Jim Bolger

The Right Honourable James Brendan "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, which he 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.

• Republicanism in New Zealand

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