Editing Politics of New Zealand (section)

===Modern political history===
{{See also|List of New Zealand governments}}
{{New Zealand postwar governments timeline}}
The right-leaning [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] and the left-leaning [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour Party]] have dominated New Zealand political life since a Labour government came to power in 1935. During fourteen years in office (1935–1949), the Labour Party implemented a broad array of social and economic legislation, including comprehensive [[social security]], a large-scale [[public works]] programme, a forty-hour working week, and compulsory [[Trade union|union]]ism.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=McLintock |first1=A. H. |author-link1=Alexander Hare McLintock |title=1935–49 The Labour Regime |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/1966/history-settlement-and-development/page-19 |encyclopedia=[[An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand]] |date=1966 |access-date=18 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="Aimer2">{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Aimer |first1=Peter |title=Labour Party – First Labour government, 1935 to 1949 |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/labour-party/page-2 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=18 August 2019 |date=20 June 2012}}</ref> The National Party won control of the government in 1949, accepting most of Labour's welfare measures. Except for two brief periods of Labour governments in 1957–1960 and 1972–1975, National held power until 1984.<ref name="Aimer2"/>

The greatest challenge to the first and later Labour governments' policies on the welfare state and a regulated economy that combined state and private enterprise came from the Labour Party itself.<ref name=Aimer4>{{cite web |last=Aimer |first=Peter |title=Labour Party – Fourth, fifth and sixth Labour governments |url = https://teara.govt.nz/en/labour-party/page-4 |access-date=18 August 2019 |date=20 June 2012}}</ref> After regaining control in 1984, the fourth Labour government instituted a series of radical [[free market|market]]-oriented reforms. It privatised state assets and reduced the role of the state in the economy.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mitchell |first1=Austin |title=Roger's Revolution: Blitzkrieg in Kiwiland |journal=The Journal of Legislative Studies |date=March 2005 |volume=11 |issue=1 |pages=1–15 |doi=10.1080/13572330500158219 |s2cid=153653062 }}</ref> It also instituted several other more left-wing reforms, such as allowing the [[Waitangi Tribunal]] to hear claims of breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi to be made back to 1840.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Derby |first1=Mark |title=Waitangi Tribunal – Te Rōpū Whakamana – Developing the tribunal, 1980s |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/waitangi-tribunal-te-ropu-whakamana/page-2 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=18 August 2019 |language=en |date=20 June 2012}}</ref> In 1987, the government introduced the [[New Zealand Nuclear Free Zone, Disarmament, and Arms Control Act]], banning visits by nuclear powered ships; the implementation of a [[New Zealand nuclear-free zone|nuclear-free zone]] brought about New Zealand's suspension from the [[ANZUS]] [[Military alliance|security alliance]] with the United States and Australia.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Ayson |first1=Robert |last2=Phillips |first2=Jock |title=United States and New Zealand – Nuclear-free 1980s |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/united-states-and-new-zealand/page-3 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=17 August 2019 |date=20 June 2012}}</ref>

In October 1990, the National Party again formed a government, for the first of three three-year terms. Despite [[election promise]]s to halt the unpopular reform process, the new National government largely advanced the free-market policies of the preceding government. Public disillusionment resulting from perceived "broken promises" of the previous two governments fuelled demand for [[electoral reform in New Zealand]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Roberts |first1=Nigel S. |title=Electoral systems – The call for electoral reform |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/electoral-systems/page-4 |website=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |language=en-NZ |date=1 February 2015}}</ref> In 1996, New Zealand inaugurated the new electoral system (mixed-member proportional representation, or MMP) to [[Electoral system of New Zealand|elect its Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New Zealand's Change to MMP |url=http://aceproject.org/main/english/ei/eiy_nz01.htm |website=aceproject.org |publisher=ACE Electoral Knowledge Network |access-date=24 June 2017 |language=en}}</ref> The MMP system was expected (among numerous other goals) to increase representation of smaller parties in Parliament and appears to have done so in the MMP elections to date. Between 1996 and 2020, neither National nor Labour had an absolute majority in Parliament, and for all but two of those years a [[minority government]] ruled (however, every government has been led by one or other of the two main parties).<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Roberts |first1=Nigel S. |title=Electoral systems – MMP in practice |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/electoral-systems/page-6 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=18 August 2019 |date=17 February 2015}}</ref>

MMP parliaments have been markedly more diverse, with greater representation of women, ethnic minorities and other [[minority group]]s.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Barker |first1=Fiona |last2=Coffé |first2=Hilde |title=Representing Diversity in Mixed Electoral Systems: The Case of New Zealand |journal=Parliamentary Affairs |date=1 July 2018 |volume=71 |issue=3 |pages=603–632 |doi=10.1093/pa/gsx073 |url=https://academic.oup.com/pa/article-abstract/71/3/603/4781509 |access-date=8 May 2020 |language=en |issn=0031-2290}}</ref> In 1996, [[Tim Barnett (politician)|Tim Barnett]] was the first of several New Zealand MPs to be elected as an openly gay person.<ref>{{cite web |title=I used to be the only gay in the House – Barnett |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/645363/I-used-to-be-the-only-gay-in-the-House-Barnett |date=31 January 2009 |work=Stuff |access-date=8 May 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In 1999, [[Georgina Beyer]] became the world's [[List of transgender political office-holders|first openly transgender MP]] elected to a national parliament.<ref>{{cite news |title=Georgina Beyer: The double life of Georgie |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/georgina-beyer-the-double-life-of-georgie-184803.html |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=The Independent |date=18 July 2002 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Atholl |last2=Binney |first2=Judith |last3=Harris |first3=Aroha |title=Tangata Whenua: A History |date=19 November 2015 |publisher=Bridget Williams Books |isbn=978-0-908321-54-4 |page=418 |language=en}}</ref>

After nine years in government, the National Party lost the [[1999 New Zealand general election|November 1999 election]]. Labour under [[Helen Clark]] out-polled National and formed a coalition government with [[Jim Anderton]]'s [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance]], a party to the left of Labour. The coalition partners pioneered "agree to disagree" procedures to manage policy differences.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Palmer |first1=Matthew |title=Constitution – Constitutional change |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/35909/helen-clark-and-jim-anderton-with-their-coalition-agreement-1999 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=18 August 2019 |date=20 June 2012}}</ref> The minority government often relied on support from the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]] to pass legislation. Labour retained power in the [[2002 New Zealand general election|July 2002 election]], forming a coalition with Anderton's new [[New Zealand Progressive Party|Progressive Party]], and reaching an agreement for support with the [[United Future]] party. Helen Clark remained prime minister. In early 2004, Labour came under attack for its policies on the [[New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy|ownership of the foreshore and seabed]],<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Barker|first1=Fiona|title=Debate about the foreshore and seabed|url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/34605/debate-about-the-foreshore-and-seabed|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|access-date=22 November 2019|date=June 2012}}</ref> eventually culminating in the establishment of a new break-away party, the [[Māori Party]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dunne|first1=Peter|title=What to do about that foreshore and seabed?|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/3236512/What-to-do-about-that-foreshore-and-seabed|access-date=22 November 2019|work=[[The Dominion Post (Wellington)|The Dominion Post]]|date=18 January 2010|language=en}}</ref> Following the [[2005 New Zealand general election|September 2005 election]], negotiations between parties culminated in Clark announcing a third consecutive term of Labour-led government. The Labour Party again formed a coalition with the Progressive Party, with confidence and supply from [[Winston Peters]]' [[New Zealand First]] and [[Peter Dunne]]'s United Future.<ref>{{cite work |last = Hicks |first = Bruce M. |title = New Zealand: Learning How to Govern in Coalition or Minority |url = http://revparl.ca/36/4/36n4e_13_Hicks.pdf |publisher=[[Canadian Parliamentary Review]] |page = 35 |year=2013 }}</ref>

After the [[2008 New Zealand general election|general election in November 2008]], the National Party moved quickly to form a minority government with [[ACT New Zealand|ACT]], the Māori Party and United Future. This arrangement allowed National to decrease its reliance on the right-wing ACT party, whose free-market policies are sometimes controversial with the greater New Zealand public. In 2008, [[John Key]] was appointed prime minister, with [[Bill English]] as his deputy. This arrangement conformed to a tradition of having a north-south split in the major parties' leadership, as Key's residence is in Auckland and English's electorate is in the South Island. On 12 December 2016, English was elected as leader, and thus prime minister, by the National Party caucus after Key's unexpected resignation a week earlier. [[Paula Bennett]] (member for [[Upper Harbour (New Zealand electorate)|Upper Harbour]]) was appointed [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|deputy prime minister]], thus continuing the tradition.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.smh.com.au/world/bill-english-is-nzs-new-prime-minister-paula-bennett-new-deputy-20161211-gt8wmf.html|title=Bill English is NZ's new Prime Minister, Paula Bennett new Deputy|date=12 December 2016|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=1 May 2017}}</ref>{{original research?|date=November 2022}} This north-south arrangement ceased with the next government.

Following the [[2017 New Zealand general election|September 2017 general election]] National retained its [[Plurality (voting)|plurality]] in the House of Representatives, while Labour greatly increased its proportion of the vote and number of seats. Following negotiations between the major and minor parties, Labour formed a minority government after securing a coalition arrangement with New Zealand First. The new government also agreed on a confidence-and-supply arrangement with the Green Party.<ref name="Phipps">{{cite news|last1=Phipps|first1=Claire|title=Jacinda Ardern is next prime minister of New Zealand, Winston Peters confirms – as it happened|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/oct/19/new-zealand-election-winston-peters-prime-minister-bill-english-jacinda-ardern-live|access-date=27 October 2017|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=19 October 2017}}</ref> On 26 October 2017, Labour leader [[Jacinda Ardern]] was sworn in as prime minister and Winston Peters became her deputy.<ref name="Walters">{{cite news|last1=Walters|first1=Laura|title=Jacinda Ardern's new government sworn in|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/98242220/jacinda-arderns-new-government-sworn-in|access-date=27 October 2017|work=Stuff|date=26 October 2017}}</ref> In the [[2020 New Zealand general election|2020 general election]] Labour won by a [[landslide election|landslide]] and gained an overall majority of seats in Parliament, sufficient to govern alone—a first under the MMP system.<ref name="Ardern_government">{{cite news |title=New Zealand's Ardern sworn in for second term |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201106-new-zealand-s-ardern-sworn-in-for-second-term |access-date=13 January 2021 |publisher=[[France 24]]|date=6 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=New Zealand election: Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party scores landslide win |url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-54519628 |access-date=19 October 2020 |work=BBC News |date=17 October 2020}}</ref> Labour's coalition partner New Zealand First lost its representation in Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fisher |first1=David |last2=Jones |first2=Nicholas |title=Election results 2020: Winston Peters concedes defeat – 'wait and see' for his next move |url = https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/election-results-2020-winston-peters-concedes-defeat-wait-and-see-for-his-next-move/VYWEU62LJV3TKUEFHKER5GMEME/#:~:text=New%20Zealand%20First%20is%20out%20of%20Parliament%20-,volunteers%20and%20NZ%20First%20staff%20around%20New%20Zealand. |access-date=1 November 2020 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=17 October 2020 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Ardern's government was sworn in for a second term on 6 November 2020.<ref name="Ardern_government"/> [[Chris Hipkins]] became prime minister after [[resignation of Jacinda Ardern|Ardern's resignation]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neilson |first1=Michael |last2=Pearse |first2=Adam |last3=Coughlan |first3=Thomas |title=Chris Hipkins sworn in as Prime Minister, Carmel Sepuloni as deputy, Jacinda Ardern vacates top job |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/chris-hipkins-sworn-in-as-prime-minister-carmel-sepuloni-as-deputy-jacinda-ardern-vacates-top-job/IERZGZV2BFAE5AWLNJHMMGHYQ4/ |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=25 January 2023 |access-date=28 January 2023 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

The [[2023 New Zealand general election|2023 general election]] saw the worst defeat of a sitting government since the introduction of the MMP system, with Labour losing nearly half of its seats.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/133123290/devastating-defeat-how-the-world-reacted-to-the-new-zealand-election-result|title='Devastating defeat': How the world reacted to the New Zealand election result|first=Troels|last=Sommerville|date=15 October 2023|website=Stuff|access-date=22 October 2023|archive-date=16 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016071552/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/133123290/devastating-defeat-how-the-world-reacted-to-the-new-zealand-election-result|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently, National, ACT and New Zealand First formed the country's first [[Sixth National Government of New Zealand|three-party coalition government]]. National leader [[Christopher Luxon]] became prime minister. In another first, Winston Peters and [[David Seymour]] will take turns as deputy prime minister.<ref name="Sixth National Government"/>