Fifth National Government
Ministries ofNew Zealand
2008–2017
Date formed	19 November 2008
Date dissolved	26 October 2017
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	SirAnand Satyanand (2008–2011) Lt Gen SirJerry Mateparae (2011–2016) DamePatsy Reddy (2016–2017)
Prime Minister	John Key (2008–2016) Bill English (2016–2017)
Deputy Prime Minister	Bill English (2008–2016) Paula Bennett (2016–2017)
Member party	National Party  ACTas confidence and supply  United Futureas confidence and supply  Māori Partyas confidence and supply
Status in legislature	Minority with confidence and supply from ACT, United Future, Māori
Opposition party	New Zealand Labour Party  Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand  Progressive (2008–2011)  New Zealand First (2011–2017)  Mana Movement (2011–2014)
Opposition leader	Phil Goff (2008–2011) David Shearer (2011–2013) David Cunliffe (2013–2014) Andrew Little (2014–2017) Jacinda Ardern (2017)
History
Elections	2008 general election 2011 general election 2014 general election
Outgoing election	2017 general election
Legislature terms	49th Parliament 50th Parliament 51st Parliament
Budgets	2009 budget 2010 budget 2011 budget 2012 budget 2013 budget 2014 budget 2015 budget 2016 budget 2017 budget
Predecessor	Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand
Successor	Sixth Labour Government of New Zealand

TheFifth National Government of New Zealand was thegovernment of New Zealand for three parliamentary terms from 19 November 2008 to 26 October 2017.John Key served as National Leader and prime minister until December 2016, after whichBill English assumed the premiership until the National Government's defeat following the October 2017 government-forming negotiations.

After the2008 general election theNational Party and its allies were able to form a government, taking over fromHelen Clark'sFifth Labour Government. It was subsequently reformed after the2011 general election with a reduced number of seats, and after the2014 general election with a reduced share of the party vote but the same number of seats. The Government hadconfidence and supply agreements with the following parties:ACT,United Future, and theMāori Party – which gave the Government a majority on major legislation. The National Party also signed amemorandum of understanding with theGreen Party after the 2008 election, but this lapsed in 2011 and was not renewed.

John Key,Prime Minister, (2008–2016)

The Government was elected in the context of thelate 2000s recession.

• TheFifth Labour Government'sEmissions Trading Scheme was delayed and theEmissions Trading Scheme Review Committee was set up to review theNew Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme^[1] in accordance with the coalition agreement with theACT Party.^[2] In November 2009, an amended version of the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme was adopted.^[3]
• Personal tax cuts, reducing taxes on all income; the top personal tax rate was lowered from 39% to 38% and then 33%.^[4]
• Abolished theLoss Attributing Qualifying Company (LAQC) tax structure, which had allowed individuals (mainly property investors) to reduce their individual income tax by off setting their LAQCs losses (theLook-through company structure replaced LAQCs, but without the tax benefits).
• Increased GST from 12.5% to 15% in October 2010.
• Increased the minimum wage from $12.00 per hour to $13.00 per hour in its first term, and to $14.25 in its second term.^[5] This represents a nominal 3.1% average annual increase, significantly lower than the previous government's nominal 7.9% annual average increase.
• Suspended payments to theNew Zealand Superannuation Fund.^[6]
• Introduced the nine-day working fortnight for businesses who were considering laying off staff.
• Capped the minimum employers' contributions toKiwiSaver at 2%, the amount was due to increase to 4% by 2011 and gave employees the option to contribute as little as 2% of their income to KiwiSaver where previously the smallest contribution amount was 4%. The minimum employee and minimum employer contributions were raised to 3% in April 2013.
• Significant investments in the rebuilding of Christchurch after theCanterbury earthquakes^[7][8]

• Repealed theElectoral Finance Act 2007^[9]
• Introduced theGovernor-General Act 2010, to reform theGovernor-General's salary and allowances.^[10]
• Asecond referendum alongside the 2011 election onthe voting system, and after the majority voted in the referendum to retain the existingmixed member proportional system, an independent review on the workings of the MMP system.
• AConstitutional Review (as part of confidence and supply agreement with theMāori Party) starting in 2011.^[11]

• Extended the paid parental leave scheme by four weeks^[12]
• Introduced theEmployment Relations Amendment Act 2008 (the "90-day working bill") in December 2008 which allowed employers with less than 20 staff to dismiss an employee within the first 90 days of employment for no particular reason.^[13] In 2010 the bill was extended to all employers.
• Allowed employees to cash in their fourth week of annual leave, employees can now take 3 weeks holiday and be paid for the fourth while still working.^[14] The fourth week of annual leave was introduced by the previous government.
• A lifetime limit on student loans was introduced: if a student has studied more than 7 EFTS within their lifetime the student can no longer take out any further loans. Students receivingNew Zealand Superannuation Fund payments or Veterans Pension can no longer receive the Student Allowance at the same time. Students are now required to pass more than half of their studies each year to receive a Student Loan or Allowance the following year, previously this requirement only affected the Student Allowance.
• Reformed social security benefits by consolidating seven major benefits into three new ones.
• In 2015, introduced a $790 million of extra spending to reduce hardship among children in New Zealand's poorest families.^[15]
• Invested in insulating New Zealand homes via theWarm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes programme which targets low-income households.^[16]

• Allowed a U.S. navy ship into New Zealand for the New Zealand Navy 75th anniversary without confirmation regarding nuclear weapons for the first time in 33 years^[17]
• Won a seat on theUN Security Council in the 2014 election, a process that started in 2004.^[18]

• In 2012, New Zealand and the U.S. signed the Washington Declaration, strengthening military cooperation and defence relations, for the first time in more than 30 years.^[19]
• Removal of the position of Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control.^[20]
• The government released a new Defence White Paper in 2016, outlining the New Zealand government's strategic defence policy objectives and how the Defence Force will be structured to meet these objectives by 2030 and beyond.^[21]

• Restored titles ('Sir' and 'Dame') in theNew Zealand honours system.^[22]
• Officially ended appointments to thePrivy Council of the United Kingdom, which would have meant that no new designations of "The Right Honourable" would be made, and that instead ministers will be known simply as "The Honorable".^[23] However, on 2 August 2010 it was announced bythe Queen of New Zealand that those appointed to offices of Governor-General, Prime Minister, Speaker, and Chief Justice would be given the title "The Right Honourable" for life, "to preserve an important mark of distinction for the holders of the nation's highest public offices".^[24] Prime Minister John Key said "he appreciated the title" and also stated "Her Majesty believes it is appropriate also to acknowledge the service of the Governor-General, the Queen's representative in New Zealand, the Speaker, the highest officer in the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice, the head of the judicial branch of government".^[25]
• Two referendums on flag change; one to determine a possible alternative, the other to decide whether to change or not.

• Introduction of National Standards for primary and intermediate school children.
• Planned to change teacher to student ratios in the 2012 Budget, but withdrew two weeks later due to miscalculations regarding the effect of changes on intermediate schools and public opposition.^[26]
• Removal of all student allowances for postgraduate study at University.
• Rejected a bill for state-funded breakfast and lunch to be provided to students at all low-decile schools.^[27]
• Invested $359 million to strengthen leadership and quality teaching across schools. This investment created new principal and teacher roles.^[12]
• In 2016 invested $883 million in a building programme to deliver various building projects including 480 new classrooms and nine new schools. This includes $168 million for the Christchurch schools rebuild programme.^[28]

• Increased amounts of elective surgery^[29]
• Provided free GP visits and free prescriptions for children aged under 13 from July 2015.^[12]
• Provided funding for the rheumatic fever prevention programme^[12]
• Rebuilt Christchurch Hospital and Burwood Hospitals^[30]

• Introduced the "mixed ownership model" plan, in which the Government planned to reduce its share inGenesis Energy,Meridian Energy,Mighty River Power andSolid Energy from 100% to 51% andAir New Zealand from 74% to 51%, andsell off the remainder. The plans to sell down Solid Energy were later axed due to the company's poor financial position.A citizens-initiated referendum on the sell-downs returned a 67.3% vote in opposition (on a turnout of 45.1%).
• Ultra-Fast Broadband rollout of fibre to the house to 87% of households
• SevenRoads of National Significance

• In 2009 and 2010, the Government merged four city councils, three district councils and theAuckland Regional Council into one unitary "Super City" under theLocal Government (Auckland Council) Act 2009. The Government's action differed from the recommendations of theRoyal Commission on Auckland Governance.^[31]
• In March 2010, the Government removed theEnvironment Canterbury's Councillors and replaced them with appointed commissioners. Theelections in 2010 of Environment Canterbury councillors which were pending in 2013 were postponed to ensure a Water Management Plan for Canterbury would be created.^[32]

The involvement of the National government within this particular area was seen through their approach in settlements. National government's involvement of Treaty affairs:

• Ngai Tuhoe deed of settlement^[33]

These involved discussion and planning of guidelines which were negotiated with two significant iwis of Taranaki. This also involved Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations Christopher Finlayson.

• Apology to affiliate Te Arawa^[34]

In relation to past Treaty breaches and the actions of the previous governments at the time of the land wars. John Key apologised for the actions and doings of the abuses to the Te Arawa iwi and hapu.

• Negotiation with Te Atiawa and Taranaki iwi^[35]

The2008 general election saw the Fifth National Government elected to power with 44.93 per cent of the popular vote, ending nine years of Labour government. National formed a minority government with confidence-and-supply support from theACT,United Future andMāori parties. The Governor-General swore Key in as New Zealand's 38th Prime Minister on 19 November 2008.

The2011 general election saw the Fifth National Government continue with confidence-and-supply from the ACT, United Future and Maori parties. National increased its share of the party vote to 47.3 percent, but gained only one additional seat to 59 due to a reduced wasted vote (down to 3.4 percent from 6.5 percent in 2008), largely stemming from the return of theNew Zealand First party to Parliament after a one term absence. National's increased share of votes however largely came at the expense of its support parties, which saw decreases in vote share and seats. ACT only gained a third of its 2008 vote with 1.07 percent, reducing its seats from five to just one, while the defection of Hone Harawira to form the Mana Party saw the Maori Party's share of vote split, reducing the party to 1.43 percent and reducing the number of seats to three. The United Future Party saw its party vote drop by a quarter to 0.60 percent, but retained its single seat. The reformed Government and its supporters therefore held 50.41 percent of the party vote and 64 of the 121 seats in Parliament.

The2014 general election saw the Fifth National Government returned again, gaining a plurality with 47.0% of the party vote and 60 of the 121 seats. On election night counts the party appeared to hold the first majority since 1994 with 61 seats, but lost a list seat (forMaureen Pugh) to the Green Party on the official count (including special votes) of the party vote.^[36] National re-enteredconfidence and supply agreements with the centristUnited Future,^[37] the classical liberalACT Party,^[38] and the indigenous rights-basedMāori Party^[39] to form aminority government.

Subsequently, with the sudden resignation ofMike Sabin the National MP forNorthland in January 2015, and his replacement in the subsequent2015 by-election byNew Zealand First leaderWinston Peters, the government became more dependent on the support parties.

The table below shows the total party votes for National and the three parties that supported the National-led government. National received support on matters ofconfidence and supply fromACT, theMāori Party andUnited Future in each of the three terms. For more details of election results, see the election articles.

National Party leader John Key wasprime minister between when the government was elected in the2008 elections, up until his resignation on 12 December 2016.

The National Party held aleadership election to determine Key's successor as National Party leader and prime minister. Deputy Prime Minister Bill English announced that he would be standing for the leadership on 6 December 2016.^[40] Health MinisterJonathan Coleman and Police and Corrections MinisterJudith Collins also announced their intention to seek the leadership, but dropped out due to low support from National Party colleagues. After Coleman and Collins' withdrawal, English was sworn in as the 39th prime minister on 12 December 2016.^[41] State Services MinisterPaula Bennett and Transport MinisterSimon Bridges announced they would contest the consequential vacancy for Deputy Leader; Bridges dropped out of the race after it was clear Bennett had greater support.^[42]

• Finlayson, Christopher (2022).Yes, Minister. Auckland: Allen & Unwin.ISBN 978-199-1006-103.
• Joyce, Steven (2023).On the Record. Auckland: Allen & Unwin.ISBN 978-1-99100-646-2.

• National's Ministry focused on growth, prosperityBeehive Press Release, 19 November 2009.
• National-ACT agreement announcedBeehive Press Release, 19 November 2009.
• National-United Future agreement announcedBeehive Press Release, 19 November 2009.
• National-Maori Party agreement announcedBeehive Press Release, 19 November 2009.
• Memorandum of Understanding between the New Zealand National Party and the Green Party of Aotearoa 8 April 2009.

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