The deputy prime minister of New Zealand () is the second-most senior member of the Cabinet of New Zealand. The officeholder usually deputises for the prime minister at official functions. Since 31 May 2025, the current deputy prime minister is David Seymour of 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. This means that Keith Holyoake is considered the first deputy prime minister. It was formally designated as a full cabinet level position in 1954.
Appointment and duties The post of deputy prime minister was formally established in 1949.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. 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.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. 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 minister if the prime minister is unavailable or unable. They can also do the same as acting prime minister, in consultation with the prime minister if it is appropriate and practicable. 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.
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; once with Jim Anderton, leader of the Alliance; and once with David Seymour, leader of ACT New Zealand. 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).
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. 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.
List of deputy prime ministers of New Zealand Key
No.PortraitNameTerm of officeConcurrent portfolio(s)Prime Minister1Keith HolyoakeMP for Pahiatua(1904–1983)13 December 194920 September 1957 Minister of Agriculture Holland2Jack MarshallMP for Karori(1912–1988)20 September 195712 December 1957 Attorney-General Minister of Justice Holyoake3Jerry SkinnerMP for Buller(1900–1962)12 December 195712 December 1960 Minister of Agriculture Minister of Lands Nash(2)Jack MarshallMP for Karori(1912–1988)12 December 19609 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) Holyoake4Robert MuldoonMP for Tamaki(1921–1992)9 February 19728 December 1972 Minister of Finance Marshall5Hugh WattMP for Onehunga(1912–1980)8 December 19721 September 1974 Minister of Labour Minister of Works (until 1974) Kirk6Bob TizardMP for Otahuhu(1924–2016)10 September 197412 December 1975 Minister of Finance Rowling7Brian TalboysMP for Wallace(1921–2012)12 December 19754 March 1981 Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Overseas TradeMuldoon8Duncan MacIntyreMP for East Cape(1915–2001)4 March 198115 March 1984 Minister of Agriculture9Jim McLayMP for Birkenhead(born 1945)15 March 198426 July 1984 Attorney-General Minister of Justice10Geoffrey PalmerMP for Christchurch Central(born 1942)26 July 19848 August 1989 Attorney-General Minister of Justice Leader of the House (until 1987) Minister for the Environment (from 1987) Lange11Helen ClarkMP for Mount Albert(born 1950)8 August 19892 November 1990 Minister of Health Minister of Labour Palmer Moore12Don McKinnonMP for Albany(born 1939)2 November 199016 December 1996 Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Overseas Trade Leader of the House (from 1993)Bolger13Winston PetersMP for Tauranga(born 1945)16 December 199614 August 1998 TreasurerShipley14Wyatt CreechMP for Wairarapa(born 1946)14 August 199810 December 1999 Leader of the House (until 1998) Minister of Education (until 1999) Minister of Health (from 1999)15Jim AndertonMP for Wigram(1938–2018)10 December 199915 August 2002 Minister of Economic Development Minister of Consumer Affairs (from 2001) Minister of Customs (from 2001)Clark16Michael CullenList MP(1945–2021)15 August 200219 November 2008 Minister of Finance Leader of the House Treasurer Minister of Revenue (until 2005) Attorney-General (2005, 2006–2008)17Bill EnglishMP for Clutha-Southland (until 2014)List MP (from 2014)(born 1961)19 November 200812 December 2016 Minister of Finance Minister for Infrastructure (until 2011) Key18Paula BennettMP for Upper Harbour(born 1969)12 December 201626 October 2017 Minister of State Services Minister of Tourism Minister for Climate Change Issues Minister of Police Minister for Women English(13)Winston PetersList MP(born 1945)26 October 20176 November 2020 Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for Racing Minister for State Owned Enterprises Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control (from 2018)Ardern19Grant RobertsonMP for Wellington Central(born 1971)6 November 202025 January 2023 Minister of Finance Minister for Infrastructure Minister for Sport and Recreation Minister for Racing (until 2022)20Carmel SepuloniMP for Kelston(born 1977)25 January 202327 November 2023 Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Minister for Social Development and Employment Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety Minister for Auckland Hipkins (13)Winston PetersList MP(born 1945)27 November 202331 May 2025 Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister for Racing Minister for Rail (from 2024) Luxon21David SeymourMP for Epsom(born 1983)31 May 2025Incumbent Minister for Regulation
Timeline
Notes
References
External links