New Zealand Labour Party

The New Zealand Labour Party (Māori: Rōpū Reipa o Aotearoa[4]), or simply Labour (Reipa[5]), is a centre-left political party in New Zealand.[6][7][8][9] The party's platform programme describes its founding principle as democratic socialism,[10] while observers describe Labour as social-democratic[11][12] and pragmatic in practice.[11][12] The party participates in the international Progressive Alliance.[2] It is one of two major political parties in New Zealand, alongside its traditional rival, the National Party.

Quick facts: New Zealand Labour Party Rōpū Reipa o Aotearo... ▼

New Zealand Labour Party Rōpū Reipa o Aotearoa
Leader	Chris Hipkins
Deputy Leader	Kelvin Davis
President	Jill Day
General Secretary	Rob Salmond[1]
Founded	7 July 1916; 106 years ago (1916-07-07)
Merger of	Social Democratic Party United Labour Party
Headquarters	Fraser House, 160–162 Willis St, Wellington 6011
Youth wing	Young Labour
LGBT+ wing	Rainbow Labour
Ideology	Social democracy
Political position	Centre-left
International affiliation	Progressive Alliance[2]
Colours	Red
Slogan	"Let's Keep Moving"[3]
MPs in the House of Representatives	62 / 119
Website
www.labour.org.nz
Politics of New Zealand Political parties Elections

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The New Zealand Labour Party formed in 1916 out of various socialist parties and trade unions. It is the country's oldest political party still in existence.[13] Alongside the National Party, Labour has alternated in leading governments of New Zealand since the 1930s.[14] As of 2020^[update], there have been six periods of Labour government under 11 Labour prime ministers. The party has traditionally been supported by working class, urban, Māori, Pasifika, immigrant and trade unionist New Zealanders, and has had strongholds in inner cities and the Māori seats for much of its existence.[15] The party is currently strongest in Wellington, Palmerston North and Hamilton, where it won all of the electorates in 2020. Labour also won the party vote in 71 out of 72 electorates in that election, making it overwhelmingly the most successful political party of the MMP era.[16][17]

The party first came to power under prime ministers Michael Joseph Savage and Peter Fraser from 1935 to 1949, when it established New Zealand's welfare state. It governed from 1957 to 1960, and again from 1972 to 1975. In 1974, the prime minister Norman Kirk died in office, which contributed to a decline in party support. Up to the 1980s, the party advocated a strong role for governments in economic and social matters. When it governed from 1984 to 1990, Labour instead privatised state assets and reduced the role of the state in the economy; Labour prime minister David Lange also introduced New Zealand's nuclear-free policy. Labour again became the largest party from 1999 to 2008, when it governed in coalition with, or based on negotiated support from, several minor parties; Helen Clark became the first Labour prime minister to secure a third term in office.

In the 2017 general election the party, under Jacinda Ardern, returned to prominence with its best showing since the 2005 general election, winning 36.9% of the party vote and 46 seats.[18] On 19 October 2017, Labour formed a minority coalition government with New Zealand First, with confidence and supply from the Green Party. In the 2020 general election, Labour won in a landslide, winning an overall majority of 10 and 50.01% of the vote. Chris Hipkins serves as the party leader and prime minister (since 2023^[update]), while Kelvin Davis is the deputy leader.