NZ First
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| NZ First | |
|---|---|
| Name | NZ First |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Founder | Winston Peters |
| Leader | Winston Peters |
| Position | Populist, centrist to right-wing |
| Colours | Blue, white, gold |
| Seats in parliament | variable |
NZ First is a New Zealand political party founded in 1993 by Winston Peters following his departure from the New Zealand National Party. It has positioned itself as a populist, nationalist force that often focuses on issues of immigration, regional development, and elder care, and has twice held the balance of power in New Zealand general elections by entering coalition or confidence-and-supply agreements with larger parties. The party's electoral fortunes have fluctuated, with periods in and out of the New Zealand Parliament and significant influence on policy during coalition negotiations with both the New Zealand Labour Party and the New Zealand National Party.
History
The party emerged in the aftermath of the 1993 election, when Winston Peters left the New Zealand National Party and formed a new grouping that campaigned in the 1993 and 1996 elections. The adoption of the Mixed-member proportional representation system for the 1996 election reshaped New Zealand's political landscape, enabling smaller parties such as this one to win parliamentary representation through both electorate victories and nationwide party votes. In 1996 the party entered government as a coalition partner with Jim Bolger's National Party, with Peters serving as Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Treasurer; this arrangement collapsed in 1998 amid tensions with Jenny Shipley's leadership. The party later spent periods in opposition and returned to influence after the 2017 election by entering a confidence-and-supply agreement with Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party, securing ministerial roles for Peters and colleagues. After the 2020 election the party lost parliamentary representation but re-entered Parliament following the 2023 election under new electoral conditions and shifting coalitions.
Ideology and Policies
The party is commonly described as populism-oriented with a focus on nationalism and regionalism. It emphasizes stricter immigration controls and an emphasis on prioritising citizens in public services and employment, drawing comparisons with policy positions in other parties such as UKIP and Australia One in rhetorical style, while remaining distinct in New Zealand's context. It advocates for welfare policies targeted at older citizens, including increases to the New Zealand Superannuation age benefits, and has promoted state involvement in infrastructure projects in regions like Northland and Rotorua. On economic matters it has supported protectionist measures for sectors such as fisheries—engaging with institutions like the Ministry for Primary Industries and the New Zealand Fishery Management frameworks—and has debated tax measures including adjustments to the GST. The party has also taken positions on sovereignty-related issues, opposing aspects of closer integration with multilateral bodies such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and engaging with debates over the role of the Waitangi Tribunal and tino rangatiratanga claims.
Organisation and Leadership
The party's organisational structure has historically revolved around its founder and long-time leader, Winston Peters, whose leadership style has shaped candidate selection and policy platforms. Key organisational roles have included party president, campaign director, and electorate organisers operating across regions such as Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. The party's parliamentary caucus has at times included figures who served as ministers in coalition governments, engaging with Cabinet processes under leaders such as Helen Clark and Judd-era Labour leadership, and later under the premierships of John Key and Jacinda Ardern. Internal governance has faced challenges typical of smaller parties, including membership recruitment, fundraising, and maintaining cohesion during coalition negotiations with larger parties like National and Labour.
Electoral Performance
Electoral results for the party have varied widely. In the 1996 election, the party benefited from the new MMP system and won a significant share of seats, enabling it to form a coalition with National. The party achieved substantial party vote shares in several subsequent elections, enabling it to act as kingmaker in 1996 and again in 2017, when it entered an agreement with Labour and the Greens to support a minority government. The 2020 election saw the party fall below the 5 percent threshold and lose parliamentary representation, only to return in later contests where electorate victories and targeted campaigning produced seats. Variability in regional support—stronger in provinces such as Bay of Plenty and Northland—has shaped its parliamentary presence.
Controversies and Criticisms
The party and its leadership have been the subject of controversies and criticisms, including disputes over coalition conduct, ministerial accountability, and statements on immigration and ethnic relations. Critics have highlighted episodes involving disagreements with coalition partners such as Jim Bolger's National leadership and later tensions during negotiations with Labour following the 2017 election. Accusations of opportunistic coalition-making and populist rhetoric have come from commentators associated with institutions like the New Zealand Herald and academics at universities such as the University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington. The party has also faced scrutiny over fundraising, internal candidate selection processes, and the conduct of individual MPs when interacting with committees such as the Appointment of Members of Parliament Committees.
Impact and Legacy
The party's legacy includes shaping New Zealand's policy debates on immigration, regional investment, and elder welfare, and demonstrating the influence smaller parties can wield under the MMP electoral system. It has affected legislative outcomes through confidence-and-supply agreements and coalition arrangements with both National and Labour administrations, influencing appointments to portfolios and public spending decisions in regions such as Northland and infrastructure projects like those in Tauranga. The party's repeated role as a power broker has had lasting effects on coalition dynamics, party strategy among major parties, and scholarly analysis in political science departments at institutions like the University of Otago and Massey University.