Prime minister of new zealand

Prime Minister of New Zealand
Coat of arms of New Zealand
Incumbent Bill English since 12 December 2016
Style	The Right Honourable
Residence	Premier House
Appointer	Governor-General of New Zealand
Term length	At Her Majesty's pleasure (dependent on parliamentary support)
Inaugural holder	Henry Sewell As Colonial Secretary
Formation	7 May 1856
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
Website	primeminister.govt.nz

The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Māori: Te Pirimia o Aotearoa) is the head of government of New Zealand. The current prime minister is Bill English of the National Party, who took office on 12 December 2016.

The prime minister is the most senior government minister, and chairs cabinet meetings. The office exists by a long-established convention, which originated in New Zealand's former colonial power, the United Kingdom. The convention stipulates that the Governor-General of New Zealand (the monarch's representative) must select as prime minister the person most likely to command the confidence of the House of Representatives. This individual is typically the leader of the political party that holds the largest number of seats in that chamber.

The title "prime minister" had made its first formal appearance in the 1873 Schedule of the Civil List Act, but originally the head of government was titled colonial secretary or first minister. This was changed in 1869 to "premier". That title remained in use for more than 30 years, being informally changed by Richard Seddon to "prime minister" in 1901 during his tenure in office. Following the declaration of New Zealand as a dominion in 1907, the term "prime minister" has been used exclusively.

The office of prime minister is not defined by codified laws, but by unwritten customs known as constitutional conventions which developed in Britain and were replicated in New Zealand. These conventions are for the most part founded on the underlying principle that the prime minister and fellow ministers must not lose the support (confidence) of the democratically elected component of Parliament: the House of Representatives. The Prime Minister is leader of the cabinet (itself a body existing by convention), and takes a coordinating role. The Cabinet Manual 2008 provides an outline of the prime minister's powers and responsibilities.