New Zealand Labour Party#List of deputy leaders

{{see also|Socialism in New Zealand}}

The founding of the New Zealand Labour Party, on 7 July 1916 in Wellington,{{cite web|title= New Zealand Labour Party founded|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/the-new-zealand-labour-party-is-formed|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=4 February 2017|date= 23 December 2016}} brought together a number of earlier socialist groups advocating proportional representation, the abolition of the country quota, the recall of members of Parliament, as well as the nationalisation of production and exchange.{{sfn|Gustafson|1980|p=ix}}

Despite the Labour Party's Wellington origins, the West Coast town of Blackball is regarded as the "spiritual home" of the party,{{cite web|title= Returning to Labour's Roots|url= http://www.labour.org.nz/returning_to_labours_roots|publisher= New Zealand Labour Party|access-date=19 June 2017|language=en|date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727134401/http://www.labour.org.nz/returning_to_labours_roots|archive-date=27 July 2017 |url-status=dead}} because it was the site of a miners' strike in 1908 that led to the founding of the first nationwide federation of trade unions (the "Red Federation").{{cite web |last1=Derby |first1=Mark |title=Strikes and labour disputes −1908 Blackball strike |url=https://teara.govt.nz/en/strikes-and-labour-disputes/page-4 |website=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=1 February 2023 |language=en-NZ |date=11 March 2010}} The Labour Party was established by trade unions, among other groups, and the party identifies itself as part of the wider labour movement in New Zealand.{{cite web|title= History of the Labour Party: The labour movement in New Zealand|url= http://www.labour.org.nz/history |publisher= New Zealand Labour Party|access-date= 19 June 2017}}{{cite web|title=Party information|url=https://www.labour.org.nz/party_info|publisher= New Zealand Labour Party |quote= The Labour Party is part of a wider labour movement, which continues to help working Kiwis in New Zealand. We therefore have a relationship with our affiliated trade unions. |access-date=11 March 2022}} The Labour Party has long been identified with red, a political colour traditionally affiliated with socialism and the labour movement.

{{formation of New Zealand Labour Party}}

At the turn of the 20th century, the radical side of New Zealand working class politics was represented by the Socialist Party, founded in 1901. The more moderate leftists generally supported the Liberal Party.{{sfn|Gustafson|1980|pp=13f}} In 1905 a group of working-class politicians who were dissatisfied with the Liberal approach established the Independent Political Labour League (IPLL),{{sfn|Gustafson|1980|pp=17f}} which managed to win a seat in Parliament in the {{NZ election link|1908}}.{{sfn|Wilson|1985|p=216}}{{sfn|Gustafson|1980|p=19}} At the same time, moderates contested as "Lib-Lab" candidates, aligning with the Liberal Party while enjoying the endorsement of the labour movement.{{sfn|Gustafson|1980|p=80}} This established the basic dividing line in New Zealand's left-wing politics – the Socialists/IPLL tended to be revolutionary and militant, while the moderates focused instead on progressive reform. The process of unifying these sides into a single party was difficult, with tensions between different factions running strong.{{sfn|Gustafson|1980|p=13}}

In 1910 the Independent Political Labour League was relaunched as an organisation called the Labour Party (distinct from the modern party). Soon, however, the leaders of the new organisation decided that additional effort was needed to promote left-wing cooperation, and organised a "Unity Conference". The Socialists refused to attend, but several independent labour activists agreed. The United Labour Party (ULP) was born.{{cite book |chapter-url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/political-parties/page-8 |title= An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand |chapter=Labour Party |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage / Te Manatū Taonga |editor-first=A. H. |editor-last=McLintock |editor-link= Alexander Hare McLintock |access-date=15 July 2015 |orig-year=First published in 1966 |date= 22 April 2009|title-link=An Encyclopaedia of New Zealand }}

Soon afterward, the labour movement went through the 1912 Waihi miners' strike, a major industrial disturbance prompted by radicals in the union movement.{{cite web|title= 'Black Tuesday' – The 1912 Waihi strike|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/black-tuesday/the-1912-waihi-strike|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=19 June 2017 |language=en}} The movement split over supporting or opposing the radicals, and in the end, the conservative Reform Party government of William Massey suppressed the strike by force. In the strike's aftermath, there was a major drive to end the divisions in the labour movement and to establish a united front. Accordingly, Walter Thomas Mills organised another Unity Conference, and this time the Socialists attended. The resulting group was named the Social Democratic Party.

Not all members of the United Labour Party accepted the new organisation, however, and some continued under their own banner. Gradually, however, the differences between the Social Democrats and the ULP Remnant broke down, and in 1915 they formed a unified caucus – both to oppose Reform better and to differentiate themselves from the Liberals.{{cite news |url= http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=SUNCH19150706.2.96 |work=Sun |page= 11 |title=A Separate Identity |date= 6 July 1915 |access-date= 30 March 2016 |volume=II |issue= 438}} A year later yet another gathering took place. This time, all major factions of the labour movement agreed to unite, forming the Labour Party as it is today.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|pp= 70–71}}

{{clear}}

Almost immediately, the new Labour Party became involved in the acrimonious debate about conscription which arose during World War I. The party strongly opposed conscription,{{sfn|Miller|2005|p=30}} and several leading members – Peter Fraser, Harry Holland, Bob Semple and Paddy Webb – were jailed and expelled from Parliament for their stand against the war.{{cite encyclopedia|last1= Derby|first1= Mark|title= Conscription, conscientious objection and pacifism – Conscription|url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/conscription-conscientious-objection-and-pacifism/page-1 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|access-date=19 June 2017|date=20 June 2012}} The loss of leadership threatened to seriously destabilise the party, but the party survived. (Fraser, Semple and Webb later supported conscription in World War II.)

In its first real electoral test as a united party, the {{NZ election link|1919}}, Labour won eight seats – the party's quick success shocked many conservatives.{{sfn|Lipson|2011|p=211}} The eight seats compared with 47 for the governing Reform Party and 21 for the Liberal Party.{{sfn|Gustafson|1980|p=18}}

Although Labour had split with its more militant faction (which went on to form various socialist parties), it maintained what were at the time radical socialist policies. Labour's 'Usehold' policy on land was, in essence, the replacement of freehold tenure by a system of perpetual lease from the state, with all land-transfer conducted through the state (the full nationalisation of farmland). This policy proved unpopular with voters, and Labour dropped it, along with other more radical policies, in the course of the 1920s.

File:New Zealand Parliamentary Labour Party, 1922.jpg, 1922. Prominent members are Harry Holland (seated, left of centre), Peter Fraser (seated, right of centre) and Michael Joseph Savage (back row, rightmost).]]

In the {{NZ election link|1922}}, Labour more than doubled its number of seats, winning seventeen. In the {{NZ election link|1925}}, it declined somewhat but had the consolation of soon overtaking the Liberals as the second-largest party. Labour leader Harry Holland became the official Leader of the Opposition on 16 June 1926, after the Eden by-election on 15 April elected Rex Mason (Labour) to replace James Parr (Reform), who had resigned. After the {{NZ election link|1928}}, however, the party was left in an advantageous position – the Reform Party had 28 seats and the new United Party (a revival of the Liberals) had 27 seats, and neither could govern without Labour support. Labour chose to back United, the party closest to its own views – this put an end to five terms (1912–1928) of Reform Party government.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=79}}

In the early 1930s the rigours of the Great Depression brought Labour considerable popularity, but also caused tension between Labour and the United Party. In 1931 United passed a number of economic measures which Labour deemed hostile to workers, and the agreement between the two parties collapsed. United then formed a coalition government with Reform, making Labour the Opposition. The coalition retained power in the {{NZ election link|1931}}, but gradually, the public became highly dissatisfied with its failure to resolve the country's economic problems. Harry Holland died in 1933 and his deputy, Michael Joseph Savage, became the Labour Party parliamentary leader. In the {{NZ election link|1935}}, the Labour Party gained a significant majority, gaining 53 seats to the coalition's 19, and returned to government.

Several of the early Labour Party stalwarts were Australian-born: Alfred Hindmarsh, Harry Holland, Michael Joseph Savage, Bob Semple, Paddy Webb, Bill Parry and later Jerry Skinner, Mabel Howard, Hugh Watt, Jim Edwards and Dorothy Jelicich.

{{main|First Labour Government of New Zealand}}

File:Michael Joseph Savage (cropped 3 by 4).jpg

Party leader Michael Joseph Savage became prime minister on 6 December 1935, marking the beginning of Labour's first term in office. The new government quickly set about implementing a number of significant reforms, including a reorganisation of the social-welfare system and setting up the state housing scheme.{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Aimer|first1=Peter|title=Labour Party – First Labour government, 1935 to 1949 |url= http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/labour-party/page-2|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=19 June 2017|date=20 June 2012}} Workers also benefited from the introduction of the forty-hour week, and legislation making it easier for unions to negotiate on their behalf.{{cite journal|last1=Epstein|first1=Richard A.|title=Employment and Labor Law Reform in New Zealand Lecture|journal=Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law|date= 2001|volume=33|url=http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2222&context=journal_articles|access-date=19 June 2017}} Savage himself was highly popular with the working classes, and his portrait could be found on walls in many houses around the country.{{cite web|title= Michael Joseph Savage|url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/michael-joseph-savage-biography|publisher= Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=19 June 2017|language=en}} At this time the Labour Party pursued an alliance with the Māori Rātana movement.{{cite web|title=Rātana and Labour seal alliance – 22 April 1936|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/ratana-and-labour-seal-alliance|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|date=17 May 2017|access-date=19 June 2017 |language=en}}

The parliamentary opposition, meanwhile, attacked the Labour Party's more left-wing policies and accused it of undermining free enterprise and hard work. In May 1936, months after Labour's first general election win, the Reform Party and the United Party took their coalition to the next step, agreeing to merge with each other. The combined organisation, named the National Party, would be Labour's main rival in future years.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=100}}

File:Labour Government caucus 1935.jpg on the steps of the Parliamentary Library in Wellington, 1935]]

Labour also faced opposition within its own ranks. While the Labour Party had been explicitly socialist at its inception, it had gradually drifted away from its earlier radicalism. The death of the party's former leader, the "doctrinaire" Harry Holland, had marked a significant turning-point in the party's history. Some within the party, however, were displeased about the changing focus of the party. Most notably, John A. Lee. Lee, whose views were a mixture of socialism and social credit theory, emerged as a vocal critic of the party's leadership, accusing it of behaving autocratically and of betraying the party's rank and file. After a long and bitter dispute, the party executive expelled Lee from the party, who then established his own breakaway Democratic Labour Party.{{cite web|title=John A Lee|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/john-a-lee|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=19 June 2017|date=30 March 2015}}

Savage died in 1940 and Peter Fraser, who became Labour's longest-serving prime minister, replaced him. Fraser became best-known as New Zealand's head of government for most of World War II. In the post-war period, however, ongoing shortages and industrial problems cost Labour considerable popularity, and the National Party, under Sidney Holland, gained ground, although Labour was able to win the 1943 and 1946 elections. Eventually, in the {{NZ election link|1949}}, Labour suffered electoral defeat.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=133}}

Fraser died shortly afterward, and was replaced by Walter Nash, the long-serving minister of finance.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=136}} It would be some time before Labour would return to power; Nash lacked the charisma of his predecessors, and National won considerable support for opposing the "industrial anarchy" of the 1951 waterfront dispute.{{cite web |title=The 1951 waterfront dispute |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/the-1951-waterfront-dispute |website=NZHistory |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |access-date=3 July 2021 |date=17 May 2017}} In the {{NZ election link|1957}}, however, Labour won a narrow majority of two seats, and returned to office.

{{main|Second Labour Government of New Zealand}}

Nash, Labour's third prime minister, took office in late 1957. Upon coming to power, Labour decided that drastic measures were needed to address balance-of-payments concerns.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=152}} This resulted in the highly unpopular 1958 "Black Budget" of Arnold Nordmeyer, the new minister of finance, which raised taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, cars, and petrol.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=154}} It is widely thought{{by whom|date=May 2021}} to have doomed the party to defeat despite the economy rejuvenating less than a year after the adoption of the Black Budget.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=154}} In the {{NZ election link|1960}}, the National Party returned to power.

File:Norman Kirk 1966 campaign opening.jpg opening Labour's election campaign in 1966]]

The elderly Nash retired in 1963, suffering from ill health.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=160}} Nordmeyer replaced him, but the taint of the Black Budget ensured that Nordmeyer did not have any appreciable success in reversing the party's fortunes. In 1965 the leadership went to the younger Norman Kirk, who many believed would revitalise the party. Labour suffered defeat again in the next two elections, but in the {{NZ election link|1972}}, the party gained a significant majority over its rival.

{{main|Third Labour Government of New Zealand}}

Kirk proved an energetic prime minister and introduced a number of new policies. His foreign-policy stances included strong criticism of nuclear-weapons testing and of South Africa's apartheid system. However, Kirk suffered from poor health, worsened by his refusal to slow the pace of his work. In 1974 Kirk was taken ill and died. Bill Rowling replaced him, but did not have the same electoral appeal – in the {{NZ election link|1975}}, Labour was heavily defeated by the National Party, then led by Robert Muldoon.{{sfn|Franks|McAloon|2016|p=184}}

File:Labour L Logo.png

Rowling remained the leader of the Labour Party for some time after his defeat. In the {{NZ election link|1978}} and the {{NZ election link|1981}} Labour won a larger share of the vote than National but failed to win an equivalent number of seats. This led to a very heated debate on New Zealand's electoral system, and precipitated the introduction of mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) fifteen years later.{{Cite web |title=The Royal Commission |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/fpp-to-mmp/royal-commission |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=nzhistory.govt.nz |language=en}} Rowling himself was compared by media unfavourably to Muldoon, and did not cope well with Muldoon's aggressive style. In 1983 Rowling was replaced as parliamentary leader by David Lange, whom the parliamentary caucus perceived as more charismatic.{{cite web|title=Wallace Rowling|url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/wallace-rowling |website=nzhistory.govt.nz|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=16 November 2017|language=en|date=21 August 2014}} In the snap election of {{NZ election link year|1984}}, Labour decisively defeated the National Party.

{{main|Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand}}

File:David Lange (cropped).jpg's government deviated sharply from those of previous Labour governments]]

When the Fourth Labour Government came into power it uncovered a fiscal crisis that had been largely hidden by the outgoing Third National Government.{{sfn|Miller|2005|pp=38–39}} Government debt was skyrocketing, due largely to the costs of borrowing to maintain a fixed exchange-rate. When the result of the election became clear, Lange asked Muldoon to devalue the New Zealand dollar, which Muldoon refused to do, resulting in a constitutional crisis and precipitating some of the changes in the Constitution Act 1986.{{cite web|title=Patriated – History of the Governor-General|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/history-of-the-governor-general/patriated|publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage|access-date=19 June 2017|language= en}}

The economic-policy agenda of the Fourth Labour Government differed significantly from previous Labour governments. The minister of finance, Roger Douglas, supported neoliberal theories, and sought to implement sweeping free-market reforms (dubbed "Rogernomics") to the economy and to the tax system.{{cite journal|last1=Gray|first1=Tim|last2=Reardon|first2=John|title=About Turn: An Analysis of the Causes of the New Zealand Labour Party's Adoption of Neo-Liberal Policies 1984–1990|journal= Political Quarterly|year=2007|volume=78|issue=3|page=447 455|doi=10.1111/j.1467-923X.2007.00872.x |url= http://eprint.ncl.ac.uk/file_store/production/28177/3E59BD56-D5F3-4E4B-A565-9C7078145D81.pdf}}{{cite encyclopedia |author1-link=Brian Easton (economist) |last1=Easton |first1=Brian |title=Economic history – Government and market liberalisation |url= https://teara.govt.nz/en/economic-history/page-11 |encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand | date=11 March 2010 |access-date=17 July 2020}} This involved floating the New Zealand dollar, cutting government spending, reducing taxes and removing almost all industry subsidies. The government also revolutionised New Zealand's foreign policy, making the country a nuclear-free zone, which resulted in suspension from the ANZUS alliance.{{cite book| last = Lange| first = David| author-link = David Lange| title = Nuclear Free: The New Zealand Way| publisher = Penguin Books| year = 1990| location = New Zealand}} Labour liberalised immigration policy and promoted migration from Asia.{{cite journal|last1= Brawley|first1= Sean|title='No White Policy in NZ': Fact and Fiction in New Zealand's Asian Immigration Record, 1946–1978|journal=New Zealand Journal of History|date=1993|volume=27|issue=1|pages=33–36|url= http://www.nzjh.auckland.ac.nz/docs/1993/NZJH_27_1_03.pdf}}

Other innovations during the term of the Fourth Labour Government included extending the jurisdiction of the Waitangi Tribunal back to 1840 (the date of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi); the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986, which legalised homosexual relations; and the Bill of Rights Act, which enumerated civil and political rights. Throughout its first term (1984–1987), the Labour government remained largely unified behind the enacted radical financial, economic and social policy reforms, but early signs of dissension began to appear before the 1987 election.{{sfn|Holland-Boston|1988|p=?}}

In {{NZ election link year|1987}} Labour won another considerable election victory against the National Party, while ruptures over the direction of policy remained concealed. Labour took votes in affluent seats where it had never come remotely close to winning even at high-tide elections. In the biggest shock of all, it came within 400 votes of taking thr blue-ribbon seat of Remuera off National. At the same time, Labour suffered negative swings in more traditional seats. The government's second term (1987–1990), with an increased Labour majority won on the back of Lange's anti-nuclear stance, saw emerging divisions over economic policy arising within Cabinet.{{sfn|Miller|2005|p=40}} Ministers debated the extent and pace of further reforms, and there was disillusion among party members and supporters loyal to Labour's left-wing tradition.{{cite web |title=Social welfare & the state: Labour wins the 1987 election |url=http://sites.tepapa.govt.nz/sliceofheaven/web/html/rogernomicsobject8767.html?irn=2590 |website=sites.tepapa.govt.nz |publisher=Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa |language=en}}{{cite book|last1=Vowles|first1=Jack|title=Voters' Vengeance: 1990 Election in New Zealand and the Fate of the Fourth Labour Government|date= 2013|publisher=Auckland University Press|isbn=978-1869407124|pages=14–15|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=0UFeAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT14|language=en}} The Council of Trade Unions criticised the Labour Party. One vocal member of Parliament critical of government policy, former Party President Jim Anderton, departed to establish the NewLabour Party, which later became a part of the left-wing Alliance Party.{{sfn|Miller|2005|p=40}} At the same time Roger Douglas and Lange fought intermittent battles inside Cabinet, with Douglas wanting to expand his economic programme dramatically. Lange strongly opposed a flat-tax proposal from Douglas and moved to sack him, resulting in political clashes throughout 1988 and the departure of Douglas from the Cabinet in December 1988. After the Labour Caucus re-elected Douglas to Cabinet on 3 August 1989, Lange resigned from office himself (8 August 1989), interpreting Douglas's reappointment as a vote of no confidence in his leadership.{{cite news|last= Hubbard|first=Anthony|title=The Reluctant Prime Minister|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9433705/The-Reluctant-Prime-Minister|access-date=24 December 2017 |work=Stuff|date=23 November 2013}}

Geoffrey Palmer became the new prime minister. However, Palmer failed to rebuild the shattered remnants of Lange's government and in September 1990, Mike Moore replaced him. Despite Moore's ascension somewhat salvaging poll-ratings, Labour suffered its worst defeat since it first took office in 1935 (losing twenty-eight seats) as voters flung it into the political wilderness in a massive landslide. National swept to power, seemingly repudiating the Lange/Douglas program, but then engaged in even more radical policies than Labour had contemplated. Political disillusionment caused by both governments was to be instrumental in the later adoption of mixed-member proportional representation (MMP) in 1993 (implemented in 1996).{{cite journal |last1=Vowles |first1=Jack |title=The Politics of Electoral Reform in New Zealand |journal=International Political Science Review |date=1995 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=95–115 |doi=10.1177/019251219501600107 |jstor=1601171 |s2cid=144488147 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1601171 |issn=0192-5121}}{{cite web |title=The road to MMP – The Royal Commission |url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/politics/fpp-to-mmp/royal-commission |publisher=Ministry for Culture and Heritage |language=en |date=18 June 2018 |access-date=11 February 2023}}

Moore himself, despite recovering sixteen seats at the 1993 election, was replaced by Helen Clark in December 1993. Clark led the party in opposition to the National government for six years under the administrations of Jim Bolger (1993–1997) and Jenny Shipley (1997–1999). During this period in opposition, the party made a measured repudiation of Rogernomics, although it has never returned to its original leftist roots (Labour's contemporary position is left-of-centre). When the {{NZ election link|1996}}, the first conducted under the MMP electoral system, gave the balance of power to the centrist New Zealand First party, many believed that Labour would return to power, but in the end New Zealand First formed a coalition arrangement with the National Party. Despite initially appearing coherent, the coalition became increasingly unstable and eventually collapsed, leaving the National Party to govern as a minority government from 1998 to 1999.

{{main|Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand}}

File:Helen_Clark_Visits_the_National_Assembly_for_Wales,_11_April_2012_-_Ymweliad_Helen_Clark_i_Gynulliad_Cenedlaethol_Cymru,_11_Ebrill_2012_(7083404269)_(cropped).jpg, Labour Prime Minister from 1999 to 2008]]

After the {{NZ election link|1999}}, a minority coalition government of Labour and the Alliance took power, supported by the Green Party with Helen Clark becoming New Zealand's second female prime minister.{{cite web|title= Helen Clark|url=https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/helen-clark |website=nzhistory.govt.nz|publisher= New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage.|language=en}} This government, while undertaking a number of reforms, was not particularly radical when compared to previous Labour governments, and maintained a high level of popularity.{{cite journal |last1=Skilling |first1=Peter |title=New Zealand's Fifth Labour Government (1999–2008): A New Partnership with Business and Society? |journal=Labour History |date=2010 |issue=98 |pages=39–53 |doi=10.5263/labourhistory.98.1.39 |jstor=10.5263/labourhistory.98.1.39 |url= https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5263/labourhistory.98.1.39 |issn=0023-6942}}{{cite news |last1=Espiner |first1=Colin |title=The prime of Helen Clark - steady as she goes |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/news/profiles-28606/633471/The-prime-of-Helen-Clark-steady-as-she-goes |access-date=23 January 2023 |work=Stuff |date=29 July 2014 |language=en}} The Alliance, however, fell in popularity and split internally. Clark cited the Alliance split as one of the reasons for calling the {{NZ election link|2002}} several months early; Labour won comfortably.{{Cite journal|last= Geddis|first= Andrew|date=2004|title=The General Election in New Zealand, July 2002.|journal= Electoral Studies |volume=23|issue=1|pages=149–155|doi=10.1016/s0261-3794(03)00036-2}}

Policies of the Fifth Labour Government included the KiwiSaver scheme,{{cite web|title= KiwiSaver Act 2006 No 40 (as at 01 April 2017), Public Act Contents|url= http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2006/0040/latest/DLM378372.html|publisher= New Zealand Parliament|access-date=13 June 2017|language=en-NZ}} the Working for Families package, increasing the minimum wage 5% a year, interest-free student loans, the establishment of district health boards, the introduction of a number of tax credits, overhauling the secondary-school qualifications system by introducing the NCEA, and the introduction of fourteen weeks' parental leave.{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=Julc0FIsYMEC&q=new+zealand+abolished+interest+student+loans+2008&pg=PA50|title= Historical Dictionary of Polynesia|isbn=978-0810867727|last1=Craig|first1=Robert D.|year=2011|publisher= Rowman & Littlefield}} Labour also supported the Civil Union Act 2004, which legalised civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples.{{cite web|title= Civil Union Bill – Procedure, Third Reading|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/hansard-debates/rhr/document/47HansD_20041209_00000803/civil-union-bill-procedure-third-reading|publisher= New Zealand Parliament|access-date=13 June 2017|language=en|date=9 December 2004}}

The foreign policy of the Fifth Labour Government strongly reflected liberal internationalist doctrine, with a particular emphasis on promoting democracy and human rights, advocating for antimilitarism and disarmament, and encouragement of free trade.{{cite journal |last1=McCraw |first1=David |title=New Zealand Foreign Policy Under the Clark Government: High Tide of Liberal Internationalism |journal=Pacific Affairs |date=2005 |volume=78 |issue=2 |pages=217–235 |doi=10.5509/2005782217 |jstor=40023914 |hdl=10289/8178 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/40023914 |access-date=16 February 2024 |issn=0030-851X|hdl-access=free }} In 2003, the government opposed New Zealand military action in the Iraq War.{{cite news|title=NZ made 'right judgement' over Iraq|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/308164/nz-made-'right-judgement'-over-iraq|access-date=7 July 2016|work=Radio New Zealand |date=7 July 2016|language=en-nz}}

In early 2004 Labour came under attack in the foreshore and seabed controversy.{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Barker|first1=Fiona|title= Debate about the foreshore and seabed|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/video/34605/debate-about-the-foreshore-and-seabed|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=13 June 2017|date=June 2012}} Significant internal tensions within the party eventually culminated in the resignation of junior minister Tariana Turia and her establishment of the new Māori Party.{{cite news|last1= Dunne|first1=Peter|title=What to do about that foreshore and seabed? |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/3236512/What-to-do-about-that-foreshore-and-seabed|access-date=13 June 2017|work=The Dominion Post|date=18 January 2010|language=en}}

File:Labourlogo2008.png

Following the {{NZ election link|2005}}, Labour formed a minority coalition with the Progressive Party (breakaway party of the old Alliance), and entered into complex confidence and supply agreements with the centrist United Future and populist New Zealand First parties, which gave each party's leader a ministerial portfolio, while the support parties remained outside the Cabinet. A limited support agreement also linked Labour with the Green Party, giving certain policy concessions to the Greens in return for abstention on confidence-and-supply votes. Labour lost power when the National Party soundly defeated it in the {{NZ election link|2008}}.

File:Mining Protest-4 cropped.jpg with future leader Jacinda Ardern and Carol Beaumont at a 2010 anti-mining march in Auckland]]

Following the loss to the National Party in the November 2008 election, Helen Clark stood down as leader of the party{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10541889 |title= Clark stands down after Key wins NZ election |date=8 November 2008 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=8 November 2008}} – Phil Goff succeeded her (serving from 2008–2011).{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10769673 |title= Goff resignation sparks leader race |date=29 November 2011 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=29 November 2011}} Labour had a relatively high turnover of four leaders during its most recent term in opposition; journalist Nicky Hager has attributed this to Labour's reaction to changes within public media and the political environment.Hager, Nicky, (2014). Dirty Politics: How Attack Politics in Poisoning New Zealand's Political Environment. Nelson: Craig Potton Publishing. Goff led Labour into a second electoral defeat in {{NZ election link year|2011}} and was succeeded by David Shearer, who led the Labour parliamentary from 2011 to 2013.{{cite web|url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9074568/David-Shearer-quits |title=David Shearer quits |work=Stuff |date=22 August 2013 |access-date=22 August 2013}}

Shearer resigned after losing the confidence of caucus. David Cunliffe (2013–2014) assumed the leadership after the 2013 leadership election in which, under new rules, members and unions held 60% of the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9166765/Cunliffe-wins-Labour-leadership |title=Cunliffe wins Labour leadership |work=Stuff |date=15 September 2013 |access-date= 15 September 2013}}{{cite web|author=EIU Digital Solutions|title=New Labour leader chosen|url=http://country.eiu.com/article.aspx?articleid=200964404&Country=New%20Zealand&topic=Politics&subtopic=Forecast&subsubtopic=Election+watch&u=1&pid=2024544386&oid=2024544386&uid=1|website=country.eiu.com|access-date=4 September 2016 |date= 17 September 2013}} Most of the Labour caucus disliked Cunliffe, but he had strong support from the party membership. In the leadership contest he won first-preference votes from only one-third of Labour MPs.

Cunliffe's tenure as leader quickly became mired in internal disputes and falling poll-ratings. Labour went on to suffer its worst electoral reversal since 1922 at the {{NZ election link year|2014}} election, Cunliffe opted to resign after initially wishing to re-contest the leadership. His replacement, Andrew Little (2014–2017), then resigned in 2017 following new polling showing the party sinking to a record low result of 24%, with internal voices hoping that rising star Jacinda Ardern would take over in his stead.{{cite news|last1=Watkins|first1=Tracy|title= Jacinda Ardern new Labour leader as Andrew Little quits|url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/95305769/Labour-leadership-D-day-Andrew-Littles-job-on-the-line|work=Stuff |date=1 August 2017|access-date=1 August 2017}}

The caucus confirmed Ardern as the new Labour leader (2017–2023).{{cite news|last1= Graham|first1=Charlotte|title=Jacinda Ardern Takes Over New Zealand Opposition as Election Looms|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/world/asia/andrew-little-new-zealand-labour-party.html|access-date=1 August 2017|work=The New York Times|date= 31 July 2017}} After Ardern's election to its parliamentary leadership Labour rose dramatically in opinion polls. By late August they had risen to 43% in one poll (having been 24% under Little's leadership), as well as managing to overtake National in opinion polls for the first time in over a decade.{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=11922098 |title=Little asked Ardern to lead six days before he resigned |date=14 September 2017 |access-date= 15 November 2017 |work=The New Zealand Herald}}

{{main|Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand}}

File:Jacinda Ardern crop.jpg, Labour Prime Minister from 2017 to 2023]]

File:Chris Hipkins 2023 cropped headshot.jpg, Labour Prime Minister in 2023]]

During the {{NZ election link|2017}}, Labour gained 36.6% of the party vote and increased its presence in the House of Representatives to 46 seats, making it the second-largest party in Parliament. On 19 October 2017, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced that his party would form a coalition government with Labour,{{cite news|title= Labour finally retake power after Winston Peters gives Jacinda Ardern his support|url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/97827871/labour-finally-retake-power-after-winston-peters-gives-jacinda-ardern-his-support|access-date=19 October 2017|work=Stuff |date= 19 October 2017}} citing changing international and internal economic circumstances as the reasoning behind his decision,{{cite news|title= Winston Peters on why he chose a Labour-led government|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11934973|work= The New Zealand Herald|access-date=20 October 2017}} coupled with a belief that a Labour government was best-placed to handle the social and economic welfare of New Zealanders in a global environment that was undergoing rapid and "seismic" change.{{cite news |last1= Roy|first1=Eleanor Ainge|title=Jacinda Ardern to be New Zealand's next PM after Labour coalition deal|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/19/jacinda-ardern-new-zealand-prime-minister-labour-coalition-deal-winston-peters|work=The Guardian |access-date=20 October 2017}} This coalition, combined with confidence and supply from the Green Party,{{cite news |title= Green Party ratifies confidence and supply deal with Labour|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11934957|work= The New Zealand Herald|access-date=19 October 2017|date=19 October 2017}} saw Labour return to government for the first time since 2008. Ardern became prime minister, with Peters as her deputy.{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Audrey|title=Winston Peters to become Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11936001|access-date= 10 September 2018|work= The New Zealand Herald|date=23 October 2017 |language=en-NZ}}

The Labour government pledged to eliminate child poverty, make tertiary education free, reduce immigration by 20,000 to 30,000, decriminalise abortion, and make all rivers swimmable within 10 years. Notable policies, programmes and legislation during the 2017–2020 term included scrapping the previous National Government's national standards in schools and charter schools, the KiwiBuild affordable housing programme, restricting oil and gas exploration, banning semi-automatic firearms, restoring voting rights for prisoners serving less than three years and decriminalising abortion.{{cite news|last1=Moir|first1=Jo|title=National Standards have officially ended in primary schools across the country|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/99774465/National-Standards-have-officially-ended-in-primary-schools-across-the-country|access-date=8 March 2018|agency=Stuff|date=12 December 2017|archive-date=8 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308110422/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/99774465/National-Standards-have-officially-ended-in-primary-schools-across-the-country|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Bracewell-Worrall |first1=Anna |title=All NZ charter schools now approved to become state integrated |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/09/all-nz-charter-schools-now-approved-to-become-state-integrated.html |access-date=20 March 2019 |publisher=Newshub |date=17 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207143557/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/09/all-nz-charter-schools-now-approved-to-become-state-integrated.html |archive-date=7 December 2018}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/kiwibuild-spearheads-42-billion-capital-spending-programme-b-211193 |title=KiwiBuild spearheads $42b capital spending programme |first=Paul |last=McBeth |work=National Business Review |date=14 December 2017 |accessdate=5 July 2018}}{{cite news|title=Oil, gas exploration move a 'kick in the guts' for Taranaki - mayor|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/354816/oil-gas-exploration-move-a-kick-in-the-guts-for-taranaki-mayor|access-date=11 April 2018|publisher=Radio New Zealand|date=11 April 2018|archive-date=12 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191112092840/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/354816/oil-gas-exploration-move-a-kick-in-the-guts-for-taranaki-mayor|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Firearms Amendment Bill passes final reading in Parliament |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/386778/firearms-amendment-bill-passes-final-reading-in-parliament |access-date=10 April 2019 |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=10 April 2019 |archive-date=10 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410104001/https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/386778/firearms-amendment-bill-passes-final-reading-in-parliament |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last1=Cooke |first1=Henry |title=Bizarre scenes as Parliament legalises prisoner voting |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300041853/bizarre-scenes-as-parliament-legalises-prisoner-voting |access-date=26 June 2020 |work=Stuff |date=24 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624224133/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300041853/bizarre-scenes-as-parliament-legalises-prisoner-voting|archive-date=24 June 2020}}{{cite news |title=Abortion Legislation Bill passes third and final reading in Parliament |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/412087/abortion-legislation-bill-passes-third-and-final-reading-in-parliament |accessdate=18 March 2020 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=18 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200330023938/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/412087/abortion-legislation-bill-passes-third-and-final-reading-in-parliament|archive-date=30 March 2020}} The Labour Government also adopted an elimination approach towards the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand, instituting lockdowns and closing the border.{{cite news |last1=Palmer |first1=Scott |title=Coronavirus: New Zealand goes to COVID-19 alert level 3 |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/03/coronavirus-new-zealand-goes-to-covid-19-alert-level-3.html |access-date=23 March 2020 |work=Newshub |date=28 March 2020 |archive-date=23 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323055338/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2020/03/coronavirus-new-zealand-goes-to-covid-19-alert-level-3.html |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=Live - Everyone travelling to NZ from overseas to self-isolate |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/411738/live-everyone-travelling-to-nz-from-overseas-to-self-isolate |access-date=14 March 2020 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=14 March 2020 |archive-date=18 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418210801/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/411738/live-everyone-travelling-to-nz-from-overseas-to-self-isolate |url-status=live }} Both Labour and Prime Minister Ardern attracted high domestic poll ratings due to their initial COVID-19 responses in 2020.{{Cite news |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/content/tvnz/onenews/story/2020/05/21/party.html |title=Pressure mounts as National falls to 29%, Labour skyrockets in 1 NEWS Colmar Brunton poll |date=21 May 2020 |work=1 News |publisher=TVNZ |access-date=21 May 2020 |archive-date=18 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018032744/https://www.tvnz.co.nz/content/tvnz/onenews/story/2020/05/21/party.html |url-status=live}}{{Cite news |author-link= Tova O'Brien |last=O'Brien |first=Tova |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/newshub-reid-research-poll-jacinda-ardern-goes-stratospheric-simon-bridges-is-annihilated.html |title=Newshub-Reid Research Poll: Jacinda Ardern goes stratospheric, Simon Bridges is annihilated |date=18 May 2020 |work=Newshub |publisher=MediaWorks TV |access-date=18 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200521224140/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/05/newshub-reid-research-poll-jacinda-ardern-goes-stratospheric-simon-bridges-is-annihilated.html |archive-date=21 May 2020 |url-status=dead}}

In mid-July 2020, the Serious Fraud Office announced that it was investigating donations made to the Labour Party by two Chinese businessmen during the 2017 general election. Labour Party President Claire Szabó announced that the party would co-operate with the investigation.{{cite news |last1=Devlin |first1=Collette |title=Serious Fraud Office investigation into donations made to Labour Party in 2017 |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122119207/serious-fraud-office-investigation-into-donations-made-to-labour-party-in-2017 |access-date=14 July 2020 |work=Stuff |date=13 July 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200714091418/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/122119207/serious-fraud-office-investigation-into-donations-made-to-labour-party-in-2017 |archive-date=14 July 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Hurley |first1=Sam |title=Serious Fraud Office launches investigation into Labour Party donations from 2017 |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12347726 |access-date=14 July 2020 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=13 July 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200714100107/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12347726|archive-date=14 July 2020}} The 2017–2020 term saw several ministerial resignations for various indiscretions, notably Phil Twyford, Clare Curran, Meka Whaitiri and David Clark.{{cite news|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/104196693/minister-phil-twyford-apologises-for-civil-aviation-breach|title=Minister Phil Twyford apologises for Civil Aviation breach|last1=Watkins|first1=Tracy|date=24 May 2018|access-date=24 May 2018|publisher=Stuff|last2=Moir|first2=Jo}}{{cite news |title=Jacinda Ardern sacks Clare Curran from Cabinet, removes her from two portfolios after second failure to declare a meeting |url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/jacinda-ardern-sacks-clare-curran-cabinet-removes-her-two-portfolios-after-second-failure-declare-meeting |access-date=24 August 2018 |publisher=1News |date=24 August 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Manch |first1=Thomas |last2=Cooke |first2=Henry |title=Health Minister drives to local park to ride his mountain bike, amid coronavirus lockdown |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120780372/health-minister-drives-to-local-park-to-ride-his-mountain-bike-amid-coronavirus-lockdown |access-date=4 April 2020 |work=Stuff |date=2 April 2020}}

In the {{NZ election link|2020}}, Labour gained 50% of the party vote and increased its presence in the House of Representatives to 65 seats, marking the first time that a party has won enough seats to govern alone since the introduction of the MMP system in 1996. Described as a "landslide" victory in which the party won the party vote in "virtually every single electorate", Labour is believed{{by whom|date=May 2021}} to have gained support from swing voters, many of whom had previously voted for National under John Key.{{cite web|last=Henry|first=Cooke|date=8 August 2020|url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300077606/election-2020-labour-launches-an-extremely-centrist-campaign|title=Election 2020: Labour launches an extremely centrist campaign|website=Stuff |access-date=22 October 2020}}{{cite web|last= Mclauchlan|first= Danyl|date=10 October 2020|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/10-10-2020/labour-has-taken-the-centre-is-it-a-trap/|title=Labour has taken the centre. Is it a trap?|website=The Spinoff |access-date= 22 October 2020}}{{cite web|last=Shaw|first=Richard|date=19 October 2020|url= http://theconversation.com/labours-single-party-majority-is-not-a-failure-of-mmp-it-is-a-sign-nzs-electoral-system-is-working-148328|title=Labour's single-party majority is not a failure of MMP, it is a sign NZ's electoral system is working|website=The Conversation|access-date=22 October 2020}} On 20 October, Newshub reported that Ardern was not intending to forge a formal coalition with the Green Party but was exploring the possibility of a lower-level support arrangement due to Labour's large parliamentary majority.{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Tova |title=Labour will not be forming a formal coalition with the Greens |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/10/labour-will-not-be-forming-a-formal-coalition-with-the-greens.html |access-date=20 October 2020 |work=Newshub |date=20 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020062820/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/10/labour-will-not-be-forming-a-formal-coalition-with-the-greens.html |archive-date=20 October 2020|url-status=dead}} Following prolonged negotiations, the Green Party agreed to enter into a cooperation agreement with the Labour Party on 31 October and received two ministerial portfolios in return. Despite this landslide victory Labour faced criticism from economists due to the government's lack of action on New Zealand's housing affordability crisis, despite it being a key feature of Labour's 2017 election campaign.

{{Cite web|last=Mitchell|first=Jonathan|url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/434380/urgent-government-intervention-needed-to-address-housing-supply-shortage-economists|title=Urgent government intervention needed to address housing supply shortage – economists|date=12 January 2021|access-date=12 January 2021|work=Radio New Zealand}}

Notable policies, programmes and legislations during the 2020–2023 term included the Clean Car rebate programme, making the Māori New Year Matariki a public holiday, banning conversion therapy, replacing the district health boards with a national health service called Te Whatu Ora (Health New Zealand), passing smokefree legislation banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 1 January 2009, repealing "three strikes" legislation, and banning live animal exports.{{cite news |last1=McClure |first1=Tess |title=New Zealand unveils $8,600 subsidy for electric vehicles to reduce emissions |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/14/new-zealand-unveils-8600-subsidy-for-electric-vehicles-to-reduce-emissions |access-date=14 June 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=14 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614224431/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jun/14/new-zealand-unveils-8600-subsidy-for-electric-vehicles-to-reduce-emissions |archive-date=14 June 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Kate |title=Matariki Public Holiday Bill has first reading in Parliament |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300420056/matariki-public-holiday-bill-has-first-reading-in-parliament |access-date=1 October 2021 |work=Stuff |date=30 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001001834/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300420056/matariki-public-holiday-bill-has-first-reading-in-parliament |archive-date=1 October 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|date=15 February 2022|title=Politicians react as bill to ban conversion therapy passes|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/461599/politicians-react-as-bill-to-ban-conversion-therapy-passes|access-date=21 February 2022|work=Radio New Zealand|language=en-nz|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220218050733/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/461599/politicians-react-as-bill-to-ban-conversion-therapy-passes|archive-date=18 February 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=New Health System Act passes third reading in Parliament |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/06/08/new-health-system-act-passes-third-reading-in-parliament/ |access-date=10 June 2022 |work=1News |publisher=TVNZ |date=8 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607184346/https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/06/08/new-health-system-act-passes-third-reading-in-parliament/ |archive-date=7 June 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Huang |first1=Christina |title=Parliament votes to scrap three strikes law |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/09/parliament-votes-to-scrap-three-strikes-law/ |access-date=10 August 2022 |work=1News |publisher=TVNZ |date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810025038/https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/08/09/parliament-votes-to-scrap-three-strikes-law/ |archive-date=10 August 2022}}{{cite news |title=Government passes bill to ban livestock exports by sea |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/475676/government-passes-bill-to-ban-livestock-exports-by-sea |access-date=29 September 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928070652/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/475676/government-passes-bill-to-ban-livestock-exports-by-sea |archive-date=28 September 2022|url-status=live}} In terms of foreign policy, the Labour Government supported Ukraine following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, sanctioned Russia, signed free trade agreements with both the United Kingdom and European Union, and advocated restraint in response to the Israel-Hamas War.{{cite web |last1=Ardern |first1=Jacinda |last2=Mahuta |first2=Nanaia |title=Aotearoa New Zealand condemns Russian invasion of Ukraine |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/aotearoa-new-zealand-condemns-russian-invasion-ukraine |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225113349/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/aotearoa-new-zealand-condemns-russian-invasion-ukraine |archive-date=25 February 2022 |date=24 February 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Parliament unanimously passes Russia Sanctions Bill |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/463022/parliament-unanimously-passes-russia-sanctions-bill |access-date=11 March 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=9 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309155948/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/463022/parliament-unanimously-passes-russia-sanctions-bill |archive-date=9 March 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=New Zealand signs free trade deal with UK to eliminate all tariffs for NZ exports |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/462488/new-zealand-signs-free-trade-deal-with-uk-to-eliminate-all-tariffs-for-nz-exports |access-date=3 March 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=1 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301032043/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/462488/new-zealand-signs-free-trade-deal-with-uk-to-eliminate-all-tariffs-for-nz-exports |archive-date=1 March 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Patterson |first1=Jane |title=New Zealand signs free trade deal with European Union after years of negotiations |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/493457/new-zealand-signs-free-trade-deal-with-european-union-after-years-of-negotiations |access-date=10 July 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=10 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709205658/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/493457/new-zealand-signs-free-trade-deal-with-european-union-after-years-of-negotiations |archive-date=9 July 2023|url-status=live}}

The Government also implemented several co-governance arrangements in the public sector including entrenching Māori wards and constituencies in local government, the Three Waters reform programme, and creating Te Aka Whai Ora (the Māori Health Authority).{{cite news |last1=Scotcher |first1=Katie |title=Māori wards amendment bill passes final reading in Parliament |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/437105/maori-wards-amendment-bill-passes-final-reading-in-parliament |access-date=24 February 2021 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224112233/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/437105/maori-wards-amendment-bill-passes-final-reading-in-parliament|archive-date=24 February 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Manch |first1=Thomas |title=Government pushes ahead with Three Waters reform, will take water services from councils |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/126797566/government-pushes-ahead-with-three-waters-reform-will-take-water-services-from-councils |access-date=27 October 2021 |work=Stuff |date=27 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027044310/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/126797566/government-pushes-ahead-with-three-waters-reform-will-take-water-services-from-councils |archive-date=27 October 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Government announces team leading new Health NZ and Māori Health Authority |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/452106/government-announces-team-leading-new-health-nz-and-maori-health-authority |access-date=25 September 2021 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=23 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210923143232/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/452106/government-announces-team-leading-new-health-nz-and-maori-health-authority |archive-date=23 September 2021|url-status=live}} Following a major COVID-19 outbreak in August 2021,{{Cite news|date=17 August 2021|title=Covid-19 coronavirus: New Zealand going into lockdown - what you can and can't do under level 4|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-new-zealand-going-into-lockdown-what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-level-4/67ZNV2LOA2HXOGHTJAUES5I77I/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817073650/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-coronavirus-new-zealand-going-into-lockdown-what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-level-4/67ZNV2LOA2HXOGHTJAUES5I77I/|archive-date=17 August 2021|access-date=17 August 2021|work=The New Zealand Herald}} the Labour Government abandoned its elimination strategy and gradually eased lockdown, border restrictions, vaccine mandates and masking requirements between 2021 and 2022.{{cite news |last1=Corlett |first1=Eva |title=New Zealand Covid elimination strategy to be phased out, Ardern says |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/04/new-zealand-covid-strategy-in-transition-ardern-says-as-auckland-awaits-lockdown-decision |access-date=4 October 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=4 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004002428/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/oct/04/new-zealand-covid-strategy-in-transition-ardern-says-as-auckland-awaits-lockdown-decision |archive-date=4 October 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=New Zealand border reopening fully from end of July |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/466864/new-zealand-border-reopening-fully-from-end-of-july |access-date=12 May 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=11 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511020352/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/466864/new-zealand-border-reopening-fully-from-end-of-july |archive-date=11 May 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Covid-19 traffic light system scrapped: All you need to know |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/covid-19-traffic-light-system-scrapped-all-you-need-to-know/2U5IN5GLHEUGLEHS6C43ZE3W4E/ |access-date=12 September 2022 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=12 September 2022}} During that period, growing opposition to lockdowns and vaccine mandates led to the emergence of several anti-vaccination protest groups including Voices for Freedom and Brian Tamaki's The Freedoms and Rights Coalition, culminating in the 2022 occupation of Parliament's grounds.{{cite news |last1=Satherley |first1=Dan |title=Anti-vaccination group Voices for Freedom booted off Facebook for spreading COVID-19 misinformation |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/07/anti-vaccination-group-voices-for-freedom-booted-off-facebook-for-spreading-covid-19-misinformation.html |access-date=20 November 2021 |work=Newshub |date=29 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211109235345/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2021/07/anti-vaccination-group-voices-for-freedom-booted-off-facebook-for-spreading-covid-19-misinformation.html |archive-date=9 November 2021|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last1=Somerville |first1=Troes |title=Covid-19: Destiny Church denies making profit from protest group's anti-lockdown merchandise |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/126840776/covid19-destiny-church-denies-making-profit-from-protest-groups-antilockdown-merchandise |access-date=9 November 2021 |work=Stuff |date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105015310/https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/126840776/covid19-destiny-church-denies-making-profit-from-protest-groups-antilockdown-merchandise |archive-date=5 November 2021|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |last=Spoonley |first=Paul |title=The extremism visible at the parliament protest has been growing in NZ for years – is enough being done? |url=https://theconversation.com/the-extremism-visible-at-the-parliament-protest-has-been-growing-in-nz-for-years-is-enough-being-done-177831 |date=1 March 2022 |access-date=2 March 2022 |website=The Conversation |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301190134/https://theconversation.com/the-extremism-visible-at-the-parliament-protest-has-been-growing-in-nz-for-years-is-enough-being-done-177831|archive-date=1 March 2022|url-status=live}}

On 19 January 2023, Ardern announced her resignation as party leader and therefore prime minister.{{Cite news |title=Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigning in February, announces election 2023 will be held on October 14 |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/01/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-announces-election-2023-will-be-held-on-october-14.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230119004929/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2023/01/prime-minister-jacinda-ardern-announces-election-2023-will-be-held-on-october-14.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 January 2023 |access-date=19 January 2023}} In the resultant leadership election Chris Hipkins was the only candidate and was confirmed as the new Labour leader on 22 January.{{cite news |last1=Daalder |first1=Marc |title=Hipkins promises focus on 'bread and butter issues' |url=https://www.newsroom.co.nz/page/labour-mps-gather-to-choose-new-pm |access-date=22 January 2023 |work=Newsroom |date=22 January 2023 |language=en-AU}} Hipkins' premiership saw a shift in focus to "cost of living issues" and a "policy bonfire" that saw the scrapping or revision of several Government policies and initiatives including the planned merger of public broadcasters RNZ and TVNZ, a biofuel mandate, lowering the voting age to 16 years and the Clean Car Upgrade programme.{{cite news |title=New PM spreads $718m in 'bread and butter' cost-of-living support |url=https://insidegovernment.co.nz/new-pm-spreads-718m-in-bread-and-butter-cost-of-living-support/ |access-date=3 February 2023 |work=Inside Government NZ |publisher=JSL Media |date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203235633/https://insidegovernment.co.nz/new-pm-spreads-718m-in-bread-and-butter-cost-of-living-support/|archive-date=3 February 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Watch: TVNZ/RNZ merger scrapped, income insurance and hate speech laws delayed |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/483875/watch-tvnz-rnz-merger-scrapped-income-insurance-and-hate-speech-laws-delayed |access-date=8 February 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208041638/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/483875/watch-tvnz-rnz-merger-scrapped-income-insurance-and-hate-speech-laws-delayed |archive-date=8 February 2023|url-status=live}} Hipkins' government also responded to two natural disasters, the 2023 Auckland Anniversary Weekend floods and Cyclone Gabrielle, which devastated Auckland and the east coast of the North Island.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/auckland-northland-flooding-cabinet-re-shuffle-announced-pm-hipkins-to-address-state-of-emergency/TJOIAGWMO5A7BPTONEPN454HHE/ |title=Cabinet reshuffle: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins unveils new line-up; Government response to Auckland flooding |first=Michael |last=Neilson |date=31 January 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131114432/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/auckland-northland-flooding-cabinet-re-shuffle-announced-pm-hipkins-to-address-state-of-emergency/TJOIAGWMO5A7BPTONEPN454HHE/|archive-date=31 January 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=McAnulty |first1=Kieran |title=State of National Emergency Declared |url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/state-national-emergency-declared |website=Beehive.govt.nz |publisher=New Zealand Government |access-date=14 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230214025516/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/state-national-emergency-declared |archive-date=14 February 2023 |date=14 February 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=PM's policy bonfire: Voting age bill, transport schemes 'reprioritsed' |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/03/13/pms-policy-bonfire-voting-age-bill-transport-schemes-reprioritsed/ |access-date=14 March 2023 |work=1News |publisher=TVNZ |date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313035738/https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/03/13/pms-policy-bonfire-voting-age-bill-transport-schemes-reprioritsed/ |archive-date=13 March 2023|url-status=live}} Prior to the dissolution of Parliament, the Labour Government passed two laws as part of efforts to replace the Resource Management Act 1991.{{cite news |title=RMA replacement bills pass third readings in Parliament |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495939/rma-replacement-bills-pass-third-readings-in-parliament |access-date=7 February 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=16 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231227011740/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/495939/rma-replacement-bills-pass-third-readings-in-parliament |archive-date=27 December 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Pearse |first1=Adam |last2=Nightingale |first2=Melissa |date=24 July 2023 |title=Justice Minister Kiri Allan's arrest and resignation: PM details 'difficult' conversation |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/justice-minister-kiri-allans-arrest-and-resignation-absolutely-devastating-colleagues-reacts/Z2FN24JOKJHZZJJJH32WB4FEMA/ |access-date=24 July 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}

The 2020–2023 term saw the expulsion of Labour MP Gaurav Sharma, the resignations of ministers Stuart Nash and Kiri Allan, and ministers Michael Wood and Jan Tinetti being disciplined by Parliament's privileges committee.{{cite news |last1=Scotcher |first1=Katie |title=Hamilton West MP Gaurav Sharma expelled from Labour caucus |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/473325/hamilton-west-mp-gaurav-sharma-expelled-from-labour-caucus |access-date=23 August 2022 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=23 August 2022 }}{{cite news|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/28-03-2023/in-full-the-pms-statement-on-nash-sacking|title=In full: The PM's statement on Nash sacking|work=The Spinoff|date=28 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404171928/https://thespinoff.co.nz/live-updates/28-03-2023/in-full-the-pms-statement-on-nash-sacking|archive-date=4 April 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Michael Wood ordered to apologise to Parliament over shareholdings |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/496413/michael-wood-ordered-to-apologise-to-parliament-over-shareholdings |access-date=26 September 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=23 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829043555/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/496413/michael-wood-ordered-to-apologise-to-parliament-over-shareholdings |archive-date=29 August 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Jan Tinetti made error of judgement that misled Parliament, Privileges committee finds |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/492852/jan-tinetti-made-error-of-judgement-that-misled-parliament-privileges-committee-finds |access-date=29 June 2023 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=29 June 2023 |language=en-nz}} The 2023 NZ general election, held on 14 October 2023, saw the Labour government lose its majority to the opposition National Party.{{Cite news |last=McConnell |first=Glenn |date=15 October 2023 |title=Who's coming and going in Parliament after seismic election result |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/133123170/whos-coming-and-going-in-parliament-after-seismic-election-result |access-date=15 October 2023 |work=Stuff |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020212614/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/133123170/whos-coming-and-going-in-parliament-after-seismic-election-result|archive-date=20 October 2023|url-status=live}} Based on final results, Labour's share of the popular vote declined to 26.91% while its share of Parliamentary seats dropped to 34.{{cite web |title=Official count – Overall Results |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/ |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231107112928/https://www.electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/ |archive-date=7 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=2023 General Election: Successful candidates |url=https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |publisher=Electoral Commission |access-date=20 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117114239/https://electionresults.govt.nz/electionresults_2023/successful-candidates.html |archive-date=17 November 2023 |date=3 November 2023 |url-status=live}}

{{Main|Shadow Cabinet of Chris Hipkins}}

In early November 2023, caretaker Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was re-elected as leader of the Labour Party and Carmel Sepuloni was elected as deputy leader.{{cite news |first1=Thomas |last1=Coughlan |first2=Adam |last2=Pearse |title=Chris Hipkins stays as Labour leader, Carmel Sepuloni takes over deputy from Kelvin Davis |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/labour-leadership-vote-chris-hipkins-to-reveal-whether-hes-staying-on/E4WDBFVSWBFXHMOE2Y37ILJYFA/ |date=7 November 2023 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=30 November 2023 |language=en }} In early 2024, three veteran Labour MPs Kelvin Davis, Rino Tirikatene and Grant Robertson resigned from Parliament, allowing Shanan Halbert, Tracey McLellan and Glen Bennett to re-enter Parliament via the party list.{{cite news |title=Labour reshuffle: Edmonds moves up as Finance spokesperson |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/509662/labour-reshuffle-edmonds-moves-up-as-finance-spokesperson |access-date=20 February 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=20 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220002535/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/509662/labour-reshuffle-edmonds-moves-up-as-finance-spokesperson |archive-date=20 February 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Rilkoff |first=Matthew |date=19 February 2024 |title=Former New Plymouth Labour MP Glen Bennett back in Parliament |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350185932/former-new-plymouth-labour-mp-glen-bennett-back-parliament |access-date=22 February 2024 |work=Stuff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224000049/https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/350185932/former-new-plymouth-labour-mp-glen-bennett-back-parliament|archive-date=24 February 2024|url-status=live}} In April 2024, Labour called for New Zealand to recognise Palestinian statehood.{{cite news |last1=Manch |first1=Thomas |date=22 April 2024 |title=Labour calls for the Government to recognise Palestine |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350253770/labour-calls-government-recognise-palestine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240423122126/https://www.thepost.co.nz/politics/350253770/labour-calls-government-recognise-palestine |archive-date=23 April 2024 |access-date=23 April 2024 |work=The Post}} In February 2024, two Labour MPs questioned whether New Zealand should be entering the non-nuclear component of the AUKUS, with foreign affairs spokesperson Phil Twyford describing it as an "offensive warfighting alliance against China."{{cite news |last1=Pennington |first1=Phil |title=AUKUS a military pact designed to contain China, says Labour |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/508926/aukus-a-military-pact-designed-to-contain-china-says-labour |access-date=15 February 2024 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=12 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214085413/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/508926/aukus-a-military-pact-designed-to-contain-china-says-labour |archive-date=14 February 2024|url-status=live}} At the Labour Party's annual conference in 2024, held between 29 November and 1 December, Chris Hipkins announced that under a Labour government, New Zealand would not be a part of AUKUS, saying that any government he leads would "restore New Zealand's proudly independent foreign policy."{{Cite web |title=Future Labour govt won't join AUKUS, Hipkins says |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/12/01/hipkins-rules-out-labour-joining-aukus-in-future-government/ |access-date=2024-12-02 |website=1News |language=en}}

The New Zealand Labour Party's founding 1916 policy objectives called for "the socialisation of the means of production, distribution and exchange", including state ownership of major parts of the economy, and increased rights for workers.{{cite encyclopedia|last=Aimer|first=Peter|title=Labour Party: Ideology and the role of unions|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/labour-party/page-5|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|date=1 June 2015|access-date=13 December 2016}} While the socialist objective attracted support from some members, it also became a target for opponents who portrayed Labour as an extremist party. In the aftermath of World War II, Labour prioritised national unity over societal divisions, but after their defeat in {{NZ election link year|1949}}, many party members perceived the socialist objective as outdated and a hindrance to electoral success, leading to its abolition in 1951. The party transformed into a moderate social-democratic party, focusing on reform within the democratic framework while maintaining ties with trade unions.{{cite book|author=Clive Bean|contribution=New Zealand|editor1=Mark N. Franklin|editor2=Thomas T. Mackie|editor3=Henry Valen|title=Electoral Change: Responses to Evolving Social and Attitudinal Structures in Western Countries|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HcNMAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA285|year=2009|publisher=ECPR Press|isbn=978-0-9558203-1-1|page=285}}{{cite book|author1=Rodney Smith|author2=Ariadne Vromen|author3=Ian Cook|title=Keywords in Australian Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pMSTxLmZaw0C&pg=PA177|year=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-67283-2|page=177}}

By the late 1980s, the Labour Party had undergone significant ideological changes, leading to policies that frequently conflicted with the goals and interests of the union movement. The Labour Government of the 1980s deviated sharply from a social-democratic path; in a series of economic reforms, the government removed a swathe of regulations and subsidies, privatised state assets, and introduced corporate practices to state services.{{cite encyclopedia|title=Labour Party: Fourth and fifth Labour governments|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/labour-party/page-4|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=13 December 2016}}

The party's constitution and platform programme maintains its founding principle as democratic socialism,{{cite web|url=https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/nzlabour/pages/3956/attachments/original/1576012198/NZLP_Inc_-_Constitution___Rules_-_2019.pdf|title=New Zealand Labour Party Constitution and Rules 2019|author=New Zealand Labour Party|date=30 November 2019|quote=The Party accepts the following democratic socialist principles [...].|access-date=7 January 2020}} while observers describe Labour's policies as social-democratic and pragmatic in practice. From the 1990s onwards, Labour has again aimed to use the power of the state to try to achieve a "fairer and more equal society", based on a mixed economy in which both the state and private enterprise play a part. Subsequently, the party has also been described as embracing certain social-liberal policies.{{cite book|title=Political Science|volume=49–50|page=98|year=1997|first=Jack|last=Vowles}}{{cite book|pages=34, 56|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|first=Michael|last=Scott|title=Making New Zealand's Pop Renaissance: State, Markets, Musicians}}

According to its current constitution, the party accepts democratic socialist principles, including:{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150844/https://www.labourparty.org.nz/sites/default/files/2014%20Constitution.pdf |url= https://www.labourparty.org.nz/sites/default/files/2014%20Constitution.pdf |title = Labour: Constitution and Rules |year = 2014 |website = NZ Labour Party |page = 4 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |access-date = 11 June 2014 |quote = The Party accepts the following democratic socialist principles –
g. All political authority comes from the people by democratic means, including universal suffrage, regular and free elections with a secret ballot.
h. The natural resources of New Zealand belong to all the people and these resources, and in particular non-renewable resources, should be managed for the benefit of all, including future generations.
i. All people should have equal access to all social, economic, cultural, political and legal spheres, regardless of wealth or social position, and continuing participation in the democratic process.
j. Co-operation, rather than competition, should be the main governing factor in economic relations, in order that a greater amount and a just distribution of wealth can be ensured.
k. All people are entitled to dignity, self-respect and the opportunity to work.
l. All people, either individually or in groups, may own wealth or property for their own use, but in any conflict of interest people are always more important than property, and the state must ensure a just distribution of wealth.
m. Te Tiriti o Waitangi/The Treaty of Waitangi is the founding document of New Zealand, and that the Treaty should be honoured in the Party, government, society and the whanau.
n. Peace and social justice should be promoted throughout the world by international co-operation and mutual respect.
o. The same basic human rights, protected by the State, apply to all people, regardless of race, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religious faith, political belief or disability.}}

• The management of New Zealand's natural resources for the benefit of all, including future generations.
• Equal access to all social, economic, cultural, political, and legal spheres, regardless of wealth or social position.
• Co-operation as the main governing factor in economic relations, to ensure a just distribution of wealth.
• Universal rights to dignity, self-respect, and the opportunity to work.
• The right to wealth and property, subject to the provisos of regarding people as always more important than property and the obligations of the state to ensure a just distribution of wealth.
• Honouring {{lang|mi|Te Tiriti o Waitangi}} / the Treaty of Waitangi as the founding document of New Zealand.
• The promotion of peace and social justice throughout the world by international co-operation.
• Equality in human rights regardless of race, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, religious faith, political belief or disability.

Historically, the party drew upon a stable sectional voter base comprising the urban working class, predominantly manual labourers and trade unionists. From the 1930s onwards, Labour has increasingly positioned itself as a broad-based party by responding and adapting to different social and economic problems and changing demographics (appealing to an expanding migrant population and a diversified ethnic, social make-up). Beginning in the 1980s, there was a shift away from class-issues and towards the promotion of individual freedoms, particularly for members of disadvantaged groups such as women and Māori. The modern party's core support base lies among young people, urban workers, civil servants, and minorities (particularly the Māori and Pasifika communities).{{cite news|last1=Bracewell-Worrall|first1=Anna|title=What the data tells us: Māori and Pacific voters throw support behind Labour|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/10/what-the-data-tells-us-m-ori-and-pacific-voters-throw-support-behind-labour.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005045300/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/election/2017/10/what-the-data-tells-us-m-ori-and-pacific-voters-throw-support-behind-labour.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 October 2017|access-date=6 May 2018|work=Newshub|date=10 February 2017}}{{cite book|last1=Vowles|first1=Jack|title=Towards Consensus?: The 1993 Election and Referendum in New Zealand and the Transition to Proportional Representation|date=2013|publisher=Auckland University Press|isbn=978-1869407162|pages=20–23|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G0JeAwAAQBAJ}}

Party membership is tied into geographically-based branches in each parliamentary electorate. General branches must consist of at least 10 members aged 15 or over.{{cite web|title=Constitution and Rules|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/sites/default/files/parties/rules/labour_party_constitution_2015.pdf|publisher=New Zealand Labour Party|access-date=13 June 2017|date=July 2016}} Members may also form special branches where they have a special community of interest (such as university students and academics, young people, women, Māori people, Pasifika, multicultural groups, people with disabilities, the LGBT community, and industrial workers). Influential branches include Princes Street Labour (this Auckland university branch is described as the "ideological powerhouse of the party",{{cite web|title=Princes Street|url=http://www.younglabour.org.nz/princes_street|publisher=New Zealand Young Labour|access-date=13 June 2017|language=en}} and has contributed many prominent Labour politicians) and Vic Labour (the Victoria University of Wellington branch).{{cite web|title=VicLabour|url=http://www.younglabour.org.nz/viclabour|publisher=New Zealand Young Labour|access-date=13 June 2017|language=en}}

File:New Zealand Labour Party membership.png

Membership figures are rarely released to the public. Full (non-affiliate) membership is known to have peaked at 55,000 in 1976. During the 1980s and 1990s, party membership plummeted to levels not seen since before the First Labour Government. This decline might be attributed to disillusionment on the part of some members with the economic policies of the Fourth Labour Government ("Rogernomics"). Membership figures began to recover under Helen Clark's leadership, with 14,000 members recorded in 2002.{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Peter|first1=Aimer|title=Labour Party – Ideology and the role of unions: Labour Party membership, 1917–2002|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/graph/34047/labour-party-membership-1917-2002|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|access-date=13 June 2017}}

Delegates from all branches in the electorate, together with delegates from affiliated unions, make up the Labour Electorate Committee (LEC). The LEC is responsible for party organisation in the electorate. The party is divided into six regional areas, which each year convene a Regional Conference.{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Aimer|first1=Peter|title=Labour Party – Organisation of the Labour Party|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/labour-party/page-7|encyclopedia=Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand |access-date=13 June 2017|date=20 June 2012}} Policy and other matters are debated and passed onto the Annual Conference.

The Annual Conference (called Congress in election years) is the supreme governing body of the Labour Party when it is in session. All constituent bodies of the party are entitled to send delegates to Annual Conference.

The New Zealand Council is the Labour Party's governing executive. It ensures that the party is governed effectively according to its constitution. The NZ Council consists of the president, two senior vice presidents (one of which must be Māori), three vice presidents (representing women, affiliates, and Pacific Islanders), seven regional representatives, one Policy Council representative, three Caucus representatives, and the general secretary.

The Policy Council, responsible for the development of the policy platform and election manifesto, is elected for a three-year term following each general election. The party structure also provides for Special Interest Group Councils: representing the affiliates, women's issues, Māori issues, Pacific Islands, primary industries, local government, and youth.

{{Anchor|Caucus}}

File:Chris Hipkins NZ Labour (cropped).jpg (in 2022)]]

The elected members representing the Labour Party in the House of Representatives meet as the Parliamentary Labour Party, also called the Caucus. The current parliamentary leader is Chris Hipkins (since 22 January 2023).{{cite news |title=Ardern hands over party leadership as Hipkins is endorsed to become next PM |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-22/chris-hipkins-formally-elected-new-zealand-prime-minister/101880358 |access-date=23 January 2023 |work=ABC News |date=22 January 2023 |language=en-AU}} A leadership election is triggered upon the vacancy of the position of leader or a motion of no confidence. Candidates are nominated from within the Caucus. Under Labour Party rules, party members have 40% of the votes, MPs have another 40% of the votes, and affiliated unions have 20% of the votes. Some observers{{who|date=April 2020}} have criticised the influence of the unions in leadership elections.

In the first decades of the 20th century, manufacturing industries grew strongly in New Zealand's main cities and union membership also increased. The Labour Party was formed in this period as the political wing of the labour movement and was financed by trade unions. Since then, the unions have retained close institutional links with the party. In 2023 there were 11 affiliated unions, which paid a levy to the party based on the size of their own memberships. Generally, members of these unions are also affiliated members of the Labour Party. Affiliates receive a percentage of the vote in party leadership elections.{{cite news|title=Opinion: Unions rip off Labour leadership|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/opinion-unions-rip-off-labour-leadership-2014111910|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023064309/http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/opinion-unions-rip-off-labour-leadership-2014111910|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2017|access-date=13 June 2017|work=Newshub|date=18 November 2014}}

In addition, the president of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions continues to speak at the Labour Party Annual Conference.{{cite web |url=http://www.labour.org.nz/conference-2012 |title=Conference 2012 – New Zealand Labour Party |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120005216/http://www.labour.org.nz/conference-2012 |archive-date=20 November 2012 }}

{{main|New Zealand Young Labour}}

Young Labour is the party's youth wing. It exists to organise young party members (and young members of affiliated unions) aged under 30,{{cite web |title=The Constitution of New Zealand Young Labour |url=https://ucsa.org.nz/resourcehandler/0ea95630-56de-415e-8020-286c7309d5c9/ |publisher=New Zealand Young Labour |format=PDF |date=5 November 2021|via=University of Canterbury Student Association|access-date=9 February 2023}} and encourage wider involvement of young New Zealanders in centre-left politics. Young Labour is the most active sector in the Labour Party and plays a significant role in policy development and campaign efforts. It is endearingly called the "conscience of the party".{{cite news|title=Young, gifted and politically aware|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/local-papers/hutt-news/703584/Young-gifted-and-politically-aware|access-date=13 June 2017|work=Stuff |date=4 November 2008|language=en}}

In March 2018, it was reported that four people under 16 were allegedly sexually assaulted at a Young Labour summer camp in February. The camp was said to have "mountains of alcohol", and people under the legal drinking age of 18 were said to have consumed alcohol. Although Young Labour and the Labour Party were aware of the allegations, party leadership failed to tell the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. The party offered counselling and support after the allegations were publicly reported.{{cite news |title='We failed in our duty of care' – Labour leadership |url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/352475/we-failed-in-our-duty-of-care-labour-leadership |access-date=29 September 2018 |work=Radio New Zealand |date=14 March 2018 |language=en-nz}}{{cite news |title='We took too long' – Jacinda Ardern on alleged sex assaults at Young Labour camp |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/03/labour-confirms-inappropriate-behaviour-after-sexual-assault-claims.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313034452/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2018/03/labour-confirms-inappropriate-behaviour-after-sexual-assault-claims.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 March 2018 |access-date=29 September 2018 |work=Newshub |date=13 March 2018 |language=en}} An independent review into the party's conduct and sexual assault complaint policy was announced by Party President Nigel Haworth, and was completed late August. The party has declined to release the report to the public.{{cite news |last1=Bennett |first1=Lucy |title=Jacinda Ardern defends not releasing Austen report into Labour summer camp |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12115727 |access-date=29 September 2018 |work= The New Zealand Herald |date=29 August 2018 |language=en-NZ}}

Labour Party members, including current and former MPs, have contested various local government positions throughout New Zealand during local body elections. While several have stood as Labour Party candidates, others have contested the elections as independent politicians.

Labour has contested the Auckland local body elections alongside City Vision, a left-leaning electoral ticket representing the local Labour, Green parties and other progressives.{{cite web |title=About us |url=https://cityvision.org.nz/meet-us/about-us/ |publisher=City Vision |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019215354/https://cityvision.org.nz/meet-us/about-us/ |archive-date=19 October 2022 |url-status=live}} Following the 2022 Auckland local elections, the Auckland Council had four councillors serving under the Labour ticket and one serving under the affiliated City Vision ticket.{{cite web |title=Ward councillor official results |url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections/elections-2022-results/Pages/results-ward-councillors.aspx |access-date=13 November 2022 |publisher=Auckland Council |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024073033/https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections/elections-2022-results/Pages/results-ward-councillors.aspx |archive-date=24 October 2022|url-status=live}} In addition, 26 Labour Party candidates were elected to local community boards across Auckland while four Labour candidates were elected to local licensing trusts in the Auckland Region. Meanwhile, seven City Vision local board members and three City Vision liquor licensing trust members were also elected.{{cite web |title=Local board member official results |url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections/elections-2022-results/Pages/results-local-board-members.aspx |publisher=Auckland Council |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010173923/https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections/elections-2022-results/Pages/results-local-board-members.aspx |archive-date=10 October 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Licensing trustee official results |url=https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections/elections-2022-results/Pages/results-licensing-trustees.aspx |publisher=Auckland Council |access-date=13 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018175942/https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/elections/elections-2022-results/Pages/results-licensing-trustees.aspx |archive-date=18 October 2022 |url-status=live}}

Former Labour MP and cabinet minister Phil Goff served as mayor of Auckland for two terms between 2016 and 2022.{{Cite web|date=14 February 2022|title=Auckland Mayor Phil Goff announces he will retire from politics|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/461459/auckland-mayor-phil-goff-announces-he-will-retire-from-politics|access-date=13 February 2022|work=Radio New Zealand|language=en-nz |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220310180915/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/461459/auckland-mayor-phil-goff-announces-he-will-retire-from-politics|archive-date=10 March 2022|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|date=13 February 2022|title=Auckland mayoralty: Phil Goff stepping down at end of term, retiring from politics|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/127762042/auckland-mayoralty-phil-goff-stepping-down-at-end-of-term-retiring-from-politics|access-date=13 February 2022|work=Stuff|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330053701/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-government/127762042/auckland-mayoralty-phil-goff-stepping-down-at-end-of-term-retiring-from-politics|archive-date=30 March 2022|url-status=live}}

In Christchurch, former Labour MP and cabinet minister Lianne Dalziel served for three terms as mayor between 2013 and 2022. She ran as an independent{{cite press release |title=Elections 2013: Final declaration of results |url=http://ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/newsmedia/mediareleases/2013/201310181.aspx |publisher=Christchurch City Council |access-date=20 October 2013 |date=18 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022215008/http://ccc.govt.nz/thecouncil/newsmedia/mediareleases/2013/201310181.aspx |archive-date=22 October 2013}}{{cite news |title=Christchurch Mayor Lianne Dalziel will not seek another term |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christchurch-mayor-lianne-dalziel-will-not-seek-another-term/IZXL6BV4QZIOUPPOE5KINFUSSQ/ |access-date=1 July 2021 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=1 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821055159/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christchurch-mayor-lianne-dalziel-will-not-seek-another-term/IZXL6BV4QZIOUPPOE5KINFUSSQ/|archive-date=21 August 2021|url-status=live}}

Within the Christchurch City Council, Labour maintains an umbrella, including community independents called The People's Choice (formerly Christchurch 2021).{{cite news |last1=Stylianou |first1=Georgina |title=Left-aligned People's Choice gearing up for Christchurch's local body elections |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/80528925/leftaligned-peoples-choice-gearing-up-for-christchurchs-local-body-elections?rm=m |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=The Press |publisher=Stuff |date=30 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109000734/https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/80528925/leftaligned-peoples-choice-gearing-up-for-christchurchs-local-body-elections?rm=m |archive-date=9 November 2022|url-status=live}} During the 2019 Christchurch local elections, People's Choice candidates held 10 community board seats, seven council seats, and several community board chairmanships.{{cite news |last1=Law |first1=Tina |title=Christchurch's city council now has three twenty-somethings and slightly more women |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/116542034/christchurchs-city-council-now-has-three-twentysomethings-and-slightly-more-women |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=Stuff |date=13 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010035046/https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/116542034/christchurchs-city-council-now-has-three-twentysomethings-and-slightly-more-women |archive-date=10 October 2022|url-status=live}}

On 26 February 2016, Dunedin city councillor and former Labour MP David Benson-Pope announced that he would be contesting the Dunedin local elections in October under the "Local Labour" ticket. While still a Labour Party member, Benson Pope had stood in the 2013 local elections as an independent candidate. This report coincided with the dissolution of the city's main local body ticket, the centre-left Greater Dunedin group.{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Chris |title=Greater Dunedin disbands |url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/374454/greater-dunedin-disbands |access-date=8 November 2022 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=26 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028074330/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/greater-dunedin-disbands|archive-date=28 October 2021|url-status=live}} On 20 April, it was reported that the Labour Party had dropped its plan to field a bloc of candidates in the 2016 Dunedin elections. However, the party has not ruled out endorsing other candidates.{{cite news |last1=Elder |first1=Vaughan |title=No Labour ticket; Hawkins, Vandervis declare hand |url=http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/380331/no-labour-ticket-hawkins-vandervis-declare-hand |access-date=8 November 2022 |work=Otago Daily Times |date=20 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011025803/http://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/380331/no-labour-ticket-hawkins-vandervis-declare-hand|archive-date=11 October 2021|url-status=live}}

During the 2019 local elections, Steve Walker and Marian Hobbs were elected to the Dunedin City Council and Otago Regional Council respectively on Labour Party tickets.{{cite web |title=2019 Election results |url=https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/past-election-results/2019-election-results/2019-election-results-dunedin-city-council#:~:text=Aaron%20HAWKINS%20is%20declared%20elected,votes%20and%20504%20blank%20votes. |publisher=Dunedin City Council |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220925001020/https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/past-election-results/2019-election-results/2019-election-results-dunedin-city-council |archive-date=25 September 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Hudson |first1=Daisy |title=Hobbs, Wilson elected on to Otago Regional Council |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/hobbs-wilson-elected-otago-regional-council |accessdate=9 November 2022|work=Otago Daily Times |date=12 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705212417/https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/hobbs-wilson-elected-otago-regional-council|archive-date=5 July 2022|url-status=live}} Hobbs subsequently resigned from the Otago Regional Council in November 2021.{{cite news |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/marian-hobbs-resigns-orc |title=Marian Hobbs resigns from ORC |first=Daisy |last=Hudson |date=1 November 2021 |work=Otago Daily Times |access-date=9 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522173728/https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/marian-hobbs-resigns-orc|archive-date=22 May 2022|url-status=live}}

During the 2022 Dunedin local elections, Steve Walker and Joy Davis stood as Labour candidates for the Dunedin City Council. While Walker was re-elected, Davis failed to win a seat.{{cite web |title=2022 Election results |url=https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/2022-election-results |publisher=Dunedin City Council |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221103233810/https://www.dunedin.govt.nz/council/electoral-information/2022-election-results |archive-date=3 November 2022 |date=31 October 2022 |url-status=live}}

In New Plymouth, former MP Harry Duynhoven served as mayor from 2010 to 2013, when he was defeated by Andrew Judd.{{cite news |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/9276437/Andrew-Judd-mayor-of-New-Plymouth |title=Andrew Judd mayor of New Plymouth |last=Rilkoff | first=Matt |date=12 October 2013 |access-date=9 November 2022 |work=Taranaki Daily News |publisher=Stuff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924170521/http://www.stuff.co.nz/taranaki-daily-news/news/9276437/Andrew-Judd-mayor-of-New-Plymouth|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}}

Beginning in 2016, the Labour Party began contesting the Palmerston North local elections, ending a long tradition of keeping national party political affiliations out of local government bodies. During the 2016 local elections, Lorna Johnson was elected on the Labour Party ticket to the Palmerston North City Council. During the 2019 local elections, she was joined by Zulfiqar Butt, who also stood on the Labour ticket.{{cite news |last1=Rankin |first1=Janine |title=Labour and the Greens look for more local body candidates |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/127457597/labour-and-the-greens-look-for-more-local-body-candidates |access-date=13 November 2022 |work=Manawatu Standard |publisher=Stuff |date=9 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020111041/https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/127457597/labour-and-the-greens-look-for-more-local-body-candidates |archive-date=20 October 2022}} During the 2022 local elections, Johnson was re-elected to the Palmerston North City Council but Butt was defeated.{{cite news |last1=Lacy |first1=Judith |title=Grant Smith easily re-elected as Palmerston North mayor |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/manawatu-guardian/news/grant-smith-easily-re-elected-as-palmerston-north-mayor/73ZNG6OST4RQ24YHX42UFUIUEY/ |access-date=13 November 2022 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=11 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025020142/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/manawatu-guardian/news/grant-smith-easily-re-elected-as-palmerston-north-mayor/73ZNG6OST4RQ24YHX42UFUIUEY/ |archive-date=25 October 2022|url-status=live}}

Former {{NZ electorate link|Rotorua}} electorate then Labour list MP Steve Chadwick, was elected as mayor of Rotorua in the 2013 elections. She stood as an independent.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Matthew |title=Election 2013: Steve Chadwick is ready for action |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/election-2013-steve-chadwick-is-ready-for-action/Z2MQRJ4YHWFSOJVWGTRWNQ6JN4/ |access-date=8 November 2022 |work=Rotorua Daily Post |publisher=NZME |date=12 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108232843/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/election-2013-steve-chadwick-is-ready-for-action/Z2MQRJ4YHWFSOJVWGTRWNQ6JN4/ |archive-date=8 November 2022|url-status=live}} She served for three terms before resigning in 2022.{{Cite news |last=Desmarais |first=Felix|url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/447833/rotorua-mayor-steve-chadwick-to-stand-down-after-next-election |title=Rotorua mayor Steve Chadwick to stand down after next election|date=28 July 2021|work=Radio New Zealand|access-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220731200600/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/ldr/447833/rotorua-mayor-steve-chadwick-to-stand-down-after-next-election|archive-date=31 July 2022|url-status=live}}

During the 2022 Wellington local elections, four Labour Party councillors were elected: Ben McNulty – Northern Ward, Rebecca Matthews – Onslow-Western Ward, Teri O'Neill – Eastern Ward, and Nureddin Abdurahman – Southern Ward. Labour MP Paul Eagle unsuccessfully contested the 2022 Wellington City mayoral election but came third place.{{cite web |title=Wellington City Council: 2022 Triennial Elections |url=https://wellington.govt.nz/-/media/your-council/elections/2022/wellington-city-council-2022-triennial-elections---final-stv-result.pdf |publisher=Wellington City Council |access-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020062552/https://wellington.govt.nz/-/media/your-council/elections/2022/wellington-city-council-2022-triennial-elections---final-stv-result.pdf |archive-date=20 October 2022 |url-status=live}}

Daran Ponter of the Wellington City ward on the Greater Wellington Regional Council was the only councillor to have been re-elected on a Labour ticket during the 2022 Wellington local election.{{cite web|title=2022 Election Results and Returns |url=https://www.gw.govt.nz/your-council/elections/2022-election-results-and-returns/ |access-date=17 November 2022 |publisher=Greater Wellington Regional Council |date=16 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018043018/https://www.gw.govt.nz/your-council/elections/2022-election-results-and-returns/ |archive-date=18 October 2022 |url-status=live}}

Campbell Barry has been the mayor of Lower Hutt since 2019 and was re-elected on the Labour ticket along with Wainuiomata ward councilor Keri Brown during the 2022 Hutt City Council elections.{{cite web |title=Hutt City Council: 2022 Triennial Elections |url=https://hccpublicdocs.azurewebsites.net/api/download/587890ba7b2542ef8532867346c3a343/_extcomms/fe7471f91425bbb04fe4894402092c56192d |publisher=Hutt City Council |access-date=17 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015114044/https://hccpublicdocs.azurewebsites.net/api/download/587890ba7b2542ef8532867346c3a343/_extcomms/fe7471f91425bbb04fe4894402092c56192d |archive-date=15 October 2022 |date=13 October 2022 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last1=Boyack |first1=Nicholas |title=Campbell Barry wins Hutt City mayoralty |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/130111565/campbell-barry-wins-hutt-city-mayoralty |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=Stuff |date=8 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023160503/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/local-body-elections/130111565/campbell-barry-wins-hutt-city-mayoralty |archive-date=23 October 2022|url-status=live}}

In Whanganui, Labour member Hamish McDouall served two terms as mayor until he was defeated by Andrew Tripe during the 2022 local elections.{{cite news |last1=Ellis |first1=Moana |title=McDouall out: Whanganui backs first-timer as new mayor |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/manawatu-top-stories/300708428/mcdouall-out-whanganui-backs-firsttimer-as-new-mayor |access-date=8 November 2022 |work=Manawatu Standard |publisher=Stuff |date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027180527/https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/manawatu-top-stories/300708428/mcdouall-out-whanganui-backs-firsttimer-as-new-mayor |archive-date=27 October 2022|url-status=live}} McDouall had previously contested the seat of Whanganui for the party. McDouall ran on an independent ticket.{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11329145 |last=MacDonald |first=Anne-Marie|date= 22 September 2014|title= McDouall rues 'side issues' |work= Wanganui Chronicle |publisher=NZME |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014130123/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11329145|archive-date=14 October 2018|url-status=live}}

: Labour did not contest every electorate until 1946, when it stood candidates in all 80 electorates.{{cite news |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19461116.2.87 |title=The Lists Close |date=16 November 1946 |publisher=Evening Star |issue=25951 |page=9 }} According to the National Executive reports,{{sfn|Brown|1962|p=225}} the number of official candidates in 1919 is uncertain (53 or possibly 46). The party ran 41 candidates in 1922; 56 in 1925; 55 in 1928; 53 in 1931; 70 in 1935; 78 in 1938; and 77 in 1943. Labour did not run against independent candidates who voted with Labour, such as Harry Atmore in Nelson and David McDougall in Mataura, Southland. Labour did not run candidates against the two Country Party candidates in 1935, but did in 1938, when both candidates were defeated.

{{for|detailed lists|Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party|Deputy Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party}}

The Labour Party has had 17 leaders, 11 of whom have served as prime minister. To date, Helen Clark served longest as leader of the Labour Party. While some dispute exists as to when Harry Holland officially became leader, Clark had passed his longest possible leadership term by 26 October 2008.{{cite news |url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10491916 |title=Clark beats record of longest-serving Labour leader – probably |first=Audrey |last=Young |date=12 February 2008 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=12 February 2008}}

The following is a complete list of Labour Party leaders in the House of Representatives:

Key:

{{legend2|{{party color|New Zealand Labour Party}}|Labour|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|Reform Party (New Zealand)}}|Reform|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|United Party (New Zealand)}}|United|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend2|{{party color|New Zealand National Party}}|National|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

PM: Prime Minister

LO: Leader of the Opposition

†: Died in office

The following is a complete list of Labour Party deputy leaders:

{{for|detailed list|President of the New Zealand Labour Party}}

The following is a complete list of Labour Party presidents:{{sfn|Brown|1962|p=224}}

{{portal|New Zealand|Organised labour|Socialism}}

• City Vision, a prominent Auckland Council political ticket composed of Labour and Green Party members
• List of Labour parties
• List of New Zealand Labour Party MPs
• Politics of New Zealand
• Rainbow Labour

{{Reflist}}

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite book |last1 = Franks |first1 = Peter |last2 = McAloon |first2 = Jim |title = Labour: The New Zealand Labour Party 1916–2016 |year = 2016 |publisher = Victoria University Press |location = Wellington |isbn = 978-1-77656-074-5 }}
• {{cite book |title = The Third Labour Government: A Personal History |last=Bassett |first=Michael |author-link = Michael Bassett |year=1976 |publisher=Dunmore Press }}
• {{cite book |first=Bruce |last=Brown |title=The Rise of New Zealand Labour: A history of the New Zealand Labour Party |url = https://archive.org/details/riseofnewzealand0000brow |url-access=registration |location = Wellington |publisher=Price Milburn |year=1962 }}
• {{cite book |first=Barry |last=Gustafson |author-link=Barry Gustafson |title = Labour's path to political independence: The Origins and Establishment of the New Zealand Labour Party, 1900–19 |location=Auckland, New Zealand |publisher=Auckland University Press |year=1980 |isbn=978-0-19-647986-6}}
• {{cite book |first=Barry |last=Gustafson |author-link=Barry Gustafson |title=From the Cradle to the Grave: A biography of Michael Joseph Savage |place=Auckland |publisher=Reed Methuen |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-474-00138-3}} (with Biographical appendix)
• {{cite book |ref={{sfnRef|Holland-Boston|1988}} |title=The Fourth Labour Government: Politics and Policy in New Zealand |editor1-last=Holland |editor1-first=Martin |editor2-last=Boston |editor2-first=Jonathan |year=1988 |publisher=Oxford University Press }}
• {{cite book |last=Lipson |first=Leslie |title=The Politics of Equality: New Zealand's Adventures in Democracy |orig-year=1948 |year=2011 |publisher=Victoria University Press |location=Wellington |isbn=978-0-86473-646-8 }}
• {{cite book |last=Miller |first=Raymond |title=Party Politics in New Zealand |year=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Australia }}
• {{cite book |last=Wilson |first=James Oakley |title = New Zealand Parliamentary Record, 1840–1984 |edition=4th |orig-year=First published in 1913 |year=1985 |publisher=V.R. Ward, Govt. Printer |location=Wellington |oclc=154283103 }}

{{refend}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.cityvision.org.nz/ Official website for City Vision] – the Auckland Local Government Group that includes Labour candidates

{{New Zealand political parties}}

{{NZ Labour Party}}

{{authority control}}

Category:1916 establishments in New Zealand

Category:Former member parties of the Socialist International

Category:Labour parties

Category:New Zealand politics-related lists

Category:Political parties established in 1916

Labour

Category:Progressive Alliance

Category:Centre-left parties

Category:Social democratic parties in New Zealand