# Minister of Internal Affairs (New Zealand)

The Minister of Internal Affairs is a minister in the New Zealand Government with responsibility over the Department of Internal Affairs. The position of Minister of Internal Affairs has existed since the Department of Internal Affairs replaced the Colonial Secretary's office from 19 November 1907. The responsibilities of the office have been progressively reduced as other ministerial roles have been spun-off from the Department of Internal Affairs. Today his or her remit includes internal security and administering applications for citizenship.

## List of ministers

The following ministers held the office of Minister of Internal Affairs.

### Key

Liberal  Reform  United  Labour  National  United
 New Zealand First  Mauri Pacific  United Future  ACT
| No. | Name | Term of Office | Term of Office | Prime Minister |
| 1 | John Findlay | 19 November 1907 | 6 January 1909 | Ward |
| 2 | David Buddo | 6 January 1909 | 28 March 1912 | Ward |
| 3 | George Warren Russell | 28 March 1912 | 10 July 1912 | Mackenzie |
| 4 | Francis Bell | 10 July 1912 | 12 August 1915 | Massey |
| (3) | George Warren Russell | 12 August 1915 | 25 August 1919 | Massey |
| 5 | John Bird Hine | 4 September 1919 | 17 January 1920 | Massey |
| (4) | Francis Bell | 17 January 1920 | 14 May 1920 | Massey |
| 6 | George James Anderson | 17 May 1920 | 1 March 1921 | Massey |
| 7 | William Downie Stewart Jr | 1 March 1921 | 27 June 1923 | Massey |
| 8 | Richard Bollard | 27 June 1923 | 25 August 1927 | Massey |
| 8 | Richard Bollard | 27 June 1923 | 25 August 1927 | Bell |
| 8 | Richard Bollard | 27 June 1923 | 25 August 1927 | Coates |
| 9 | Māui Pōmare | 25 August 1927 | 10 December 1928 | Coates |
| 10 | Philip De La Perrelle | 10 December 1928 | 22 September 1931 | Ward |
| 10 | Philip De La Perrelle | 10 December 1928 | 22 September 1931 | Forbes |
| 11 | Adam Hamilton | 22 September 1931 | 28 January 1933 | Forbes |
| 12 | Alexander Young | 28 January 1933 | 6 December 1935 | Forbes |
| 13 | Bill Parry | 6 December 1935 | 13 December 1949 | Savage |
| 13 | Bill Parry | 6 December 1935 | 13 December 1949 | Fraser |
| 14 | William Bodkin | 13 December 1949 | 26 November 1954 | Holland |
| 15 | Sid Smith | 26 November 1954 | 12 December 1957 | Holland |
| 15 | Sid Smith | 26 November 1954 | 12 December 1957 | Holyoake |
| 16 | Bill Anderton | 12 December 1957 | 12 December 1960 | Nash |
| 17 | Leon Götz | 12 December 1960 | 20 December 1963 | Holyoake |
| 18 | David Seath | 20 December 1963 | 9 February 1972 | Holyoake |
| 19 | Allan Highet | 9 February 1972 | 8 December 1972 | Marshall |
| 20 | Henry May | 8 December 1972 | 12 December 1975 | Kirk |
| 20 | Henry May | 8 December 1972 | 12 December 1975 | Rowling |
| (19) | Allan Highet | 12 December 1975 | 26 July 1984 | Muldoon |
| 21 | Peter Tapsell | 26 July 1984 | 24 July 1987 | Lange |
| 22 | Michael Bassett | 24 July 1987 | 9 February 1990 | Lange |
| 22 | Michael Bassett | 24 July 1987 | 9 February 1990 | Palmer |
| 23 | Margaret Austin | 9 February 1990 | 2 November 1990 | Palmer |
| 23 | Margaret Austin | 9 February 1990 | 2 November 1990 | Moore |
| 24 | Graeme Lee | 2 November 1990 | 28 November 1993 | Bolger |
| 25 | Warren Cooper | 28 November 1993 | 29 February 1996 | Bolger |
| 26 | Peter Dunne | 29 February 1996 | 16 December 1996 | Bolger |
| 27 | Jack Elder | 16 December 1996 | 10 December 1999 | Bolger |
| 27 | Jack Elder | 16 December 1996 | 10 December 1999 | Shipley |
| 28 | Mark Burton | 10 December 1999 | 13 November 2000 | Clark |
| 29 | George Hawkins | 13 November 2000 | 19 October 2005 | Clark |
| 30 | Rick Barker | 19 October 2005 | 19 November 2008 | Clark |
| 31 | Richard Worth | 19 November 2008 | 2 June 2009 | Key |
| 32 | Nathan Guy | 16 June 2009 | 13 December 2011 | Key |
| 33 | Amy Adams | 14 December 2011 | 2 April 2012 | Key |
| 34 | Chris Tremain | 3 April 2012 | 27 January 2014 | Key |
| (26) | Peter Dunne | 28 January 2014 | 21 October 2017 | Key |
| (26) | Peter Dunne | 28 January 2014 | 21 October 2017 | English |
| 35 | Tracey Martin | 26 October 2017 | 6 November 2020 | Ardern |
| 36 | Jan Tinetti | 6 November 2020 | 1 February 2023 | Ardern |
| 36 | Jan Tinetti | 6 November 2020 | 1 February 2023 | Hipkins |
| 37 | Barbara Edmonds | 1 February 2023 | 27 November 2023 | Hipkins |
| 38 | Brooke van Velden | 27 November 2023 | present | Luxon |