Global InformationNew Zealand National Party information
New Zealand National Party Rōpū Nāhinara o Aotearoa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President | Sylvia Wood |
| Leader | Christopher Luxon |
| Deputy Leader | Nicola Willis |
| Founded | 14 May 1936 |
| Preceded by | United–Reform Coalition |
| Headquarters | 41 Pipitea Street, Thorndon, Wellington 6011 |
| Youth wing | Young Nationals |
| Ideology |
|
| Political position | Centre-right[2][3] |
| Regional affiliation | Asia Pacific Democracy Union[4] |
| International affiliation | International Democracy Union |
| Colours | Blue |
| Slogan | "Get our country back on track"[5] |
| MPs in the House of Representatives | 49 / 123 |
| Website | |
| www.national.org.nz | |
| |
The New Zealand National Party (Māori: Rōpū Nāhinara o Aotearoa),[6] shortened to National (Nāhinara)[7] or the Nats,[8] is a centre-right[3] New Zealand political party that is the current ruling party. It is one of two major parties that dominate contemporary New Zealand politics, alongside its traditional rival, the Labour Party.
National formed in 1936 through amalgamation of conservative and liberal parties, Reform and United respectively, and subsequently became New Zealand's second-oldest extant political party.[9] National's predecessors had previously formed a coalition against the growing labour movement. National has governed for six periods during the 20th and 21st centuries, and has spent more time in government than any other New Zealand party.[10][11]
After the 1949 general election, Sidney Holland became the first prime minister from the National Party, and remained in office until 1957. Keith Holyoake succeeded Holland, and was defeated some months later at a general election by the Labour Party in 1957. Holyoake returned to office for a second period from 1960 to 1972. The party's platform shifted from moderate economic liberalism to increased emphasis on state interventionism during Robert Muldoon's National government from 1975 to 1984. In 1990, Jim Bolger formed another National government, which continued the radical free-market reforms initiated by the preceding Labour government. The party has since advocated free enterprise, reduction of taxes, and limited state regulation. Following the first MMP election in 1996, the National Party governed in a coalition with the populist New Zealand First Party. National Party leader Jenny Shipley became New Zealand's first female prime minister in 1997; her government was defeated by a Labour-led coalition in 1999.
The National Party was in government from 2008 to 2017 under John Key and Bill English; it governed with support from the centrist United Future, the classical-liberal ACT Party and the indigenous-rights-based Māori Party. In the 2017 general election, despite leaving government, the party secured 44.4 percent of the vote and won 56 seats, making it the largest caucus at the time in the House of Representatives.[12] It lost this plurality position in the 2020 general election, receiving only 25.58 percent of the vote and 33 seats. National was again unable to form a government following the election and remained the Official Opposition.
Christopher Luxon has served as the leader of the National Party since 30 November 2021.[13] He led the party to victory in the 2023 general election,[14] winning 38 percent of the party vote and a plurality with 48 seats.[15] Subsequently, since November 2023, Luxon heads a National-led coalition government with the ACT Party and New Zealand First.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
tearawas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Voters' preexisting opinions shift to align with political party positions". Association for Psychological Science. 2 November 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2020 – via Science Daily.
In 2015, New Zealand held a referendum on changing the national flag, an issue that quickly became polarised along party lines. John Key, the New Zealand Prime Minister and leader of the centre-right National Party at the time, advocated for changing the flag design, while, Andrew Little, the leader of the centre-left Labour Party at the time, opposed the change.
- ^ a b Papillon, Martin; Turgeon, Luc; Wallner, Jennifer; White, Stephen (2014). Comparing Canada: Methods and Perspectives on Canadian Politics. UBC Press. p. 126. ISBN 9780774827867. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
...in New Zealand politics, by the centre-left Labour Party and the centre-right National Party
- ^ "International Democrat Union » Asia Pacific Democracy Union (APDU)". International Democrat Union. 2016. Archived from the original on 6 February 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ Lynch, Jenna (16 July 2023). "Election 2023: Campaign slogan battle between Labour and National begins". Newshub. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
- ^ "Kahurangi National". New Zealand National Party. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ "Ngā Rōpū Pāremata" (in Māori). New Zealand Parliament Pāremata Aotearoa. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Raymond, Miller (2005). Party Politics in New Zealand. Australia: Oxford University Press. p. 32.
- ^ Hossain, Akhand Akhtar (2015). The Evolution of Central Banking and Monetary Policy in the Asia-Pacific. Edward Elgar Publishing. p. 317. ISBN 9780857937810.
- ^ James, Colin (20 June 2012). "National Party". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
- ^ "2017 General Election – Official Result". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Chris Luxon: The first-term MP who will lead National". NZ Herald. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ^ "Former businessman Christopher Luxon wins New Zealand election as voters seek conservative change". Nine News. 14 October 2023. Archived from the original on 16 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
- ^ "Official results for the 2023 General Election". New Zealand Electoral Commission. Retrieved 2 February 2024.