Leader of the New Zealand National Party

Leader of the National Party
200px Incumbent Christopher Luxon since 30 November 2021
Member of	New Zealand House of Representatives
Term length	No fixed term
Inaugural holder	Adam Hamilton
Formation	2 November 1936
Deputy	Nicola Willis

The Leader of the National Party is the most-senior elected politician within the New Zealand National Party. Under the constitution of the party, they are required to be a member of the House of Representatives.

The current leader of the National Party since 30 November 2021 is Christopher Luxon.

Selection

Following a general election, or when a vacancy arises, the Parliamentary Section of the National Party (the Caucus) elects a Leader of the Parliamentary Section (that is, the parliamentary leader). After receiving approval by the Board of Directors (the governing body of the Party), the Leader of the Parliamentary Section becomes the Leader of the Party.

Role

The leader organises the business of the party in Parliament. He or she also outwardly represents the party to the general public. Within the party organisation, they must ensure political consensus; the constitution of the National Party states that the leader has "the right to attend any Party meeting or committee meeting and shall be an ex officio member of the Board".

When the National Party is in Government the leader generally becomes the prime minister. In 1949, party leader Sidney Holland became the first prime minister from the National Party.

List of leaders

Of the fifteen people to officially hold the leadership, eight have served as prime minister.

Key:
      National       Labour
PM: Prime Minister
LO: Leader of the Opposition

No.		Leader	Portrait	Electorate	Term start	Term end	Time in office	Position	Prime Minister
	1	Adam Hamilton (1880–1952)		Wallace	2 November 1936	26 November 1940		LO 1936–1940		Savage 1935–40
										Fraser 1940–49
	2	Sidney Holland (1893–1961)	100px	Fendalton	26 November 1940	20 September 1957		LO 1940–1949
								PM 1949–1957		himself
	3	Keith Holyoake (1904–1983)	100px	Pahiatua	20 September 1957	7 February 1972		PM 1957		himself
								LO 1957–1960		Nash
								PM 1960–1972		himself
	4	Jack Marshall (1912–1988)	100px	Karori	7 February 1972	4 July 1974		PM 1972		himself
								LO 1972–1974		Kirk 1972–74
	5	Robert Muldoon (1921–1992)	100px	Tamaki	4 July 1974	29 November 1984		LO 1974–1975
										Rowling 1974–75
								PM 1975–1984		himself
								LO 1984		Lange 1984–89
	6	Jim McLay (born 1945)	100px	Birkenhead	29 November 1984	26 March 1986		LO 1984–1986
	7	Jim Bolger (born 1935)	100px	King Country (1972–96) Taranaki-King Country (1996–98)	26 March 1986	8 December 1997		LO 1986–1990
										Palmer 1989–90
										Moore 1990
								PM 1990–1997		himself
	8	Jenny Shipley (born 1952)	100px	Rakaia	8 December 1997	8 October 2001		PM 1997–1999		herself
								LO 1999–2001		Clark
	9	Bill English (born 1961)	100px	Clutha-Southland	8 October 2001	28 October 2003		LO 2001–2003
	10	Don Brash (born 1940)		List MP	28 October 2003	27 November 2006		LO 2003–2006
	11	John Key (born 1961)		Helensville	27 November 2006	12 December 2016		LO 2006–2008
								PM 2008–2016		himself
	(9)	Bill English (born 1961)	100px	List MP	12 December 2016	27 February 2018		PM 2016–2017		himself
								LO 2017–2018		Ardern
	12	Simon Bridges (born 1976)	100px	Tauranga	27 February 2018	22 May 2020		LO 2018–2020
	13	Todd Muller (born 1968)	100px	Bay of Plenty	22 May 2020	14 July 2020		LO 2020
	—	Nikki Kaye (born 1980)	100px	Auckland Central	14 July 2020		<1 day	Acting LO 2020
	14	Judith Collins (born 1959)	100px	Papakura	14 July 2020	25 November 2021		LO 2020–2021
	—	Shane Reti (born 1963)	100px	List MP	25 November 2021	30 November 2021		Acting LO 2021
	15	Christopher Luxon (born 1970)	100px	Botany	30 November 2021	Incumbent		LO 2021–present

See also

• Deputy leader of the New Zealand National Party
• Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party
• List of political parties in New Zealand