Initially, Muldoon appeared to begin reforming the economy and eliminate the budget deficit. The Reform Party had been essentially a rural based party, whereas the Liberals were dominated by city based concerns.

The public took some time to get used to consensus-style coalition government. The new member for Ashburton elected in 1987 was Jenny Shipley. Muldoon was appointed to Cabinet in February 1967, three weeks later, Harry Lake then Minister of Finance died. The party first entered Parliament that same year.

This was despite warnings from Party President Sue Wood that the party organisation was completely unprepared. “But at the same time, there is no chance at all that I’m going to let Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern get away with any nonsense when it comes to the economy and doing her job. The New Zealand National Party (National Party) has 54 members of Parliament, 15 elected from the party list and 39 electorate seats.

The Caucus saw Muldoon as the man capable of taking on Kirk.

The voters returned National to the Treasury benches in 2011 with National renewing its supply and confidence agreements with the Act, United Future, and Maori parties. These MPs represent 64 general electorate seats and seven Māori electorates.

Under John Key’s leadership, New Zealand continued to prosper and become one of the fastest growing countries in the OECD. National increased its share of the party vote to 47.3 percent, but gained only one additional seat to 59 due to a reduced wasted vote (down to 3.4 percent from 6.5 percent in 2008), largely stemming from the return of the New Zealand First party to Parliament after a one term absence. However, the election in 1954 saw National's vote drop by nearly 100,000.


At the first meeting of the Dominion Executive of the Party following the election in March 1947, a Marginal Seats Committee was formed. Read more. Meet the National Party team of MPs and Candidates. By mid-1958, Holyoake had Labour on the run. Authorised by G Hamilton, 41 Pipitea St, Wellington. He had strong appeal with more liberal sections of society and the business sector.

These MPs represent 64 general electorate seats and seven Māori electorates. One of the new MPs was R.D. National's first woman Member of Parliament was Hilda Ross who won the Hamilton electorate in a by-election in May 1945 and went on to serve as a minister in the first National Government.
Eight Labour held seats were heavily targeted to take National to the Treasury benches.

Divisions and defections in National and the charismatic Labour leader David Lange took National's share of the vote to just 36 per cent of the vote and 37 of 95 seats.

“I obviously thought about whether or not I should put my hands up in the circumstances but I thought… I can make a difference.”. Economic Development, Pike River Re-Entry, Assoc. The Reform Party had been essentially a rural based party, whereas the Liberals were dominated by city based concerns. During its first term in office, the National Government faced extraordinary challenges from the global economic crisis to the two Canterbury earthquakes and the Pike River Mine Disaster.

National's public poll ratings reached record lows.

Attorney General, Crown/Maori Relations, Treaty Negotiations, Māori Tourism, MP for New PlymouthEnergy & Resources, Arts, Culture and Heritage, MP for Hamilton WestACC, Skills & Employment, Seniors, Civil Defence, List MP, Manukau EastEthnic Communities, Assoc. The New Zealand National Party was formed in Wellington on May 13 and 14, 1936. For more information about tours and visiting Parliament, click here. As Prime Minister Bolger said, "Bugger the pollsters". He took National into battle against a Lange Government in full flight. These two parties united to form an alternative to the … John Key dealt with these events swiftly, skilfully, and with immense compassion.