# Minister of Local Government (New Zealand)

The Minister of Local Government is a minister in the New Zealand Government with responsibility for supporting and overseeing New Zealand's local government system.
The current minister is Simon Watts.

## History

The position also has a role supporting the relationship between central government and local government, oversight of the Local Government Commission, and acts as the territorial authority for the 11 islands that are not part of a local authority's district and as the harbour authority for Lake Taupō.
The portfolio was established in 1972, prior to which, local government had been within the purview of the Minister of Internal Affairs. Notwithstanding the separation of those responsibilities, the offices of Minister of Internal Affairs and Minister of Local Government were held by the same person for the first twelve years that a separate local government portfolio existed. The Minister of Local Government is still supported by the Department of Internal Affairs.

## List of ministers

The following ministers have held the office of Minister of Local Government.

### Key

Labour  National  Mauri Pacific  Alliance  ACT
| No. | Name | Term of office | Term of office | Prime Minister |
| 1 | Allan Highet | 9 February 1972 | 8 December 1972 | Marshall |
| 2 | Henry May | 25 November 1972 | 29 November 1975 | Kirk |
| 2 | Henry May | 25 November 1972 | 29 November 1975 | Rowling |
| (1) | Allan Highet | 29 November 1975 | 26 July 1984 | Muldoon |
| 3 | Michael Bassett | 26 July 1984 | 9 February 1990 | Lange |
| 3 | Michael Bassett | 26 July 1984 | 9 February 1990 | Palmer |
| 4 | Philip Woollaston | 9 February 1990 | 2 November 1990 | Palmer |
| 4 | Philip Woollaston | 9 February 1990 | 2 November 1990 | Moore |
| 5 | Warren Cooper | 2 November 1990 | 2 March 1994 | Bolger |
| 5 | John Banks | 2 March 1994 | 16 December 1996 | Bolger |
| 6 | Christine Fletcher | 16 December 1996 | 12 September 1997 | Bolger |
| 7 | Maurice Williamson | 12 September 1997 | 31 August 1998 | Bolger |
| 8 | Tony Ryall | 31 August 1998 | 9 August 1999 | Bolger |
| 8 | Tony Ryall | 31 August 1998 | 9 August 1999 | Shipley |
| 9 | Jack Elder | 9 August 1999 | 10 December 1999 | Shipley |
| 10 | Sandra Lee | 10 December 1999 | 15 August 2002 | Clark |
| 11 | Chris Carter | 15 August 2002 | 19 October 2005 | Clark |
| 12 | Mark Burton | 19 October 2005 | 5 November 2007 | Clark |
| 13 | Nanaia Mahuta | 5 November 2007 | 19 November 2008 | Clark |
| 14 | Rodney Hide | 19 November 2008 | 14 December 2011 | Key |
| 15 | Nick Smith | 14 December 2011 | 3 August 2012 | Key |
| 16 | David Carter | 3 August 2012 | 31 January 2013 | Key |
| 17 | Chris Tremain | 31 January 2013 | 28 January 2014 | Key |
| 18 | Paula Bennett | 28 January 2014 | 14 December 2015 | Key |
| 19 | Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga | 14 December 2015 | 20 December 2016 | Key |
| 20 | Anne Tolley | 20 December 2016 | 26 October 2017 | English |
| (13) | Nanaia Mahuta | 26 October 2017 | 1 February 2023 | Ardern |
| (13) | Nanaia Mahuta | 26 October 2017 | 1 February 2023 | Hipkins |
| 21 | Kieran McAnulty | 1 February 2023 | 27 November 2023 | Hipkins |
| 22 | Simeon Brown | 27 November 2023 | 24 January 2025 | Luxon |
| 23 | Simon Watts | 24 January 2025 | present | Luxon |