- Date:
- 1936 - present
New Zealand National Party
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What is the New Zealand National Party?
The New Zealand National Party was founded in 1936 through the merging of multiple non-Labour groups, most notably the United Party and the Reform Party, which had been in coalition since 1931. The Reform Party was a conservative organization that held control of the national government from 1912 to 1928. The United Party was formed in 1927 as the successor to the Liberal Party. The National Party supports free-market economic policies and draws votes heavily from suburban and rural districts. Christopher Luxon, who became prime minister in 2023, is the current leader of the National Party.
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When was the New Zealand National Party formed?
The New Zealand National Party was founded in 1936 through the merging of several non-Labour groups, most notably the United Party and the Reform Party, which had been in coalition since 1931. The Reform Party was a conservative organization that held control of the national government from 1912 to 1928. The United Party was formed in 1927 as the successor to the Liberal Party.
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What are the main beliefs or values of the New Zealand National Party?
The New Zealand National Party was founded in 1936 through the merging of non-Labour groups New Zealand National Party. The party supports free-market economic policies and typically draws votes from suburban and rural districts.
The National Party's traditional support base lies in rural and affluent urban districts, as well as among those involved in business and management. Over time, the ideological differences between the National and Labour parties have become more complex.
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How does the National Party differ from other major political parties in New Zealand?
The New Zealand National Party was founded in 1936 through the merger of several non-Labour parties. It supports free-market economic policies and typically gains the majority of its votes from suburban and rural districts.
While the mixed-member proportional (MMP) system has boosted smaller parties, the National and Labour Parties remain New Zealand's major political players. National's traditional support base lies in rural and affluent urban districts and among those in business and management. Over time, both parties have broadened their electoral bases, and ideological differentiation has become complex.
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Who are some important leaders of the National Party, both past and present?
The New Zealand National Party was formed in 1936 through the merger of non-Labour groups. Since then, several leaders have headed the party, including:
- Sidney Holland: Served as prime minister from 1949 to 1957.
- Keith Jacka Holyoake: Served as prime minister from 1960 to 1972.
- Robert Muldoon: Served as prime minister from 1975 to 1984.
- James Bolger: Led the party back to power in 1990 and served as prime minister until 1997.
- Jennifer Shipley: Became the country's first female prime minister in 1997.
- John Key: Led the National Party to victory in 2008 and served as prime minister until 2016.
- Bill English: Served as prime minister from 2016 to 2017.
- Christopher Luxon: Became leader of the National Party in November 2021 and prime minister in 2023.
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How has the National Party influenced New Zealand's government and society over time?
The New Zealand National Party was founded in 1936 through the merger of several non-Labour groups. After 35 years as New Zealand’s dominant party, internal divisions kept them out of office in the mid-1980s until 1990, when they returned to power under James Bolger.
The National Party supports free-market economic policies and draws votes heavily from suburban and rural districts. From 1949 to 1984, the party held office for three terms and then suffered internal divisions in the mid-1980s. In 1990, the party campaigned for reduced government spending on social programs and the elimination of compulsory unionism, but pledged to maintain New Zealand’s antinuclear stance. Following the 2020 election, the National Party experienced a significant setback, losing 21 seats.
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New Zealand National Party, political party founded in 1936 in the merger of non-Labour groups, most notably the United Party and the Reform Party, two parties that had been in coalition since 1931. It supports free-market economic policies and draws votes heavily from suburban and rural districts.
The Reform Party, the full name of which was the New Zealand Political Reform League, was a conservative organization that held control of the national government from 1912 to 1928. The United Party, formed in 1927, was the successor to the Liberal Party, dating to the 1890s and formally established in 1905. The new United Party was surprisingly successful in the elections of 1928 and formed a government, under Joseph Ward. A United-Reform coalition government was established in 1931 only to lose disastrously to the New Zealand Labour Party in the 1935 elections. Leaders of the right-wing parties deemed that the only way to revive conservative hopes was to unite their various groups, which separately had been dissipating their strength. The New Zealand National Party was thus born in 1936. The road back was slow, and not until 1949 did it win back the government. For the next 35 years, however, it was New Zealand’s dominant party, holding office for the periods 1949–57, 1960–72, and 1975–84.
In the mid-1980s the party suffered from internal divisions, which kept it out of office until 1990, when it returned to power under James Bolger. Though the party remained in power until 1999, it split in 1993, when a former National Party minister formed the New Zealand First Party. In 1994 Bolger formed a coalition after the defection of one of his party’s members of Parliament. In 1997 Bolger was replaced as prime minister and party leader by Jennifer Shipley, the country’s first female prime minister. In 1999 the party was ousted from government by a Labour-led coalition. After the subsequent National leaders—Bill English (2001–03) and Don Brash (2003–06)—failed to return the party to power, John Key became head of the party in 2006. Two years later he led the National Party to victory over the Labour Party. Key remained as prime minister when the National Party won a historic victory in 2011, capturing the largest share of the vote any party had won since the introduction of mixed-member proportional representation in 1996. Key led the party to another victory in the 2014 election. However, he resigned suddenly in December 2016 and was replaced as party leader and prime minister by English. The National Party won the most seats (56) in the House of Representatives in the 2017 general election but not enough to form a majority government. Both the National Party and the Labour Party sought the support necessary to undertake coalition rule. After protracted negotiations, Labour formed a coalition government with the New Zealand First party. The 2020 national election proved to be disastrous for the National Party. It lost 21 seats as Labour registered a landslide victory.
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