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🇳🇿 New Zealand

Parliamentary constitutional monarchyLiberal democracy

Christopher Luxon

Prime Minister · 1,008 days in office · 109 days remaining

Eligible to run again

How the political system works in New Zealand

New Zealanders vote every three years, and the party or coalition with a majority in parliament picks the prime minister. There is no limit on how long a prime minister can serve. The King is head of state, represented locally by the governor-general.

Next election: 2026 — Next New Zealand general election, expected late 2026.

Tenure records

Recent prime ministers by days in office

Is a leader's tenure getting longer or shorter in New Zealand?

Across 55 completed terms, the average prime minister of New Zealand has served 1,112 days (about 3.0 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,751 days.

All prime ministers of New Zealand

#	Name	Took office	Left office	Days
56	Christopher Luxon	Nov 27, 2023	Incumbent	1,008
55	Chris Hipkins	Jan 25, 2023	Nov 27, 2023	306
54	Jacinda Ardern	Oct 26, 2017	Jan 25, 2023	1,917
53	Bill English	Dec 12, 2016	Oct 26, 2017	318
52	John Key	Nov 19, 2008	Dec 12, 2016	2,945
51	Helen Clark	Dec 10, 1999	Nov 19, 2008	3,267
50	Jenny Shipley	Dec 8, 1997	Dec 5, 1999	727
49	Jim Bolger	Nov 2, 1990	Dec 8, 1997	2,593
48	Mike Moore	Sep 4, 1990	Nov 2, 1990	59
47	Geoffrey Palmer	Aug 8, 1989	Sep 4, 1990	392
46	David Lange	Jul 26, 1984	Aug 8, 1989	1,839
45	Robert Muldoon	Dec 12, 1975	Jul 26, 1984	3,149
44	Bill Rowling	Sep 6, 1974	Dec 12, 1975	462
43	Hugh Watt	Sep 1, 1974	Sep 6, 1974	5
42	Norman Kirk	Dec 8, 1972	Aug 31, 1974	631
41	Jack Marshall	Feb 7, 1972	Dec 8, 1972	305
40	Keith Holyoake	Dec 12, 1960	Feb 7, 1972	4,074
39	Walter Nash	Dec 12, 1957	Dec 12, 1960	1,096
38	Keith Holyoake	Sep 20, 1957	Dec 12, 1957	83
37	Sidney Holland	Dec 13, 1949	Sep 20, 1957	2,838
36	Peter Fraser	Mar 27, 1940	Dec 13, 1949	3,548
35	Michael Joseph Savage	Dec 6, 1935	Mar 27, 1940	1,573
34	George Forbes	May 28, 1930	Dec 6, 1935	2,018
33	Joseph Ward	Dec 10, 1928	May 28, 1930	534
32	Gordon Coates	May 30, 1925	Dec 10, 1928	1,290
31	Francis Bell	May 14, 1925	May 30, 1925	16
30	William Massey	Jul 10, 1912	May 10, 1925	4,687
29	Thomas Mackenzie	Mar 28, 1912	Jul 10, 1912	104
28	Joseph Ward	Aug 6, 1906	Mar 12, 1912	2,045
27	William Hall-Jones	Jun 21, 1906	Aug 6, 1906	46
26	Richard Seddon	Apr 27, 1893	Jun 10, 1906	4,791
25	John Ballance	Jan 24, 1891	Apr 27, 1893	824
24	Harry Atkinson	Oct 8, 1887	Jan 24, 1891	1,204
23	Robert Stout	Sep 3, 1884	Oct 8, 1887	1,130
22	Harry Atkinson	Aug 28, 1884	Sep 3, 1884	6
21	Robert Stout	Aug 16, 1884	Aug 28, 1884	12
20	Harry Atkinson	Sep 25, 1883	Aug 16, 1884	326
19	Frederick Whitaker	Apr 21, 1882	Sep 25, 1883	522
18	John Hall	Oct 8, 1879	Apr 21, 1882	926
17	George Grey	Oct 13, 1877	Oct 8, 1879	725
16	Harry Atkinson	Sep 1, 1876	Oct 13, 1877	407
15	Julius Vogel	Feb 15, 1876	Sep 1, 1876	199
14	Daniel Pollen	Jul 6, 1875	Feb 15, 1876	224
13	Julius Vogel	Apr 8, 1873	Jul 6, 1875	819
12	William Fox	Mar 3, 1873	Apr 8, 1873	36
11	George Marsden Waterhouse	Oct 11, 1872	Mar 3, 1873	143
10	Edward Stafford	Sep 10, 1872	Oct 11, 1872	31
9	William Fox	Jun 28, 1869	Sep 10, 1872	1,170
8	Edward Stafford	Oct 16, 1865	Jun 28, 1869	1,351
7	Frederick Weld	Nov 24, 1864	Oct 16, 1865	326
6	Frederick Whitaker	Oct 30, 1863	Nov 24, 1864	391
5	Alfred Domett	Aug 6, 1862	Oct 30, 1863	450
4	William Fox	Jul 12, 1861	Aug 6, 1862	390
3	Edward Stafford	Jun 2, 1856	Jul 12, 1861	1,866
2	William Fox	May 20, 1856	Jun 2, 1856	13
1	Henry Sewell	May 7, 1856	May 20, 1856	13

Officeholder history via Wikidata. Multiple rows for one person indicate separate terms.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Prime Minister of New Zealand?

Christopher Luxon has been Prime Minister of New Zealand since Nov 27, 2023.

How is the leader of New Zealand chosen?

New Zealanders vote every three years, and the party or coalition with a majority in parliament picks the prime minister. There is no limit on how long a prime minister can serve. The King is head of state, represented locally by the governor-general.

Who is the longest-serving Prime Minister of New Zealand?

Richard Seddon, with 4,791 days in office.

Are leaders serving longer or shorter terms in New Zealand?

Across 55 completed terms, the average prime minister of New Zealand has served 1,112 days (about 3.0 years). Terms are getting longer: the last five completed terms averaged 1,751 days.