muldoon era policy based conservatives when it continued the economic reforms which had ultimately led to the defeat of the previous Labour government—these policies, started by Labour Party Finance Minister [[Roger Douglas]] and popularly known as [[Rogernomics]], centred on the [[privatisation]] of state assets and on the removal of [[tariff]]s and [[subsidy|subsidies]]. These policies alienated traditional Labour supporters, who saw them as a betrayal of the party's social service based character, but did not appear to appease the membership base of the non-parliamentary party either, which still had a significant supporter base for the [[Statism|statist]] intervention style policies of the Muldoon Government.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

Many more conservative and centrist National supporters preferred Muldoon's more authoritarian and interventionist policies over the free-market liberalism promoted by Douglas. However, the new National Party Finance Minister, [[Ruth Richardson]], strongly supported Rogernomics, believing that Douglas had not gone far enough. Her policies—dubbed "[[Ruthanasia]]"— encouraged two MPs to leave the National Party and form the [[New Zealand Liberal Party (1991)|Liberal Party]]. Richardson's views also met with considerable opposition within the National Party Parliamentary Caucus and for a time caused damage to the party's membership base.<ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Bill English staying on through 2020|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98192081/bill-english-staying-on-through-2020|access-date=26 October 2017|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=24 October 2017}}</ref>

At the [[1993 New Zealand general election|1993 election]], National was narrowly able to retain government owing partly to a slight economic recovery and the opposition being split between three competing parties. National's unprecedented eighteen-seat majority had virtually disappeared and the country faced an election night [[hung parliament]] for the first time since [[1931 New Zealand general election|1931]], with National one seat short of the required 50 seats to govern. Final [[special vote]]s counted over the following days revealed National had won {{NZ electorate link|Waitaki}}, allowing it to form a government with the majority of one seat but required the election of a Speaker from the opposition benches ([[Peter Tapsell (New Zealand politician)|Peter Tapsell]] of the Labour Party) to hold a working majority in the House. At the same time as the election, however, a referendum took place which established the [[mixed-member proportional representation|MMP]] electoral system for future use in New Zealand general elections as widespread dissatisfaction with the existing political system led to reform. This would have a significant impact on New Zealand politics. Some National Party MPs defected to a new grouping, [[United New Zealand]] in mid-1995 whilst other splinter parties emerged. And, as a result of the new electoral mechanics, the [[New Zealand First]] party, led by former National MP and former Cabinet minister [[Winston Peters]], held the balance of power after the [[1996 New Zealand general election|1996 election]]. After a prolonged period of negotiation lasting nearly two months, in which New Zealand First played National and Labour off against each other (both parties negotiated complete coalition agreements), New Zealand First entered into a coalition with National despite the fact many expected Peters to form such a coalition with Labour.

Under the coalition agreement, Peters became [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|Deputy Prime Minister]] and had the post of [[Treasurer]] especially created by the Crown for him. New Zealand First extracted a number of other concessions from National in exchange for its support. The influence of New Zealand First angered many National MPs, particularly [[Jenny Shipley]].<ref name="auto"/>

[[File:Jenny Shipley 2013 (crop).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Jenny Shipley|Dame Jenny Shipley]], Prime Minister, 1997–1999]]
When, in 1997, Shipley toppled [[Jim Bolger|Bolger]] to become National's new leader, relations between National and its coalition partner quickly deteriorated. After Shipley sacked Peters from [[Cabinet of New Zealand|Cabinet]] in 1998, New Zealand First split into two groups and half the MPs followed Peters out of the coalition but the remainder broke away, establishing themselves as independents or as members of new parties of which none survived the 1999 election. From the latter group National gained enough support to continue in government with additional confidence support of [[Alamein Kopu]] a defect Alliance List MP.<ref name="auto"/> The visibly damaged National Government managed to survive the parliamentary term, but lost the [[1999 New Zealand general election|election]] to Labour's [[Helen Clark]] and the [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance]]'s [[Jim Anderton]], who formed a coalition government leaving National in opposition for nine years.

===Opposition (1999–2008)===
Shipley continued to lead the National Party until 2001, when [[Bill English]] replaced her. English, however, proved unable to gain traction against Clark, and National suffered its worst-ever electoral defeat in the [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002 election]], gaining only 27 of 120 seats.<ref name="2002 election">{{cite web|title=Official Count Results – Overall Status|url=http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2002/partystatus.html|access-date=7 August 2013|publisher=Electoral Commission}}</ref> Many hoped that English would succeed in rebuilding the party, given time, but a year later polling showed the party performing only slightly better than in the election. In October 2003 English gave way as leader to [[Don Brash]], a former governor of the [[Reserve Bank of New Zealand|Reserve Bank]] who had joined the National Parliamentary caucus in the 2002 election.

Under Brash, the National Party's overall popularity with voters improved markedly. Mostly, however, the party achieved this by "reclaiming" support from electors who voted for other centre-right parties in 2002. National's campaigning on race relations, amid claims of preferential treatment of [[Māori people|Māori]], and amid their opposition to Labour Party policy during the [[New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy|foreshore-and-seabed controversy]], generated considerable publicity and much controversy.<ref name="Roberts">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Roberts |first1=Nigel |title=Iwi/kiwi billboard |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/33891/iwikiwi-billboard |encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=15 August 2020 |language=en}}</ref> Strong campaigning on a tax-cuts theme in the lead-up to the [[2005 New Zealand general election|2005 election]], together with a consolidation of centre-right support, may have contributed to the National Party's winning 48 out of 121 seats in Parliament. National, however, remained the second-largest party in Parliament (marginally behind Labour, which gained 50 seats), and had fewer options for forming a coalition government. With the formation of a new Labour-dominated Government, National remained the major Opposition party. Before the leadership of John Key, the National Party had made renewed efforts to attract social conservative voters,{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} through adoption of [[anti-abortion]] and anti-[[same-sex marriage]] policies.

In the 2005 general election run up, it was revealed that the [[Exclusive Brethren]], a conservative Christian group, had distributed attack pamphlets critical of the Labour Party and praising of National to letterboxes throughout New Zealand.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10345281|title=Exclusive Brethren trot out new leaflets|last=Cheng|first=Derek Cheng, Derek|date=12 September 2005|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=14 October 2018|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref> Labour insisted that National had close ties to and prior knowledge of these attacks, which was repeatedly denied by National. It was later admitted by the leader Don Brash that he indeed did have knowledge of the plan, a statement that was contradicted by MP Gerry Brownlee who subsequently denied the National party had any foreknowledge.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10344635|title=Brash knew about Exclusive Brethren pamphlets|date=8 September 2005|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=14 October 2018|language=en-NZ|issn=1170-0777}}</ref>

After the 2005 election defeat Don Brash's leadership of National came under scrutiny from the media, and political watchers speculated on the prospect of a leadership-challenge before the next [[2008 New Zealand general election|general election due in 2008]]. Brash resigned on 23 November 2006, immediately before the release of [[Nicky Hager]]'s book ''[[The Hollow Men (book)|The Hollow Men]]'', which contained damaging revelations obtained from private emails. [[John Key]] became the leader of the National caucus on 27 November 2006. Key fostered a more "centrist" image, discussing issues such as [[child poverty]].{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

===Fifth Government (2008–2017)===
{{Main|Fifth National Government of New Zealand}}
[[File:John Key February 2015.jpg|upright|thumb|[[John Key|Sir John Key]], Prime Minister, 2008–2016]]
On 8 November 2008, the National Party won 58 seats in the [[2008 New Zealand general election|general election]]. The Labour Party, which had spent three terms in power, conceded the election and Prime Minister [[Helen Clark]] stepped down. National formed a minority government under [[John Key]] with [[confidence and supply|confidence-and-supply]] support from the [[ACT New Zealand|ACT Party]] (5 seats), the [[Māori Party]] (5 seats) and [[United Future]] (1 seat). On 19 November the Governor-General swore in the new National-led government.<ref>{{cite web|title=Key and ministers sworn in |url= http://www.guide2.co.nz/politics/news/key-and-ministers-sworn-in/11/3999|website=guide2.co.nz|date=19 November 2008 |access-date=15 June 2017|language=en}}</ref> In Key's first Cabinet he gave the ACT Party's [[Rodney Hide]] and [[Heather Roy]] ministerial portfolios outside Cabinet, and the Māori Party's [[Tāriana Turia]] and [[Pita Sharples]] the same. United Future leader [[Peter Dunne]] retained his ministerial post outside Cabinet which he had held within the immediately preceding [[Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand|Labour Government]].

National came to power during the [[2008 financial crisis]]. In response to New Zealand's rising debt, Finance Minister [[Bill English]] made budget deficit-reduction his main priority for the first term. The government also [[Taxation in New Zealand|cut taxes]] on all income; the top personal tax rate was lowered from 39% to 38% and then 33% in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|title=Questions and Answers – 25 May 2010 {{!}} Scoop News|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1005/S00416/questions-and-answers-25-may-2010.htm|access-date=15 June 2017|work=scoop.co.nz|date=25 May 2010}}</ref>

<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:New Zealand National Party logo.svg|left|thumb|National Party logo, 2002–2017]] -->
At the [[2011 New Zealand general election|26 November 2011 general election]], National gained 47.31% of the party vote, the highest percentage gained by any political party since MMP was introduced, helped by a lower voter turnout and the misfortunes of its traditional support parties.<ref name="auto"/> A reduced wasted vote enabled the party to gain 59 seats in Parliament, one more than in 2008. National re-entered confidence-and-supply agreements with ACT (one seat) and United Future (one seat) on 5 December 2011, enabling it to form a minority government with the support of 61 seats in the new 121-seat Parliament. National also re-entered a confidence-and-supply agreement with the Māori Party on 11 December 2011 for extra insurance, despite the parties differing on National's contentious plans to partially sell (or "extend the mixed ownership model to") four state-owned enterprises. This nearly led to a cancellation of the agreement in February 2012 over [[Treaty of Waitangi claims and settlements|Treaty of Waitangi obligations]] for the mixed ownership companies, and again in July 2012 over water rights.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}

The government also introduced the "mixed ownership model" plan, in which the Government planned to reduce its share in [[Genesis Energy Limited|Genesis Energy]], [[Meridian Energy]], [[Mercury Energy|Mighty River Power]] and [[Solid Energy]] from 100% to 51% and [[Air New Zealand]] from 74% to 51%, and [[privatization|sell off]] the remainder. The plans to sell down Solid Energy were later axed due to the company's poor financial position. [[2013 New Zealand asset sales referendum|A citizens-initiated referendum]] on the sell-downs returned a 67.3% vote in opposition (on a turnout of 45.1%).<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.electionresults.govt.nz/2013_citizens_referendum/ |title=Citizens Initiated Referendum 2013: Final Result |date=17 December 2013 |access-date=14 December 2019}}</ref>

The National Government won a third term at the [[2014 New Zealand general election|2014 general election]]. The National Party won 47.04% of the party vote, and increased its seats to 60. National resumed its confidence and supply agreements with ACT and United Future.<ref name="auto"/> The National government extended free [[general practitioner]] visits to children under 13 as part of their 2014 election package, as well as extending paid parental leave by two weeks to 16 weeks.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title = Election 2014: Nats' promises to you|url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11328620|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date = 21 September 2014|access-date = 5 November 2015|issn = 1170-0777}}</ref> The National parliamentary caucus was split on the issue of [[same-sex marriage in New Zealand|same-sex marriage]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Plumb|first1=Alison|title=How do MPs in Westminster democracies vote when unconstrained by party discipline? A comparison of free vote patterns on marriage equality legislation|url=https://www.psa.ac.uk/sites/default/files/conference/papers/2014/Marriage%20Equality%20Alison%20Plumb%20PSA.pdf|publisher=[[Australian National University]]|access-date=13 June 2017|date=2014}}</ref>

Throughout his second and third terms, Key campaigned heavily in favour of free-trade agreements such as the [[Trans-Pacific Partnership]].<ref>{{cite web|title=PM reinforces TPP benefits in New York|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/pm-reinforces-tpp-benefits-new-york|website=The Beehive|access-date=5 February 2017|date=20 September 2016}}</ref>

After serving Prime Minister for eight years, Key announced his resignation as the party leader on 5 December 2016. He stepped down as Prime Minister on 12 December.<ref name="resignation">{{cite news|title=New Zealand Prime Minister John Key announces resignation|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87202756/New-Zealand-Government-makes-major-announcement|access-date=5 December 2016|work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=5 December 2016}}</ref> Key's deputy [[Bill English]] was acclaimed as the party's new leader on 12 December 2016 after Health Minister [[Jonathan Coleman (politician)|Jonathan Coleman]] and Minister of Police [[Judith Collins]] withdrew from the [[2016 New Zealand National Party leadership election|leadership election]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/87202756/live-prime-minister-john-key-has-resigned-what-happens-next|title=Live: Prime Minister John Key has resigned. What happens next?|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=6 December 2016|access-date=6 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11761231 |title=The race for Prime Minister gets crowded – It's Bill English, Jonathan Coleman and now Judith Collins |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=6 December 2016 |access-date= 6 December 2016}}</ref>

===Opposition (2017–2023)===
In the [[2017 New Zealand general election|2017 general election]], National's share of the party vote dropped to 44.4%. It lost four seats, dropping to 56, but remained the largest party in Parliament. Two of the National government's three support parties lost representation in parliament.<ref name="2017 general election results" /> [[New Zealand First]], led by [[Winston Peters]], held the balance of power, and formed a coalition with Labour, who also gained [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] support, marking an end to the 9-year National government. English announced his intention to stay on as party leader until the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]]<ref name="auto"/> but subsequently resigned.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bill English announces retirement from Parliament|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1802/S00098/bill-english-announces-retirement-from-parliament.htm|access-date=13 February 2018|work=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop News]]|date=13 February 2018}}</ref> On 27 February 2018, English was succeeded by [[Simon Bridges]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/02/live-updates-national-leadership-contest.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227020311/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/02/live-updates-national-leadership-contest.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 February 2018 |title=Live updates: National chooses Simon Bridges |last=Bracewell-Worrall |first=Anna |work=[[Newshub]] |date=27 February 2018 |access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref>

Following the [[Christchurch mosque shootings|Christchurch Mosque shootings]], the party removed content from their website which indicated opposition to the UN [[Global Compact for Migration|Migration Compact]]; a position also espoused by the terrorist in his manifesto.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Simon Bridges backtracks on why UN migration pact petition removed from National's website|work=[[Newshub]]|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/03/simon-bridges-backtracks-on-why-un-migration-pact-petition-removed-from-national-s-website.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929041831/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/03/simon-bridges-backtracks-on-why-un-migration-pact-petition-removed-from-national-s-website.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=National's UN migration petition removed by 'emotional' staff member|website=[[Radio New Zealand]] |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/385066/national-s-un-migration-petition-removed-by-emotional-staff-member|date=19 March 2019}}</ref> On 2 July 2020, however, the party's new leader Todd Muller confirmed in response to a question from a journalist that the party was still opposed to the pact, although it was not an issue he was focused on.<ref>{{cite news |title=National Party leader Todd Muller announces Shadow Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/livestream-national-party-leader-todd-muller-announces-shadow-cabinet-reshuffle.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702030128/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/livestream-national-party-leader-todd-muller-announces-shadow-cabinet-reshuffle.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2020 |website=[[Newshub]] |access-date=3 July 2020}}</ref>

On 22 May 2020, following poor [[Opinion polling for the 2020 New Zealand general election|poll results for the party]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand]],<ref>{{Cite news|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=21 May 2020|title=New Zealand opposition to vote on leader as polling shows party at near-record low|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/22/new-zealand-opposition-to-vote-on-leader-as-polling-shows-party-at-near-record-low|access-date=22 May 2020|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> the National Party held an emergency caucus meeting and voted to oust both leader Simon Bridges and deputy leader [[Paula Bennett]], replacing them with [[Todd Muller]] and [[Nikki Kaye]], respectively.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Simon Bridges rolled, Todd Muller new National Party leader|language=en-NZ|work=TVNZ|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/simon-bridges-rolled-todd-muller-new-national-party-leader|access-date=22 May 2020}}</ref> Less than two months later, Muller resigned citing that his position had "become untenable from a health perspective".<ref name="Muller">
{{cite news |title= Todd Muller quits as National Party leader for health reasons |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12347793 |access-date= 14 July 2020 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date= 14 July 2020 |language= en-NZ |quote = Early contenders to replace him are his current deputy Nikki Kaye – who is now the acting leader – and the prospect of Judith Collins also lurks in the background.}}</ref> This came after a series of gaffes and scandals surrounding Muller and the National caucus during his tenure, triggering the [[July 2020 New Zealand National Party leadership election|second leadership election]] in as many months. He was succeeded by [[Judith Collins]].<ref name="Collins">{{cite news |title= Judith Collins announced as new National Party leader |url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/judith-collins-announced-as-new-national-party-leader-source.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200715021821/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/07/judith-collins-announced-as-new-national-party-leader-source.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 15 July 2020 |author= Sadler, Rachel |newspaper=[[Newshub]] |access-date= 14 July 2020 |date= 14 July 2020}}</ref> Kaye, who served as interim leader during the hours between Muller's resignation and Collins's election, was succeeded by [[Gerry Brownlee]]. Collins led the party through the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 election]], but was unable to recoup polling losses seen by the party throughout 2020 in time for the election, leading to the party losing 23 seats and suffering the second worst defeat in its history. Brownlee, who was the party campaign manager, lost his [[Ilam (New Zealand electorate)|electorate seat]], returning as an MP via the party list and resigning as deputy leader two weeks later; he was replaced by [[Shane Reti]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manch |first1=Thomas |last2=Cooke |first2=Henry |title=Shane Reti elected unopposed as new deputy leader of the National Party |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/123350020/shane-reti-elected-unopposed-as-new-deputy-leader-of-the-national-party |access-date=2 February 2024 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=10 November 2020}}</ref>

[[File:Christopher Luxon (52535372229) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Smiling bald white man in suit|[[Christopher Luxon]] has served as the party's leader since November 2021]]On 1 February 2021, Collins announced that the National Party would contest the [[Māori electorates]] at the [[2023 New Zealand general election]].<ref>{{cite news |title=National leader Judith Collins explains why party will contest Māori seats |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-leader-judith-collins-explains-why-party-will-contest-maori-seats/W5EO376OVU52GLZRAEJFTRSF7Y/ |access-date=1 February 2021 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=1 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201104232/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/national-leader-judith-collins-explains-why-party-will-contest-maori-seats/W5EO376OVU52GLZRAEJFTRSF7Y/|archive-date=1 February 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> Her successor [[Christopher Luxon]] confirmed they would still be contesting the seats under his leadership.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Christopher Luxon says National will stand candidates in Maori Electorate seats |language=en |work=[[Newshub]] |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/christopher-luxon-says-national-will-stand-candidates-on-maori-electorate-seats.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306222404/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2022/03/christopher-luxon-says-national-will-stand-candidates-on-maori-electorate-seats.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 March 2022 |access-date=1 July 2022}}</ref>

On 24 November 2021, Collins announced that Bridges was being demoted and stripped of his portfolios, in what was seen by many inside and outside the caucus (including National MP and Bridges' brother in-law [[Simon O'Connor]]) as an act of political revenge.<ref>{{cite news |title=Simon Bridges demoted by Judith Collins over alleged historical comments to a female colleague |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300462440/simon-bridges-demoted-by-judith-collins-over-alleged-historical-comments-to-a-female-colleague |access-date=25 November 2021 | work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=National MP Simon O'Connor says Judith Collins must resign over 'appalling' behaviour |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300462679/national-mp-simon-oconnor-says-judith-collins-must-resign-over-appalling-behaviour |access-date=25 November 2021 | work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref> O'Connor later announced that he was resigning his portfolios in protest, and demanded Collins' own resignation. Collins was removed as leader in an emergency caucus meeting the following morning, with Reti becoming interim leader.<ref>{{cite news |title=Judith Collins' attempt to 'rule by fear' contributes to ousting, National ex-MP says |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300463061/judith-collins-attempt-to-rule-by-fear-contributes-to-ousting-national-exmp-says |access-date=25 November 2021 | work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 November 2021 |title=Judith Collins removed as National Party leader |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/456496/judith-collins-removed-as-national-party-leader |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=[[RNZ]] |language=en-nz}}</ref> Christopher Luxon was [[2021 New Zealand National Party leadership election|elected unopposed]], with [[Nicola Willis (politician)|Nicola Willis]] as his deputy, after Simon Bridges withdrew his candidacy.<ref>{{cite news |title=National leadership: Christopher Luxon elected leader, Nicola Willis deputy |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300466529/national-leadership-christopher-luxon-elected-leader-nicola-willis-deputy |access-date=30 November 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=30 November 2021}}</ref>

===Sixth Government (2023–present)===
{{Main|Sixth National Government of New Zealand}}
During the [[2023 New Zealand general election|2023 general election]] held on 14 October, National under the leadership of Christopher Luxon defeated the incumbent Labour Party.<ref name="9 News 2023 victory" /> National won 38.08% of the popular vote and gained 48 seats.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official count – Overall Results |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/ |publisher=[[Electoral Commission (New Zealand)|Electoral Commission]] |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107112928/https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/ |archive-date=7 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> National's traditional coalition partner ACT won 11 seats, leaving a prospective National–ACT coalition just short of a majority with 59 seats.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Corlett |first1=Eva |title=New Zealand abandons Labour and shifts to the right as country votes for wholesale change |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/14/new-zealand-election-2023-results-national-party-labour- |access-date=19 October 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=14 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018002814/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/14/new-zealand-election-2023-results-national-party-labour- |archive-date=18 October 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> National formed a majority government with ACT and New Zealand First, the first three-party coalition under MMP.<ref>{{cite news |title='Strong, productive, unified': Luxon sworn in as PM |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/national-nz-first-act-coalition-christopher-luxon-to-be-sworn-in-as-prime-minister-today-along-with-ministers-new-government-kicks-into-gear/4ACAOUV6RBBOPJTNUJBF3UWYLM/ |access-date=28 November 2023 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=28 November 2023 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>