# Leader of the New Zealand National Party

The leader of the National Party is the most-senior elected politician within the New Zealand National Party. Under the constitution of the party, they are required to be a member of the House of Representatives.
The National Party has found itself either in government (alone or with the support of other parties) or in opposition to Labour-led governments. Consequently, the leader of the National Party usually assumes the role of either the prime minister or leader of the Opposition.
The current leader of the National Party since 30 November 2021 is Christopher Luxon.

## Selection

Following a general election, or when a vacancy arises, the Parliamentary Section of the National Party (also called the Caucus) elects a leader of the Parliamentary Section (that is, the parliamentary leader). After receiving approval by the Board of Directors (the governing body of the party), the leader of the Parliamentary Section becomes the leader of the party.

## Role

The leader organises the business of the party in Parliament and represents the party to the general public. Within the party organisation, they must ensure political consensus; the constitution of the National Party states that the leader has "the right to attend any Party meeting or committee meeting and shall be an ex officio member of the Board".
The leader becomes the National Party's candidate for prime minister in the run-up to an election, and they invariably take office as prime minister when the National Party forms a government. In 1949, party leader Sidney Holland became the first prime minister from the National Party.

## List of leaders

Of the fifteen people to officially hold the leadership, nine have served as prime minister.
Key:  National  Labour PM: Prime Minister LO: Leader of the Opposition
| No. | Leader | Electorate | Term start | Term end | Time in office | Position | Prime Minister |
| 1 | Adam Hamilton (1880–1952) | Wallace | 2 November 1936 | 26 November 1940 | 4 years, 24 days | LO 1936–1940 | Savage 1935–40 |
| 1 | Adam Hamilton (1880–1952) | Wallace | 2 November 1936 | 26 November 1940 | 4 years, 24 days | LO 1936–1940 | Fraser 1940–49 |
| 2 | Sidney Holland (1893–1961) | Fendalton | 26 November 1940 | 20 September 1957 | 16 years, 298 days | LO 1940–1949 | Fraser 1940–49 |
| 2 | Sidney Holland (1893–1961) | Fendalton | 26 November 1940 | 20 September 1957 | 16 years, 298 days | PM 1949–1957 | himself |
| 3 | Keith Holyoake (1904–1983) | Pahiatua | 20 September 1957 | 7 February 1972 | 14 years, 140 days | PM 1957 | himself |
| 3 | Keith Holyoake (1904–1983) | Pahiatua | 20 September 1957 | 7 February 1972 | 14 years, 140 days | LO 1957–1960 | Nash |
| 3 | Keith Holyoake (1904–1983) | Pahiatua | 20 September 1957 | 7 February 1972 | 14 years, 140 days | PM 1960–1972 | himself |
| 4 | Jack Marshall (1912–1988) | Karori | 7 February 1972 | 4 July 1974 | 2 years, 147 days | PM 1972 | himself |
| 4 | Jack Marshall (1912–1988) | Karori | 7 February 1972 | 4 July 1974 | 2 years, 147 days | LO 1972–1974 | Kirk 1972–74 |
| 5 | Robert Muldoon (1921–1992) | Tamaki | 4 July 1974 | 29 November 1984 | 10 years, 148 days | LO 1974–1975 | Kirk 1972–74 |
| 5 | Robert Muldoon (1921–1992) | Tamaki | 4 July 1974 | 29 November 1984 | 10 years, 148 days | LO 1974–1975 | Rowling 1974–75 |
| 5 | Robert Muldoon (1921–1992) | Tamaki | 4 July 1974 | 29 November 1984 | 10 years, 148 days | PM 1975–1984 | himself |
| 5 | Robert Muldoon (1921–1992) | Tamaki | 4 July 1974 | 29 November 1984 | 10 years, 148 days | LO 1984 | Lange 1984–89 |
| 6 | Jim McLay (born 1945) | Birkenhead | 29 November 1984 | 26 March 1986 | 1 year, 117 days | LO 1984–1986 | Lange 1984–89 |
| 7 | Jim Bolger (born 1935) | King Country (1972–96) Taranaki-King Country (1996–98) | 26 March 1986 | 8 December 1997 | 11 years, 257 days | LO 1986–1990 | Lange 1984–89 |
| 7 | Jim Bolger (born 1935) | King Country (1972–96) Taranaki-King Country (1996–98) | 26 March 1986 | 8 December 1997 | 11 years, 257 days | LO 1986–1990 | Palmer 1989–90 |
| 7 | Jim Bolger (born 1935) | King Country (1972–96) Taranaki-King Country (1996–98) | 26 March 1986 | 8 December 1997 | 11 years, 257 days | LO 1986–1990 | Moore 1990 |
| 7 | Jim Bolger (born 1935) | King Country (1972–96) Taranaki-King Country (1996–98) | 26 March 1986 | 8 December 1997 | 11 years, 257 days | PM 1990–1997 | himself |
| 8 | Jenny Shipley (born 1952) | Rakaia | 8 December 1997 | 8 October 2001 | 3 years, 304 days | PM 1997–1999 | herself |
| 8 | Jenny Shipley (born 1952) | Rakaia | 8 December 1997 | 8 October 2001 | 3 years, 304 days | LO 1999–2001 | Clark |
| 9 | Bill English (born 1961) | Clutha-Southland | 8 October 2001 | 28 October 2003 | 2 years, 20 days | LO 2001–2003 | Clark |
| 10 | Don Brash (born 1940) | List MP | 28 October 2003 | 27 November 2006 | 3 years, 30 days | LO 2003–2006 | Clark |
| 11 | John Key (born 1961) | Helensville | 27 November 2006 | 12 December 2016 | 10 years, 15 days | LO 2006–2008 | Clark |
| 11 | John Key (born 1961) | Helensville | 27 November 2006 | 12 December 2016 | 10 years, 15 days | PM 2008–2016 | himself |
| (9) | Bill English (born 1961) | List MP | 12 December 2016 | 27 February 2018 | 1 year, 77 days | PM 2016–2017 | himself |
| (9) | Bill English (born 1961) | List MP | 12 December 2016 | 27 February 2018 | 1 year, 77 days | LO 2017–2018 | Ardern 2017–23 |
| 12 | Simon Bridges (born 1976) | Tauranga | 27 February 2018 | 22 May 2020 | 2 years, 85 days | LO 2018–2020 | Ardern 2017–23 |
| 13 | Todd Muller (born 1968) | Bay of Plenty | 22 May 2020 | 14 July 2020 | 53 days | LO 2020 | Ardern 2017–23 |
| — | Nikki Kaye (born 1980) | Auckland Central | 14 July 2020 | 14 July 2020 | <1 day | Acting LO 2020 | Ardern 2017–23 |
| 14 | Judith Collins (born 1959) | Papakura | 14 July 2020 | 25 November 2021 | 1 year, 134 days | LO 2020–2021 | Ardern 2017–23 |
| — | Shane Reti (born 1963) | List MP | 25 November 2021 | 30 November 2021 | 5 days | Acting LO 2021 | Ardern 2017–23 |
| 15 | Christopher Luxon (born 1970) | Botany | 30 December 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 108 days | LO 2021–2023 | Ardern 2017–23 |
| 15 | Christopher Luxon (born 1970) | Botany | 30 December 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 108 days | LO 2021–2023 | Hipkins 2023 |
| 15 | Christopher Luxon (born 1970) | Botany | 30 December 2021 | Incumbent | 3 years, 108 days | PM 2023–present | himself |