Editing Prime Minister of New Zealand (section)

=== Other roles and functions ===
{{external media
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| video1 = [https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/33177/new-zealands-darkest-day 'New Zealand's darkest day']. Prime Minister John Key addresses the country live on television following the earthquake that devastated Christchurch on 22 February 2011. Providing reassurance and [[leadership]] at times of national crisis is a traditional responsibility of the prime minister.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Zealand's darkest day |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/33177/new-zealands-darkest-day |website=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date=20 May 2021 |date=2012}}</ref>
}}

Prime ministers also take on additional portfolios (to prioritise policy areas).<ref name="te ara"/> Historically, 19th-century premiers looked after the colonial-secretary and finance portfolios. As New Zealand developed, the role of [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand) |minister of finance]] became too big; Prime Minister [[Robert Muldoon |Sir Robert Muldoon]] came under criticism for taking on the finance portfolio during his time in office (1975–1984), as it resulted in a large concentration of power in the hands of one individual.<ref name="te ara"/>

Before 1987 it was common for prime ministers to take the role of [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand) |minister of foreign affairs]], so they could represent New Zealand on the international stage.<ref name=":0" /> More recent prime ministers have taken portfolios relevant to their interests, or to promote specific areas they saw as important. For example, [[David Lange]] took the education portfolio in his second term; [[Helen Clark]] took the role of [[Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage |minister for arts, culture and heritage]]; [[John Key]] served as [[Minister of Tourism (New Zealand)|minister of tourism]]; and [[Jacinda Ardern]] became minister for child-poverty reduction.<ref name="te ara"/>

Although no longer likely to be the minister of foreign affairs, the prime minister remains responsible for welcoming foreign heads of government, visiting leaders overseas, and attending [[Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting]]s.<ref name=":0" />

Conventionally, the prime minister is the responsible minister for the [[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (New Zealand)| Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]] (DPMC; founded in 1990), which has the task of supporting the policy agenda of Cabinet through policy advice and the coordination of the implementation of key government programmes.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="Support">{{cite encyclopedia|title= Premiers and prime ministers – Support Services and Statues|url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/premiers-and-prime-ministers/page-5|encyclopedia=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]] |access-date= 4 December 2016}}</ref> 

Before 2014, the prime minister was also responsible for the [[New Zealand Security Intelligence Service|New Zealand Security and Intelligence Service]] (NZSIS) and for the [[Government Communications Security Bureau]] (GCSB).<ref name=":0" /> In 2014, Prime Minister John Key gave himself the new portfolio of [[Minister of National Security and Intelligence (New Zealand)|National Security and Intelligence]] and delegated responsibility for SIS and GCSB to other ministers. He also expanded the role of DPMC in [[national security| security]] and intelligence. This model has been followed by subsequent prime ministers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Key |first1=John |title=National Security and Intelligence role created |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1410/S00026/national-security-and-intelligence-role-created.htm |access-date=11 February 2023 |publisher=New Zealand Government |date=6 October 2014 |language=en-NZ |via=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]]}}</ref>