John Key


John Key

Head and shoulders of John Key in a dark suit and pale blue spotted tie
Key in February 2015
38th Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2016
MonarchElizabeth II
DeputyBill English
Governor-General
Preceded byHelen Clark
Succeeded byBill English
31st Leader of the Opposition
In office
27 November 2006 – 19 November 2008
DeputyBill English
Preceded byDon Brash
Succeeded byPhil Goff
11th Leader of the National Party
In office
27 November 2006 – 12 December 2016
DeputyBill English
Preceded byDon Brash
Succeeded byBill English
3rd Chairman of the International Democracy Union
In office
21 November 2014 – 21 February 2018
DeputyTony Clement
Preceded byJohn Howard
Succeeded byStephen Harper
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Helensville
In office
27 July 2002 – 14 April 2017
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byChris Penk
Majority20,547 (56.49%)[1]
Personal details
Born (1961-08-09) 9 August 1961 (age 63)
Auckland, New Zealand
Political partyNational
Spouse(s)
Bronagh Dougan
(m. 1984)
Children2
Parents
  • George Key (Father)
  • Ruth Lazar (Mother)
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury (BCom)
OccupationPolitician, Diplomat
Signature
WebsiteOfficial website

Sir John Phillip Key GNZM AC (born 9 August 1961) is a New Zealand retired politician and diplomat who was the 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand and was the 11th Leader of the New Zealand National Party. He entered the New Zealand Parliament in 2002 representing the north-west Auckland area of Helensville as a National MP, a seat that he still holds. In 2006 he succeeded Don Brash as the National Party leader in 2006. Key led his party to victory in the 2008 New Zealand general election.

In March 2016, Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, approved the appointment of Dame Patsy Reddy as the next Governor-General of New Zealand, for a five-year term starting in September 2016, on the advice of John Key.[2]

In December 2016, Key has announced his resignation as prime minister and leader of the National Party. He also instructed the party to put into motion the processes to elect a new leader. He expressed interest in spending more time with his family, stating that he had "never seen [himself] as a career politician" and that "this feels the right time to go". Media reports described the decision as unexpected, and noted the popularity of Key and his party.[3][4] Bill English won the leadership election and succeeded Key on 12 December.[5] Key was very popular when he left office.

  1. "Official Count Results–Helensville". Electoral Commission. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  2. Key, John (22 March 2016). "PM welcomes Dame Patsy Reddy as the next Governor-General". beehive.govt.nz (Press release).
  3. "New Zealand prime minister John Key resigns". The Guardian. 5 December 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  4. "John Key's eight-year reign comes to an end as Bill English gets head-start in leadership race". stuff.co.nz. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  5. Davison, Isaac (8 December 2016). "Bill English will be next Prime Minister, Judith Collins, Jonathan Coleman stand aside". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 June 2017.

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