The Right Honourable "'''Jim'''" '''Bolger''',
ONZ , (born
31 May 1935 ) was
Prime Minister Of New Zealand from
1990 to
1997 .
Bolger entered politics in
1972 as the
New Zealand National Party member of
Parliament for King Country. He represented this electorate, which was renamed Taranaki-King Country in
1996 , until his retirement in
1998 . In
1975 he was a made a cabinet minister under Prime Minister
Robert Muldoon , serving first as Minister of Fisheries and later as Minister of Agriculture.
He ran unsuccessfully for party leader in
1984 . In
1986 he made a second attempt, and unseated
Jim McLay as leader. After an unsuccessful election in
1987 , National won the biggest landslide in New Zealand history in
1990 . Bolger became prime minister.
Bolger's National government continued the economic and social reforms of the previous Labour government, with
Finance Minister Ruth Richardson implementing drastic cuts in public spending, particularly in health and welfare. In addition, it continued the previous
Labour government's anti-nuclear policy.
In spite of his party's opposition, Bolger held a referendum on whether or not New Zealand should change from the British style electoral system of 'first past the post' to one of
Proportional Representation . In
1992 , New Zealanders voted to change to the
Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system. This was confirmed in a binding referendum held at the same time as the
1993 general election, which National won. Bolger had originally proposed a return to a
Bicameral system, with an elected
Senate , but this proposal was dropped in the face of support for electoral reform.
In
1994 Bolger caused surprise by suggesting that New Zealand should follow
Australia if the latter severed links with the
British Monarchy and became a
Republic by doing likewise, but this received little popular support, as did proposals to end the status of the
Privy Council as the country's highest court of appeal. His government ended the awarding of British
Honours in New Zealand, introducing a
New Zealand Honours System .
In
1996 New Zealand had its first election under MMP, and Bolger became caretaker Prime Minister until a
Coalition with a majority in parliament could be formed. Both Bolger and Labour leader
Helen Clark sought the support of
New Zealand First , which held the balance of power in the new House. Its leader,
Winston Peters , had left the National Party to form his own party, and opposed many of the free-market reforms implemented by National, and Labour before it. In December of that year a coalition was formed between National and New Zealand First, with Peters being appointed to the new post of Treasurer (senior to the already existing post of
Finance Minister , which was given to National's
Bill Birch ).
Bolger was quasi-affectionately nicknamed "Spud" because of his facial features and Irish ancestry. The
Royal New Zealand Air Force nicknamed his
Boeing 727 "
Spud One ". Bolger disliked the "Spud" tag but he answered to it when journalist
Bill Ralston addressed him in a press conference, "Yo, Spud". During a public appearance with the
Irish Prime Minister , Bolger (who tended to mirror those he was talking to) embarrassingly spoke in an Irish accent.
Growing opposition to Bolger's slow pace led Transport Minister
Jenny Shipley to stage a caucus coup in
1997 . Bolger was out of the country at the time, and when he returned he found that he didn't have enough support in his caucus to remain as party leader and prime minister. He resigned on
8 December , and Shipley became New Zealand's first woman prime minister. As a sop to Bolger, he was made a junior minister in Shipley's government.
He retired as MP for Taranaki-King Country in 1998, prompting
A By-election In That Electorate and was subsequently appointed to the position of Ambassador to the
United States , at which he served until 2001. On his return to New Zealand, he was appointed Chairman of the state-owned
Kiwibank as well as
New Zealand Post . Bolger was made a member of the
Order Of New Zealand in 1997.
Bolger is a
Roman Catholic with nine children and voted
Pro-life whenever the issue came up in a conscience vote.
