# President of the New Zealand Labour Party

The president of the New Zealand Labour Party is the highest-ranked organisational figure within the New Zealand Labour Party. The president heads the party apparatus outside of parliament, serving as the chairperson of both the party's council and policy council. Since 2022, the office has been held by Jill Day.

## Selection

The president is elected by the party delegates at the Labour Party annual conference or, if an early vacancy occurs, a by-election via postal ballot.

## Role

While the party leader is responsible for leading the Labour Party's political agenda and representing Labour in parliament, the president is responsible for managing the party's internal affairs and ensuring that the party is organised and compliant with relevant laws and regulations.
The president is the chair of the party's governing body, the New Zealand Council, and presides of its meetings and functions. Additionally the president chairs Labour's policy council and party list moderating committee. The president is paid an honorarium for their services.

## History

The post of president of the Labour Party was officially created upon the party's inception in 1916, the inaugural holder was James McCombs. The longest serving president was James Roberts serving 13 years consecutively from 1937 to 1950. The first Māori holder was Charles Bennett (1973–76). Margaret Wilson was the first woman to be elected president in 1984.

## List of presidents

The following is a complete list of Labour Party presidents:
| No. | President | Prior/concurrent office | Term of Office | Term of Office | Leader |
| 1 | James McCombs | MP for Lyttelton | 7 July 1916 | 9 July 1917 | Hindmarsh |
| 2 | Andrew Walker | MP for Dunedin North | 9 July 1917 | 11 July 1918 | Hindmarsh |
| 3 | Tom Paul | Member of the Legislative Council | 11 July 1918 | 12 July 1920 | Hindmarsh |
| 3 | Tom Paul | Member of the Legislative Council | 11 July 1918 | 12 July 1920 | Holland |
| 4 | Peter Fraser | MP for Wellington Central | 12 July 1920 | 15 July 1921 | Holland |
| 5 | Frederick Cooke | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 15 July 1921 | 7 July 1922 | Holland |
| 6 | Tom Brindle | Vice-President of the Waterside Workers Union | 7 July 1922 | 7 April 1926 | Holland |
| 7 | Bob Semple | MP for Wellington East | 7 April 1926 | 12 April 1928 | Holland |
| 8 | John Archer | Mayor of Christchurch | 12 April 1928 | 3 April 1929 | Holland |
| 9 | Jim Thorn | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 3 April 1929 | 8 April 1931 | Holland |
| 10 | Rex Mason | MP for Auckland Suburbs | 8 April 1931 | 29 March 1932 | Holland |
| 11 | Bill Jordan | MP for Manukau | 29 March 1932 | 18 April 1933 | Holland |
| 12 | Frank Langstone | MP for Waimarino | 18 April 1933 | 3 April 1934 | Holland |
| 12 | Frank Langstone | MP for Waimarino | 18 April 1933 | 3 April 1934 | Savage |
| 13 | Tim Armstrong | MP for Christchurch East | 3 April 1934 | 24 April 1935 | Savage |
| 14 | Walter Nash | MP for Hutt | 24 April 1935 | 14 April 1936 | Savage |
| 15 | Clyde Carr | MP for Timaru | 14 April 1936 | 30 March 1937 | Savage |
| 16 | James Roberts | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 30 March 1937 | 9 May 1950 | Savage |
| 16 | James Roberts | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 30 March 1937 | 9 May 1950 | Fraser |
| 17 | Arnold Nordmeyer | MP for Brooklyn | 9 May 1950 | 17 May 1955 | Fraser |
| 17 | Arnold Nordmeyer | MP for Brooklyn | 9 May 1950 | 17 May 1955 | Nash |
| 18 | Mick Moohan | MP for Petone | 17 May 1955 | 8 June 1960 | Nash |
| 19 | Martyn Finlay | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 8 June 1960 | 12 May 1964 | Nash |
| 19 | Martyn Finlay | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 8 June 1960 | 12 May 1964 | Nordmeyer |
| 20 | Norman Kirk | MP for Lyttelton | 12 May 1964 | 11 May 1966 | Nordmeyer |
| 20 | Norman Kirk | MP for Lyttelton | 12 May 1964 | 11 May 1966 | Kirk |
| 21 | Norman Douglas | MP for Auckland Central | 11 May 1966 | 5 May 1970 | Kirk |
| 22 | Bill Rowling | MP for Buller | 5 May 1970 | 8 May 1973 | Kirk |
| 23 | Charles Bennett | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 8 May 1973 | 11 May 1976 | Kirk |
| 23 | Charles Bennett | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 8 May 1973 | 11 May 1976 | Rowling |
| 24 | Arthur Faulkner | MP for Roskill | 11 May 1976 | 15 May 1979 | Rowling |
| 25 | Jim Anderton | Auckland Regional Councillor | 15 May 1979 | 8 September 1984 | Rowling |
| 25 | Jim Anderton | Auckland Regional Councillor | 15 May 1979 | 8 September 1984 | Lange |
| 26 | Margaret Wilson | Vice-chair of the Association of University Teachers | 8 September 1984 | 9 November 1987 | Lange |
| 27 | Rex Jones | National Secretary of the EPMU | 9 November 1987 | 5 September 1988 | Lange |
| 28 | Ruth Dyson | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 5 September 1988 | 18 April 1993 | Lange |
| 28 | Ruth Dyson | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 5 September 1988 | 18 April 1993 | Palmer |
| 28 | Ruth Dyson | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 5 September 1988 | 18 April 1993 | Moore |
| 29 | Maryan Street | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 18 April 1993 | November 1995 | Moore |
| 29 | Maryan Street | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 18 April 1993 | November 1995 | Clark |
| 30 | Michael Hirschfeld | CEO of Mico Wakefield | November 1995 | 5 January 1999 | Clark |
| 31 | Bob Harvey | Mayor of Waitakere | 16 February 1999 | 19 November 2000 | Clark |
| 32 | Mike Williams | 1999 Election Campaign Manager | 19 November 2000 | 2 March 2009 | Clark |
| 32 | Mike Williams | 1999 Election Campaign Manager | 19 November 2000 | 2 March 2009 | Goff |
| 33 | Andrew Little | National Secretary of the EPMU | 2 March 2009 | 2 April 2011 | Goff |
| 34 | Moira Coatsworth | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 2 April 2011 | 26 November 2014 | Goff |
| 34 | Moira Coatsworth | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 2 April 2011 | 26 November 2014 | Shearer |
| 34 | Moira Coatsworth | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 2 April 2011 | 26 November 2014 | Cunliffe |
| 34 | Moira Coatsworth | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 2 April 2011 | 26 November 2014 | Little |
| 35 | Nigel Haworth | President of University Staff of New Zealand | 27 February 2015 | 11 September 2019 | Little |
| 35 | Nigel Haworth | President of University Staff of New Zealand | 27 February 2015 | 11 September 2019 | Ardern |
| - | Tracey McLellan Acting | Vice-President of the Labour Party | 11 September 2019 | 30 November 2019 | Ardern |
| 36 | Claire Szabó | CEO of Habitat for Humanity | 30 November 2019 | 5 November 2022 | Ardern |
| 37 | Jill Day | Deputy Mayor of Wellington | 5 November 2022 | present | Ardern |
| 37 | Jill Day | Deputy Mayor of Wellington | 5 November 2022 | present | Hipkins |