| Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
|---|---|
| Ministry | |
 | |
| Incumbent: Helen Clark | |
| Style: | |
| Appointed by: | Anand Satyanand as Governor-General of New Zealand |
| First : | Henry Sewell As Colonial Secretary |
| Formation: | 7 May 1856 |
| New Zealand |
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The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Helen Elizabeth Clark (born 26 February 1950 is the 37th and current Prime Minister of New Zealand. Anand "Satch" Satyanand, PCNZM, QSO (born 22 July 1944) is the Governor-General of New Zealand. The Governor-General of New Zealand (Te Kawana Tianara o Aotearoa is the representative of the Sovereign in right of New Zealand (currently Queen Henry Sewell (1807 - 1879 was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician The Colonial Secretary of New Zealand was an office established in 1840 and abolished in 1907 Events 558 - In Constantinople, the dome of the Hagia Sophia collapses Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The politics of New Zealand takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Monarchy. The constitution of New Zealand consists of a collection of statutes ( Acts of Parliament) Treaties Orders-in-Council, Letters patent, decisions of the In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. TalkCommonewalth realm.--> New Zealand For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II The Governor-General of New Zealand (Te Kawana Tianara o Aotearoa is the representative of the Sovereign in right of New Zealand (currently Queen Anand "Satch" Satyanand, PCNZM, QSO (born 22 July 1944) is the Governor-General of New Zealand. The Executive Council of New Zealand is the body which legally serves the functions of the Cabinet. The New Zealand Cabinet functions as the policy and decision-making body of the Executive branch within the New Zealand government system Helen Elizabeth Clark (born 26 February 1950 is the 37th and current Prime Minister of New Zealand. A legislature is a type of representative Deliberative assembly with the power to create amend and change Laws The law created by a legislature is called Legislation The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and until 1951 the New Zealand Legislative Council The New Zealand House of Representatives is the Legislature of New Zealand. In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body the New Zealand House of Representatives Margaret Wilson (born 20 May 1947) a New Zealand politician currently serves as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. The Official Opposition in New Zealand is usually the largest Political party or coalition which is not a member of the ruling Government. The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who at least in theory commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand John Phillip Key (born 9 August 1961) is a New Zealand politician and member of the New Zealand House of Representatives, representing Members of New Zealand 's House of Representatives, commonly called " Parliament " normally gain their parliamentary seats through nationwide general In 1993 New Zealand adopted Mixed member proportional as its electoral system for the House of Representatives after many years of First-past-the-post In New Zealand, an electorate is a voting district for Parliamentary elections Referendums (or referenda) are held only occasionally by the government of New Zealand. In Law, the judiciary or judicial system is the system of Courts which administer Justice in the name of the sovereign or State The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court in the land and the Court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence at the beginning The Chief Justice of New Zealand is the head of the New Zealand judiciary and presides over the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Dame Sian Seerpoohi Elias, GNZM, QC (born March 13 1949) is the Chief Justice of New Zealand, and is therefore the most The Court of Appeal of New Zealand, located in Wellington, is New Zealand ’s principal intermediate Appellate court. The High Court of New Zealand was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court until 1980 The District Courts of New Zealand ( Māori: Ngā Kōti ā Rōhe) are low-level Trial courts in New Zealand. The Māori Land Court ( Māori: Te Kooti Whenua Māori) is the specialist court in New Zealand that hears matters relating to Māori land The region is the top tier of Local government in New Zealand. Territorial authorities are the second tier of Local government in New Zealand, below regional councils. See also Independent city A unitary authority is a type of Local authority that has a single tier and is responsible for all Local government functions The following is a list of New Zealand Politicians, both past and present New Zealand national politics feature a pervasive Party system. This page lists a number of articles relating to issues ideas and events in New Zealand politics. Māori politics is the Politics of the Māori people who were the original inhabitants of New Zealand and who are now the country's largest minority The foreign relations of New Zealand are oriented chiefly toward developed democratic nations and emerging Pacific economies Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and until 1951 the New Zealand Legislative Council Since 5 December 1999, the Prime Minister has been Helen Clark of the Labour Party. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Helen Elizabeth Clark (born 26 February 1950 is the 37th and current Prime Minister of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party
The title "Prime Minister" had made its first formal appearance in the 1873 Schedule of the Civil List Act, but originally the Prime Minister was entitled Colonial Secretary or First Minister. The Colonial Secretary of New Zealand was an office established in 1840 and abolished in 1907 This was formally changed in 1869 to "Premier". However, this title too did not last, being informally changed by Richard Seddon to "Prime Minister" in 1901 during his tenure in office, due to New Zealand's self-exclusion from the Federation of Australia[1]. Richard John Seddon ( 27 April 1845 - 10 June 1906) sometimes known as King Dick, was the longest serving Prime Minister Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Following the declaration of New Zealand as a Dominion in 1907, the term "Prime Minister" has been used exclusively. The Dominion of New Zealand is the former name of the Realm of New Zealand.
The Prime Minister is supported by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, their official residence is Premier House, Tinakori Road, Wellington. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet of New Zealand (often known by its acronym DPMC) is the department charged with supporting the Prime Minister Premier House is in Tinakori Road Wellington, New Zealand, and is the official residence of the Prime Minister of New Zealand.
Responsibilities and powers
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The role of the Prime Minister is not formally defined, being based on constitutional convention rather than specific legislation. According to these conventions, the Prime Minister is leader of Cabinet (itself a body existing by convention), and takes a co-ordinating role. The New Zealand Cabinet functions as the policy and decision-making body of the Executive branch within the New Zealand government system
The Prime Minister is regarded by convention as "first among equals". Primus inter pares ( Latin) or First among equals is a phrase which indicates that a person is the most senior of a group of people He or she does indeed hold the most senior post in the administration, but is also required to adhere to any decisions taken by Cabinet. The actual ability of a Prime Minister to give direct orders is surprisingly limited; most of the position's power comes about through other means, such as:
- The ability to set the Cabinet agenda, thereby controlling what issues will be discussed.
- The ability to appoint and dismiss ministers. The extent to which this power can be exercised varies between different parties; the Labour Party, for example, places most of this responsibility in the hands of the Caucus, leaving the Prime Minister only with the power to choose which portfolios a minister is given. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party Furthermore, the MMP electoral system has complicated this, as the Prime Minister may have to consult with another party leader. In 1993 New Zealand adopted Mixed member proportional as its electoral system for the House of Representatives after many years of First-past-the-post
- The influence a Prime Minister is likely to have as leader of the dominant party. These powers may give him or her more direct control over subordinates than is attached to the Prime Minister's role itself.
- The power gained simply from being central to most significant decision-making, and from being able to comment on and criticise any decisions taken by other ministers.
The Prime Minister can call elections by notifying the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament. The Governor-General of New Zealand (Te Kawana Tianara o Aotearoa is the representative of the Sovereign in right of New Zealand (currently Queen The New Zealand House of Representatives is the Legislature of New Zealand. The Governor-General may reject this advice should an alternative government exist, but so far none have done so.
The post of Prime Minister is, like other ministerial positions, an appointment by the Governor-General "during the Queen's pleasure". However, the convention has long since been established that the Prime Minister must have and retain the support of a majority of Members of Parliament. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a Parliament. Historically, this has meant that the Prime Minister is the parliamentary leader of the largest political party in the House of Representatives. The New Zealand House of Representatives is the Legislature of New Zealand.
The Prime Minister also indirectly holds the power to appoint and recall the Governor-General. By constitutional convention, only the Prime Minister has the right to tender advice to the Sovereign on nominations for the office, and so in effect the Prime Minister may appoint the Governor-General. The Prime Minister may also advise the Queen to recall (dismiss) the Governor-General, so long as the Prime Minister has the support of the House of Representatives, although this power has never been exercised by a Prime Minister in New Zealand (three of the first Governors, however, were recalled).
Within the last fifty years, a convention has also developed of appointing a Deputy Prime Minister. A Deputy Prime Minister or Vice Prime Minister is in some countries a government minister who can take the position of acting Prime Minister when the The Deputy typically holds important ministerial portfolios and becomes Acting Prime Minister in the absence or incapacitation of the Prime Minister. The Deputy is commonly a member of the same party as the Prime Minister, but not necessarily so; in coalition Governments, the parliamentary leader of a support party may be offered the post.
History of the office
The exact origins of the office of Prime Minister are disputed. Use of the words "prime minister" as a descriptive term date back to the 1st Parliament, where they are applied to James FitzGerald and Thomas Forsaith. The 1st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. James FitzGerald may refer to James FitzGerald James FitzMaurice FitzGerald James Newbury FitzGerald, American bishop Thomas Spencer Forsaith (1814 - 1898 was a New Zealand Politician and an Auckland draper FitzGerald and Forsaith had no official titles, however, and New Zealand had not yet obtained self-rule. As such, they are not usually considered Prime Ministers in any substantive sense.
The first person to be formally appointed to a position of leadership was Henry Sewell, who formed a government at the beginning of the Second Parliament. Henry Sewell (1807 - 1879 was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician The 2nd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. Despite his formal leadership role, however, his only actual title was Colonial Secretary. His successor, William Fox, was also given a formal leadership role, but was not Colonial Secretary. Sir William Fox, KCMG (1812 &ndash 23 June 1893) served as Premier of New Zealand on four occasions in the 19th century while New It was not until Frederick Weld, the sixth person appointed to formal leadership, that a substantive leadership title – Premier – appeared. Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld, GCMG (1823 &ndash 1891 was a New Zealand politician and a governor of various British colonies Weld's successor, Edward Stafford, briefly changed the title to First Minister but it was soon afterwards restored to Premier by William Fox. Edward Stafford may refer to Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1478&ndash1521 brother of Henry VIII's mistress Anne Stafford executed for treason From that point, Premier became the usual designation. Towards the end of the nineteenth century the term Prime Minister arose as a common alternative to Premier and Richard Seddon used the title almost exclusively. Richard John Seddon ( 27 April 1845 - 10 June 1906) sometimes known as King Dick, was the longest serving Prime Minister Seddon's successor, William Hall-Jones, was officially appointed Prime Minister rather than Premier. Sir William Hall-Jones, KCMG ( 16 January 1851 - 19 June 1936) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from June The title "Prime Minister" has been used ever since.
Assuming that Sewell is counted as the first Prime Minister, thirty-seven people have held the office since it was established. Some of these people have held it on several different occasions, with the record for maximum number of times being shared between William Fox and Harry Atkinson (both of whom served four times). Sir William Fox, KCMG (1812 &ndash 23 June 1893) served as Premier of New Zealand on four occasions in the 19th century while New Henry Albert Atkinson (Known as Harry 1 November 1831 - 28 June 1892) served as Premier of New Zealand on four separate The longest that anyone has served in the office is thirteen years, a record set by Richard Seddon. Richard John Seddon ( 27 April 1845 - 10 June 1906) sometimes known as King Dick, was the longest serving Prime Minister The first holder of the office, Henry Sewell, led the country for the shortest total time; his only term lasted only thirteen days (the shortest term actually belonged to Harry Atkinson, whose third term lasted only seven days, but Atkinson served longer than Sewell in total). Henry Sewell (1807 - 1879 was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician The youngest to hold office was Edward Stafford, who was 37 years old when he became Premier in 1856. Edward Stafford may refer to Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1478&ndash1521 brother of Henry VIII's mistress Anne Stafford executed for treason The oldest was Walter Nash, who was 75 years old in 1957. Sir Walter Nash, GCMG, CH ( 12 February 1882 &ndash 4 June 1968) served as Prime Minister of the Second
New Zealand is also one of the few countries in the world to have had two female heads of government, and one of only two countries to have two female heads of government directly succeed the other. This article focuses on the cases where the Head of Government is a separate office from the Head of State
Time line
See also
References
- ^ Prime Minister: The Title "Premier". This is a list of Prime Ministers of New Zealand. This includes people who held the title Colonial Secretary and Premier, the direct The following is a list of Prime Ministers of New Zealand ranked by their total term in office (multiple terms are added together to give the total term in office Te Ara - An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand, 1966. Retrieved on 2007-08-27. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 479 BC - Greco-Persian Wars: Persian forces led by Mardonius are routed by Pausanias, the Spartan
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