List of Prime Ministers of New Zealand

The Prime Minister of New Zealand is the head of government of New Zealand. Officially, the prime minister is appointed by the Governor-General of New Zealand, but by constitutional convention, the prime minister must have the confidence of the elected New Zealand House of Representatives. The prime minister is always a member of parliament and is usually the leader of the largest party in the House.

This list includes individuals who held the titles of colonial secretary and premier, the direct predecessors to the modern office. The title of the office was formally changed to "premier" in 1869, and then to "prime minister" in 1907 when New Zealand was granted the dominion status in the British Empire. Thirty-eight individuals have so far held the premiership, not including Hugh Watt, who was briefly the acting Prime Minister in 1974. Henry Sewell is regarded as New Zealand's first premier. Nine prime ministers have held the position more than one discrete term in office. The longest single term in office was that of Richard Seddon, who held the position for thirteen years between 1893 and 1906. The incumbent Prime Minister is Bill English, who took office on 12 December 2016, after the resignation of John Key.

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