Wikipedia

President of the New Zealand Labour Party

The president of the New Zealand Labour Party is the highest-ranked organisational figure within the New Zealand Labour Party. The president heads the party apparatus outside of parliament, serving as the chairperson of the party's council and policy council. Since 2022, the office has been held by Jill Day.[1]

President of the Labour Party
Incumbent
Jill Day
since 5 November 2022
Term lengthNo fixed term
Inaugural holderJames McCombs
Formation7 July 1916
DeputyCarol Beaumont
WebsiteLabour Party profile

Selection

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The president is elected by the party delegates at the Labour Party annual conference or, if an early vacancy occurs, a by-election via postal ballot.[2]

Role

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While the party leader is responsible for leading the Labour Party's political agenda and representing Labour in parliament, the president is responsible for managing the party's internal affairs and ensuring that the party is organised and compliant with relevant laws and regulations.

The president is the chair of the party's governing body, the New Zealand Council, and presides of its meetings and functions. Additionally the president chairs Labour's policy council and party list moderating committee. The president is paid an honorarium for their services.[2]

History

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The post of president of the Labour Party was officially created upon the party's inception in 1916, the inaugural holder was James McCombs.[3] The longest serving president was James Roberts serving 13 years consecutively from 1937 to 1950.[4] The first Māori holder was Charles Bennett (1973–76).[5] Margaret Wilson was the first woman to be elected president in 1984.[6]

List of presidents

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The following is a complete list of Labour Party presidents:[7]

No. President Portrait Prior/concurrent office Term of Office Leader
1 James McCombs   MP for Lyttelton 7 July 1916 9 July 1917 Hindmarsh
2 Andrew Walker   MP for Dunedin North 9 July 1917 11 July 1918
3 Tom Paul   Member of the Legislative Council 11 July 1918 12 July 1920
Holland
4 Peter Fraser   MP for Wellington Central 12 July 1920 15 July 1921
5 Frederick Cooke   Vice-President of the Labour Party 15 July 1921 7 July 1922
6 Tom Brindle   Vice-President of the Waterside Workers Union 7 July 1922 7 April 1926
7 Bob Semple   MP for Wellington East 7 April 1926 12 April 1928
8 John Archer   Mayor of Christchurch 12 April 1928 3 April 1929
9 Jim Thorn   Vice-President of the Labour Party 3 April 1929 8 April 1931
10 Rex Mason   MP for Auckland Suburbs 8 April 1931 29 March 1932
11 Bill Jordan   MP for Manukau 29 March 1932 18 April 1933
12 Frank Langstone   MP for Waimarino 18 April 1933 3 April 1934
Savage
13 Tim Armstrong   MP for Christchurch East 3 April 1934 24 April 1935
14 Walter Nash   MP for Hutt 24 April 1935 14 April 1936
15 Clyde Carr   MP for Timaru 14 April 1936 30 March 1937
16 James Roberts   Vice-President of the Labour Party 30 March 1937 9 May 1950
Fraser
17 Arnold Nordmeyer   MP for Brooklyn 9 May 1950 17 May 1955
Nash
18 Mick Moohan   MP for Petone 17 May 1955 8 June 1960
19 Martyn Finlay   Vice-President of the Labour Party 8 June 1960 12 May 1964
Nordmeyer
20 Norman Kirk   MP for Lyttelton 12 May 1964 11 May 1966
Kirk
21 Norman Douglas   MP for Auckland Central 11 May 1966 5 May 1970
22 Bill Rowling   MP for Buller 5 May 1970 8 May 1973
23 Charles Bennett   Vice-President of the Labour Party 8 May 1973 11 May 1976
Rowling
24 Arthur Faulkner   MP for Roskill 11 May 1976 15 May 1979
25 Jim Anderton   Auckland Regional Councillor 15 May 1979 8 September 1984
Lange
26 Margaret Wilson   Vice-chair of the Association of University Teachers 8 September 1984 9 November 1987
27 Rex Jones   National Secretary of the EPMU 9 November 1987 5 September 1988
28 Ruth Dyson   Vice-President of the Labour Party 5 September 1988 18 April 1993
Palmer
Moore
29 Maryan Street   Vice-President of the Labour Party 18 April 1993 November 1995
Clark
30 Michael Hirschfeld   CEO of Mico Wakefield November 1995 5 January 1999
31 Bob Harvey   Mayor of Waitakere 16 February 1999 19 November 2000
32 Mike Williams   1999 Election Campaign Manager 19 November 2000 2 March 2009
Goff
33 Andrew Little   National Secretary of the EPMU 2 March 2009 2 April 2011
34 Moira Coatsworth   Vice-President of the Labour Party 2 April 2011 26 November 2014
Shearer
Cunliffe
Little
35 Nigel Haworth   President of University Staff of New Zealand 27 February 2015 11 September 2019
Ardern
- Tracey McLellan
Acting
   Vice-President of the Labour Party 11 September 2019 30 November 2019
36 Claire Szabó   CEO of Habitat for Humanity 30 November 2019 5 November 2022
37 Jill Day   Deputy Mayor of Wellington 5 November 2022 present
Hipkins

Notes

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  1. ^ Verschaffelt, Peter (4 November 2022). "Labour conference day to shine for new president". Waatea News.
  2. ^ a b "New Zealand Labour Party Constitution and Rules" (PDF). New Zealand Labour Party. 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2021 – via New Zealand Electoral Commission.
  3. ^ Garner, Jean. "McCombs, James". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  4. ^ Green, Anna. "Roberts, James". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  5. ^ Ballara, Angela. "Charles Moihi Te Arawaka Bennett". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  6. ^ "Woman president for Labour Party". The Press. 18 July 1984. p. 2.
  7. ^ Brown 1962, p. 224.

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to New Zealand Labour Party Presidents.
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