New Zealand National Party
Also known as National Party of New Zealand, National, Nationals, National Party
centre-right political party in New Zealand
Key facts
- President
- Sylvia Wood
- Leader
- Christopher Luxon
- Deputy leader
- Nicola Willis
- Founded
- 14 May 1936 ; 90 years ago ( 1936-05-14 )
- Preceded by
- United–Reform Coalition
- Headquarters
- 41 Pipitea Street, Thorndon , Wellington 6011
- Youth wing
- Young Nationals
- Ideology
- Conservatism Liberalism
- Political position
- Centre-right
- Regional affiliation
- Asia Pacific Democracy Union
- European affiliation
- European Conservatives and Reformists Party (regional partner, until 2022)
- International affiliation
- International Democracy Union
~36 min read
Article
The New Zealand National Party (Māori: Rōpū Nāhinara o Aotearoa), often shortened to National (Nāhinara), or the Nats, is a centre-right political party in New Zealand that is the current senior governing party. It is one of two major parties that dominate contemporary New Zealand politics, alongside its traditional rival, the Labour Party.
National formed in 1936 through amalgamation of conservative and liberal parties, Reform and United respectively, and subsequently became New Zealand's second-oldest extant political party. National's predecessors had previously formed a coalition against the growing labour movement. National has governed for six periods during the 20th and 21st centuries, and has spent more time in government than any other New Zealand party.