The leader of the Labour Party is the highest-ranked political position within the New Zealand Labour Party, who serves as the parliamentary leader and leading spokesperson of the party. The current leader is Chris Hipkins, after Jacinda Ardern resigned.

History The post of leader of the Labour Party was officially created upon the party's inception in 1916, though the title "leader" was often substituted and/or complemented with the title "chairman". At the 1935 election, Michael Joseph Savage led the Labour Party to victory, becoming the first Labour prime minister. In 1963, Arnold Nordmeyer became the first New Zealand-born leader of the party; three previous leaders had been born in Australia and one each in England and Scotland. The most electorally successful Labour leader to date is Helen Clark, who won three elections, in 1999, 2002 and 2005. Clark is also the party's longest-serving leader, having served for 14 years, 346 days between 1993 and 2008. Peter Fraser is the longest-serving Labour prime minister, serving 9 years, 261 days between 1940 and 1949.

Selection A leadership candidate must be a member of parliament (MP). A new leader is elected whenever a vacancy arises, whether due to resignation, incapacitation, or following a motion of no confidence by the parliamentary caucus.

The current election rules were adopted in 2021, replacing earlier rules adopted in 2012. Candidates need 10% of the caucus to nominate. The caucus votes via exhaustive ballot (absent MPs can vote by proxy), and a candidate requires the support of two-thirds of the caucus to be elected. If no one can get two-thirds the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated. If there are two candidates left and neither got two-thirds, there may be multiple rounds of voting to identify a consensus candidate. If one cannot be found then the leadership is determined by an electoral college comprising the caucus (40% of the total vote), party members (40%) and affiliated trade unions (20%).

No later than three months following a general election, there must be a caucus vote to endorse the leader. If they fail to receive endorsement then the position of party leader is vacated and an election is triggered.

Role When the Labour Party forms the Parliamentary Opposition, as is the case now, the party leader commonly takes on the position of the leader of the Opposition and chairs a Shadow Cabinet. Likewise, when the party is in Government, the leader typically becomes the prime minister.

Unique to Labour, the party's caucus possesses the right to elect MPs to Cabinet, rather than the leader choosing them. The practice began following the 1940 leadership election. Michael Joseph Savage was the only leader to solely appoint his own cabinet following the election victories in 1935 and 1938.

List of leaders

The following is a complete list of Labour Party leaders (including acting leaders):

Key:

PM: Prime Minister LO: Leader of the Opposition †: Died in office

No.Leader(Birth–Death)PortraitElectorateTerm BeganTerm EndedTime in officePositionPrime Minister 1 Alfred Hindmarsh(1860–1918) Wellington South 7 July 1916 13 November 1918† —Massey2Harry Holland(1868–1933)Grey (1918–19)Buller (1919–33)27 August 19198 October 1933† —Bell LO 1926–1928Coates Junior coalition partner1928–1931Ward LO 1931–1933Forbes3Michael Joseph Savage(1872–1940)Auckland West12 October 193327 March 1940† LO 1933–1935 PM 1935–1940 himself4Peter Fraser(1884–1950)Wellington Central (1918–46)Brooklyn (1946–50)1 April 194012 December 1950† PM 1940–1949 himself LO 1949–1950Holland5Walter Nash(1882–1968)Hutt17 January 195131 March 1963LO 1951–1957Holyoake PM 1957–1960 himself LO 1960–1963Holyoake 6 Arnold Nordmeyer(1901–1989) Island Bay 1 April 1963 16 December 1965 LO 1963–19657Norman Kirk(1923–1974)Lyttelton (1957–69)Sydenham (1969–74)16 December 196531 August 1974†LO 1965–1972Marshall PM 1972–1974 himself – Hugh WattDeputy leader who assumed the role of party leader temporarily because of the death or resignation of the incumbent, serving until the election of a new leader.(1912–1980) Onehunga 31 August 1974 6 September 1974 7 days PM 1974 himself8Bill Rowling(1927–1995)Tasman6 September 19743 February 1983 PM 1974–1975 himself LO 1975–1983Muldoon9David Lange(1942–2005)Mangere3 February 19838 August 1989 LO 1983–1984 PM 1984–1989 himself 10 Geoffrey Palmer(born 1942) Christchurch Central 8 August 1989 4 September 1990 PM 1989–1990 himself11Mike Moore(1949–2020)Christchurch North4 September 19901 December 1993 PM 1990 himself LO 1990–1993Bolger12Helen Clark(born 1950)Mount Albert1 December 199311 November 2008LO 1993–1999Shipley PM 1999–2008 herself 13 Phil Goff(born 1953) Mount Roskill 11 November 2008 13 December 2011 LO 2008–2011Key 14 David Shearer(born 1957) Mount Albert 13 December 2011 15 September 2013 LO 2011–2013 15 David Cunliffe(born 1963) New Lynn 15 September 2013 30 September 2014 LO 2013–2014 – David Parker(born 1960) List MP 30 September 2014 18 November 2014 LO 201416Andrew Little(born 1965)List MP18 November 20141 August 2017LO 2014–2017English17Jacinda Ardern(born 1980)Mount Albert1 August 201722 January 2023 LO 2017 PM 2017–2023 herself18Chris HipkinsRemutaka22 January 2023 Incumbent PM 2023 himself LO 2023–presentLuxon

Timeline

See also Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party Leader of the New Zealand National Party Co-leaders of the Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand Leader of ACT New Zealand Leader of the Australian Labor Party :Category:New Zealand Labour Party leadership elections

References