# Minister for Social Development (New Zealand)

The Minister for Social Development (Māori: Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora) is a minister in the New Zealand Government with responsibility promoting social development and welfare, and is in charge of the Ministry of Social Development. The position was established in 1938 after the passing of the Social Security Act 1938.
The present Minister is Louise Upston.

## List of ministers

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Social Development:

### Key

Labour  National
| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Prime Minister |
| 1 | Walter Nash | 13 December 1938 | 30 April 1940 | Savage |
| 1 | Walter Nash | 13 December 1938 | 30 April 1940 | Fraser |
| 2 | Bill Parry | 30 April 1940 | 13 December 1949 | Fraser |
| 3 | Jack Watts | 13 December 1949 | 19 December 1950 | Holland |
| 4 | William Bodkin | 19 December 1950 | 26 November 1954 | Holland |
| 5 | Eric Halstead | 26 November 1954 | 23 March 1956 | Holland |
| 6 | Dean Eyre | 23 March 1956 | 13 February 1957 | Holland |
| 7 | Geoff Gerard | 13 February 1957 | 26 September 1957 | Holland |
| 7 | Geoff Gerard | 13 February 1957 | 26 September 1957 | Holyoake |
| 8 | Hilda Ross | 26 September 1957 | 12 December 1957 | Holyoake |
| 9 | Mabel Howard | 12 December 1957 | 2 June 1959 | Nash |
| - | Phil Connolly Acting Minister | 2 June 1959 | 25 August 1959 | Nash |
| (9) | Mabel Howard | 25 August 1959 | 12 December 1960 | Nash |
| 10 | Norman Shelton | 12 December 1960 | 24 January 1962 | Holyoake |
| 11 | Don McKay | 24 January 1962 | 9 February 1972 | Holyoake |
| 12 | Lance Adams-Schneider | 9 February 1972 | 8 December 1972 | Marshall |
| 13 | Norman King | 8 December 1972 | 12 December 1975 | Kirk |
| 13 | Norman King | 8 December 1972 | 12 December 1975 | Rowling |
| 14 | Bert Walker | 12 December 1975 | 13 December 1978 | Muldoon |
| 15 | George Gair | 13 December 1978 | 12 February 1981 | Muldoon |
| 16 | Venn Young | 12 February 1981 | 26 July 1984 | Muldoon |
| 17 | Ann Hercus | 26 July 1984 | 24 August 1987 | Lange |
| 18 | Michael Cullen | 24 August 1987 | 2 November 1990 | Lange |
| 18 | Michael Cullen | 24 August 1987 | 2 November 1990 | Palmer |
| 18 | Michael Cullen | 24 August 1987 | 2 November 1990 | Moore |
| 19 | Jenny Shipley | 2 November 1990 | 29 November 1993 | Bolger |
| 20 | Peter Gresham | 29 November 1993 | 12 October 1996 | Bolger |
| 21 | Roger Sowry | 12 October 1996 | 10 December 1999 | Bolger |
| 21 | Roger Sowry | 12 October 1996 | 10 December 1999 | Shipley |
| 22 | Steve Maharey | 10 December 1999 | 19 October 2005 | Clark |
| 23 | David Benson-Pope | 19 October 2005 | 27 July 2007 | Clark |
| (22) | Steve Maharey Acting Minister | 27 July 2007 | 31 October 2007 | Clark |
| 24 | Ruth Dyson | 31 October 2007 | 19 November 2008 | Clark |
| 25 | Paula Bennett | 19 November 2008 | 6 October 2014 | Key |
| 26 | Anne Tolley | 6 October 2014 | 26 October 2017 | Key |
| 26 | Anne Tolley | 6 October 2014 | 26 October 2017 | English |
| 27 | Carmel Sepuloni | 26 October 2017 | 27 November 2023 | Ardern |
| 27 | Carmel Sepuloni | 26 October 2017 | 27 November 2023 | Hipkins |
| 28 | Louise Upston | 27 November 2023 | present | Luxon |