Bill English

**Sir Simon William "Bill" English** (born 30 December 1961) is a New Zealand politician. He was the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand  from 2016 to 2017 and the leader of the National Party. He was previously Deputy Prime Minister from 2008 to 2016.

At the 2017 general election, National won the largest share of the party vote (44.4%) and the largest number of seats (56) in the House Representatives.

However, National lacked enough seats to govern alone due to two of the party's support partners, the Māori Party and United Future, losing their parliamentary seats. In response, English announced that the party would be entering into talks to form a coalition with New Zealand First. However, on 19 October 2017, Jacinda Ardern became the next Prime Minister after Winston Peters announced he would enter a coalition government with Labour.

## Background

Bill English is a prominent figure in New Zealand politics and corporate leadership. He served as the 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 2016 to 2017 and has been actively involved in various government and private sector roles. In addition to his political career, English has significant experience in business and finance, currently serving as a board member of West Farmers Limited, a leading Australian conglomerate.

## Philanthropic Interests

While there is limited publicly available information about Bill English's specific philanthropic interests, his involvement in public service and corporate governance suggests a potential interest in supporting causes related to education, healthcare, economic development, and community welfare.

## Key Associations

Chairman of Mount Cook Alpine Salmon, and Chair of Impact Lab Ltd and Manawanui Support Ltd. He is also a director of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, TMG Cloudland, Centre for Independent Studies and The Todd Corporation Limited.

## Other websites

- Bill English MP  official site
- Profile at National party
- Profile  on Parliamentary website

## Infobox (officeholder)

- **honorific-prefix**: The Right Honourable
- **name**: Bill English
- **honorific-suffix**: Member of parliament, MP
- **image**: Bill English Official.jpg
- **office**: 39th Prime Minister of New Zealand
- **monarch**: Elizabeth II
- **1namedata**: Dame Patsy Reddy
- **deputy1**: Paula Bennett
- **term start**: 12 December 2016
- **term end**: 26 October 2017
- **predecessor1**: John Key
- **successor1**: Jacinda Ardern
- **office2**: 29th Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand), Leader of the Opposition
- **deputy2**: Paula Bennett
- **term start2**: 26 October 2017
- **term end2**: 27 February 2018
- **predecessor2**: Jacinda Ardern
- **successor2**: Simon Bridges
- **deputy3**: Roger Sowry
- **term start3**: 8 October 2001
- **term end3**: 28 October 2003
- **predecessor3**: Jenny Shipley
- **successor3**: Don Brash
- **office4**: 9th Leader of the New Zealand National Party, National Party
- **deputy4**: Paula Bennett
- **term start4**: 12 December 2016
- **term end4**: 27 February 2018
- **predecessor4**: John Key
- **successor4**: Simon Bridges
- **deputy5**: Roger Sowry
- **term start5**: 8 October 2001
- **term end5**: 28 October 2003
- **predecessor5**: Jenny Shipley
- **successor5**: Don Brash
- **office6**: 17th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
- **primeminister6**: John Key
- **term start6**: 19 November 2008
- **term end6**: 12 December 2016
- **predecessor6**: Michael Cullen (politician), Michael Cullen
- **successor6**: Paula Bennett
- **office7**: 39th Minister of Finance (New Zealand), Minister of Finance
- **primeminister7**: John Key
- **term start7**: 19 November 2008
- **term end7**: 12 December 2016
- **predecessor7**: Michael Cullen
- **successor7**: Steven Joyce
- **primeminister8**: Jenny Shipley
- **term start8**: 31 January 1999
- **term end8**: 22 June 1999
- **predecessor8**: Bill Birch
- **successor8**: Bill Birch
- **office9**: Deputy Leader of the New Zealand National Party, National Party
- **leader9**: John Key
- **term start9**: 27 November 2006
- **term end9**: 12 December 2016
- **predecessor9**: Gerry Brownlee
- **successor9**: Paula Bennett
- **leader10**: Jenny Shipley
- **term start10**: 7 February 2001
- **term end10**: 6 October 2001
- **predecessor10**: Wyatt Creech
- **successor10**: Roger Sowry
- **office11**: 3rd New Zealand Treasury, Treasurer of New Zealand
- **primeminister11**: Jenny Shipley
- **term start11**: 22 June 1999
- **term end11**: 5 December 1999
- **predecessor11**: Bill Birch
- **successor11**: Michael Cullen
- **office12**: Member of the New Zealand House of Representatives
- **term start12**: 20 September 2014
- **constituency12**: National Party (New Zealand), National Party list MP, List
- **term start13**: 12 October 1996
- **term end13**: 20 September 2014
- **predecessor13**: Constituency established
- **successor13**: Todd Barclay
- **constituency13**: Clutha-Southland
- **term start14**: 27 October 1990
- **term end14**: 12 October 1996
- **predecessor14**: Derek Angus
- **successor14**: Constituency abolished
- **constituency14**: Wallace (New Zealand electorate), Wallace
- **birth name**: Simon William English
- **birth place**: Lumsden, New Zealand
- **party**: New Zealand National Party, National
- **spouse**: Mary Scanlon
- **children**: 6
- **alma mater**: University of Otago
Victoria University of Wellington, Victoria University
- **signature**: Bill English Signature.svg