Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party

Leader of the Labour Party
Incumbent Andrew Little since 18 November 2014
Precursor	David Cunliffe
Inaugural holder	Alfred Hindmarsh
Formation	7 July 1916
Deputy	Annette King
Website	Labour Party profile

The Leader of the Labour Party is the highest ranked politician within the Labour Party in New Zealand. Since 18 November 2014, the office has been held by Andrew Little, who is a List MP.

Annette King is the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, elected on the same day. She previously served as the Deputy Leader between 2008 and 2011 under Phil Goff, making her the only person to hold the office twice.

The post of Leader of the Labour Party was officially created upon the party's inception in 1916, though the title "Leader" was often substituted and/or complimented with the title "Chairman". In 1935, Michael Joseph Savage became the first ever Labour Prime Minister, following a landslide victory. In 1963, Arnold Nordmeyer became the first Leader of the Labour Party to have been born in New Zealand. Prior to this, three Leaders had been born in Australia and one each in England and Scotland. The most electorally successful Labour Leader to date is Helen Clark, who won three elections in 1999, 2002 and 2005. Clark is also the Labour Party's longest serving leader serving 14 years, 346 days between 1993 and 2008.Peter Fraser is the longest serving Labour Prime Minister, serving 9 years, 261 days between 1940 and 1949.

Unlike other political party leaders, the Labour Party's Leader does not have the power to dismiss or appoint their Deputy. Both the Leader and Deputy Leader are elected. The Labour Party elects its Leader in a vote split among the party's caucus, party members and party affiliates (unions) in a 40/40/20 split respectively. Prior to 2013, the Leader was elected solely by the parliamentary caucus. This practice remains for the Deputy Leadership.