Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand

The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand is second most senior officer in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate into power.

Generally, the position is held by the deputy leader of the ruling party, but now that the MMP electoral system makes coalitions more likely, the role may increasingly go to the leader of a junior party. This occured with Winston Peters, leader of the New Zealand First Party, and Jim Anderton, leader of the Alliance.

The post of Deputy Prime Minister was established in 1949. Since then, sixteen people have held the position (one of them doing so twice). Of those people, only Holyoake, Marshall, Muldoon, Palmer, and Clark have eventually served as Prime Minister.

Name PM Served Took Office Left Office Party

1 Keith Holyoake Sidney Holland 13 December 1949 20 September 1957 National

2 Jack Marshall Keith Holyoake 20 September 1957 12 December 1957 National

3 Clarence Skinner Walter Nash 12 December 1957 12 December 1960 Labour

Jack Marshall, 2nd time Keith Holyoake 12 December 1960 9 February 1972 National

4 Robert Muldoon Jack Marshall 9 February 1972 8 December 1972 National

5 Hugh Watt Norman Kirk, Bill Rowling 8 December 1972 10 September 1974 Labour

6 Bob Tizard Bill Rowling 10 September 1974 12 December 1975 Labour

7 Brian Talboys Robert Muldoon 12 December 1975 4 March 1981 National

8 Duncan MacIntyre Robert Muldoon 4 March 1981 15 March 1984 National

9 Jim McLay Robert Muldoon 15 March 1984 26 July 1984 National

10 Geoffrey Palmer David Lange 26 July 1984 8 August 1989 Labour

11 Helen Clark Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore 8 August 1989 2 November 1990 Labour

12 Don McKinnon Jim Bolger 2 November 1990 16 December 1996 National

13 Winston Peters Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley 16 December 1996 14 August 1998 New Zealand First

14 Wyatt Creech Jenny Shipley 14 August 1998 5 December 1999 National

15 Jim Anderton Helen Clark 5 December 1999 15 August 2002 Alliance

16 Michael Cullen Helen Clark 15 August 2002 (present) Labour

	Name	PM Served	Took Office	Left Office	Party
1	Keith Holyoake	Sidney Holland	13 December 1949	20 September 1957	National
2	Jack Marshall	Keith Holyoake	20 September 1957	12 December 1957	National
3	Clarence Skinner	Walter Nash	12 December 1957	12 December 1960	Labour
	Jack Marshall, 2nd time	Keith Holyoake	12 December 1960	9 February 1972	National
4	Robert Muldoon	Jack Marshall	9 February 1972	8 December 1972	National
5	Hugh Watt	Norman Kirk, Bill Rowling	8 December 1972	10 September 1974	Labour
6	Bob Tizard	Bill Rowling	10 September 1974	12 December 1975	Labour
7	Brian Talboys	Robert Muldoon	12 December 1975	4 March 1981	National
8	Duncan MacIntyre	Robert Muldoon	4 March 1981	15 March 1984	National
9	Jim McLay	Robert Muldoon	15 March 1984	26 July 1984	National
10	Geoffrey Palmer	David Lange	26 July 1984	8 August 1989	Labour
11	Helen Clark	Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore	8 August 1989	2 November 1990	Labour
12	Don McKinnon	Jim Bolger	2 November 1990	16 December 1996	National
13	Winston Peters	Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley	16 December 1996	14 August 1998	New Zealand First
14	Wyatt Creech	Jenny Shipley	14 August 1998	5 December 1999	National
15	Jim Anderton	Helen Clark	5 December 1999	15 August 2002	Alliance
16	Michael Cullen	Helen Clark	15 August 2002	(present)	Labour