New Zealand Government

The Governments of New Zealand are based on the Westminster system of responsible government. Executive government in New Zealand is based on the principle that "The Queen reigns, but the government rules, so long as it has the support of the House of Representatives"; hence the Head of state (the Queen, represented by the Governor-General) follow the advice of the government and play only a formal role in the executive, except with respect to the formation and dismissal of governments and the use of the reserve powers.

Head of Government

The Head of Government in New Zealand is the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is indirectly elected, in that they are not directly elected by the people of New Zealand but become Prime Minister by (usually) becoming the leader of the largest party in Parliament following a general election.

See also: Prime Minister of New Zealand

History

While New Zealand had been granted self-government in 1853 following the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852, the first government formed along political lines did not appear until 1891, when John Ballance formed the Liberal Party.

List of Governments of New Zealand by term

Rank	Government	Term	Time in office
1	First Liberal	(1891 - 1912)	21 years
2	First Labour	(1935 - 1949)	14 years
3	Second National	(1960 - 1972)	12 years
4	Second Reform	1918 - 1928	10 years
5	Fourth National	(1990 - 1999)	9 years
6	First National	(1949 - 1957)	8 years
7	Third National	(1975 - 1984)	8 years
9	Fourth Labour	(1984 - 1990)	6 years
10=	World War I coalition	(1914 - 1918)	4 years
10=	Liberal-Reform coalition	(1931 - 1935)	4 years
12=	United	(1928 - 1931)	3 years
12=	Second Labour	(1957 - 1960)	3 years
12=	Third Labour	(1972 - 1975)	3 years
15	First Reform	(1912 - 1914)	2 years

See also

• Politics of New Zealand