The president of the New Zealand Labour Party is the highest-ranked organisational figure within the New Zealand Labour Party. The president heads the party apparatus outside of parliament, serving as the chairperson of both the party's council and policy council. Since 2022, the office has been held by Jill Day.
Selection The president is elected by the party delegates at the Labour Party annual conference or, if an early vacancy occurs, a by-election via postal ballot.
Role While the party leader is responsible for leading the Labour Party's political agenda and representing Labour in parliament, the president is responsible for managing the party's internal affairs and ensuring that the party is organised and compliant with relevant laws and regulations.
The president is the chair of the party's governing body, the New Zealand Council, and presides of its meetings and functions. Additionally the president chairs Labour's policy council and party list moderating committee. The president is paid an honorarium for their services.
History The post of president of the Labour Party was officially created upon the party's inception in 1916, the inaugural holder was James McCombs. The longest serving president was James Roberts serving 13 years consecutively from 1937 to 1950. The first Māori holder was Charles Bennett (1973–76). Margaret Wilson was the first woman to be elected president in 1984.
List of presidents The following is a complete list of Labour Party presidents:
No.PresidentPortraitPrior/concurrent officeTerm of OfficeLeader 1 James McCombs MP for 7 July 1916 9 July 1917Hindmarsh 2 Andrew Walker MP for 9 July 1917 11 July 1918 3 Tom Paul Member of the Legislative Council 11 July 1918 12 July 1920Holland 4 Peter Fraser MP for 12 July 1920 15 July 1921 5 Frederick Cooke Vice-president of the Labour Party 15 July 1921 7 July 1922 6 Tom Brindle Vice-president of the Waterside Workers Union 7 July 1922 7 April 1926 7 Bob Semple MP for 7 April 1926 12 April 1928 8 John Archer Mayor of Christchurch 12 April 1928 3 April 1929 9 Jim Thorn Vice-president of the Labour Party 3 April 1929 8 April 1931 10 Rex Mason MP for 8 April 1931 29 March 1932 11 Bill Jordan MP for 29 March 1932 18 April 1933 12 Frank Langstone MP for 18 April 1933 3 April 1934 Savage 13 Tim Armstrong MP for 3 April 1934 24 April 1935 14 Walter Nash MP for 24 April 1935 14 April 1936 15 Clyde Carr MP for 14 April 1936 30 March 1937 16 James Roberts Vice-president of the Labour Party 30 March 1937 9 May 1950 Fraser 17 Arnold Nordmeyer MP for 9 May 1950 17 May 1955 Nash 18 Mick Moohan MP for 17 May 1955 8 June 1960 19 Martyn Finlay Vice-president of the Labour Party 8 June 1960 12 May 1964 Nordmeyer 20 Norman Kirk MP for 12 May 1964 11 May 1966 Kirk 21 Norman Douglas MP for 11 May 1966 5 May 1970 22 Bill Rowling MP for 5 May 1970 8 May 1973 23 Charles Bennett Vice-president of the Labour Party 8 May 1973 11 May 1976 Rowling 24 Arthur Faulkner MP for 11 May 1976 15 May 1979 25 Jim Anderton Auckland Regional Councillor 15 May 1979 8 September 1984 Lange 26 Margaret Wilson Vice-chair of the Association of University Teachers 8 September 1984 9 November 1987 27 Rex Jones National Secretary of the EPMU 9 November 1987 5 September 1988 28 Ruth Dyson Vice-president of the Labour Party 5 September 1988 18 April 1993 Palmer Moore 29 Maryan Street Vice-president of the Labour Party 18 April 1993 November 1995 Clark 30 Michael Hirschfeld CEO of Mico Wakefield November 1995 5 January 1999 31 Bob Harvey Mayor of Waitakere 16 February 1999 19 November 2000 32 Mike Williams 1999 Election Campaign Manager 19 November 2000 2 March 2009 Goff 33 Andrew Little National Secretary of the EPMU 2 March 2009 2 April 2011 34 Moira Coatsworth Vice-president of the Labour Party 2 April 2011 26 November 2014 Shearer Cunliffe Little 35 Nigel Haworth President of University Staff of New Zealand 27 February 2015 11 September 2019 Ardern - Tracey McLellan Vice-president of the Labour Party 11 September 2019 30 November 2019 36 Claire Szabó CEO of Habitat for Humanity 30 November 2019 5 November 2022 37 Jill Day Deputy Mayor of Wellington 5 November 2022 presentHipkins
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