Jim Bolger | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Bolger in 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 35th Prime Minister of New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 2 November 1990 – 8 December 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Governors-General | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Mike Moore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jenny Shipley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7th Leader of the National Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 March 1986 – 8 December 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Jim McLay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jenny Shipley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25th Leader of the Opposition | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 26 March 1986 – 2 November 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister |
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| Deputy |
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| Preceded by | Jim McLay | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Mike Moore | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of theNew Zealand Parliament forTaranaki-King Country King Country (1972–1996) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 25 November 1972 – 6 April 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Shane Ardern | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | James Brendan Bolger (1935-05-31)31 May 1935 Ōpunake, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 15 October 2025(2025-10-15) (aged 90) Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | National | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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James Brendan BolgerONZ PC (/ˈbɒldʒər/BOL-jər; 31 May 1935 – 15 October 2025) was a New Zealand politician of theNational Party who was the 35thprime minister of New Zealand, serving from 1990 to 1997.
Bolger was born inŌpunake, Taranaki, to Irish immigrants. Before entering politics, he farmed inWaikato, and was involved inFederated Farmers—a nationwide agricultural association. Bolger won election to Parliament in1972, and subsequently served in several portfolios in theThird National Government. Following one unsuccessful bid forthe party leadership in1984, Bolger was elected as National Party leader in1986. He served asLeader of the Opposition from 1986 to 1990.
Bolger led the National Party to alandslide victory—the largest in its history—in the1990 election, leading him to become prime minister in November. TheFourth National Government was elected on the promise of delivering a "Decent Society" followingthe previous Labour government's economic reforms, known as "Rogernomics", which Bolger criticised. However, shortly after taking office, his government was forced to bail out theBank of New Zealand and as a result reneged on a number of promises made during the election campaign. Bolger's government essentially advanced thefree-market reforms of the previous government, while implementing drastic cuts in public spending. National retained power in the1993 election, albeit with a much-reduced majority.
Bolger's second term in office saw the introduction of theMMP electoral system. In the subsequent1996 election, National emerged as the largest party, but it was forced to enter into a coalition withNew Zealand First. Bolger continued as prime minister; however, his critics argued that he gave the inexperienced NZ First too much influence in his Cabinet. In December 1997, Bolger was effectivelyousted as leader by his party caucus, and was replaced as prime minister byJenny Shipley.
After resigning as a member of Parliament in 1998, Bolger was appointedambassador to the United States, where he remained until 2002.
Bolger was born on 31 May 1935 atŌpunake inTaranaki.[1] He was born into anIrish Catholic family; Bolger was one of five children[2] born to Daniel and Cecilia (née Doyle) Bolger[3] who emigrated together fromGorey,County Wexford, in 1930. He said that his early childhood was dominated by the effects ofWorld War II.[4] He leftOpunake High School at age 15 to work on the familydairy farm.[5] In 1962 he purchased his own farm near Rahotu. He joined and became active inFederated Farmers, becoming a branch chairman in 1962, sub-provincial chairman in 1970 and Waikato provincial vice-president in 1971. He was a member of the Waikato and King Country agricultural advisory committees.[6]
In 1963, Bolger marriedJoan Riddell, and they moved to their own sheep and beef farm inTe Kūiti two years later.[2] During this time Bolger became involved in local farmer politics. He joined theEgmont branch of theNational Party and was later an officeholder in theTe Kūiti branch.[6] In the late 1960s he was asked to accompany the thenMinister of FinanceRobert Muldoon to see for himself the difficulties faced by farmers in the area. As Bolger travelled around the district, he became experienced with Muldoon's adversarial style.[2]
| Years | Term | Electorate | List | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972–1975 | 37th | King Country | National | ||
| 1975–1978 | 38th | King Country | National | ||
| 1978–1981 | 39th | King Country | National | ||
| 1981–1984 | 40th | King Country | National | ||
| 1984–1987 | 41st | King Country | National | ||
| 1987–1990 | 42nd | King Country | National | ||
| 1990–1993 | 43rd | King Country | National | ||
| 1993–1996 | 44th | King Country | National | ||
| 1996–1998 | 45th | Taranaki-King Country | 1 | National | |
Bolger entered politics in1972 as theNew Zealand National Party Member ofParliament forKing Country, a newly created electorate in the rural western portion of North Island. This electorate is traditional National territory, and Bolger won easily.[7] He represented this electorate, renamedTaranaki-King Country in 1996, until his retirement in 1998. In 1974 he was appointed National's spokesperson for Rural Affairs by incoming leaderRobert Muldoon.[8]
At the formation of theThird National Government in 1975 Bolger was designated as ParliamentaryUnder-Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and to Minister of Maori Affairs.[9] In 1977, Muldoon promoted him to Cabinet, first asMinister of Fisheries and Associate Minister of Agriculture. Following the 1978 election, he becameMinister of Labour andMinister of Immigration.[10]
In late 1980 Bolger was a leading member of 'the Colonels' (alongsideDerek Quigley,Jim McLay andGeorge Gair) who attempted to dump Muldoon as leader and put the party back into line with traditional National Party policies after feeling they were being abandoned.[4][11] In what became known as the Colonels' Coup. The agitators intended to replace Muldoon with his deputy,Brian Talboys, who was more economically liberal and in tune with traditional National Party philosophy than Muldoon. The Colonels waited until Muldoon was out of the country before moving against him. However, Talboys was reluctant to openly challenge and the scheme failed with Muldoon reaffirming control after he returned to remain leader.[12]
After the defeat of National at the1984 general elections Bolger remained on the frontbench as Shadow Minister of Labour and Employment.[13] Both he and deputy leaderJim McLay challenged Muldoon for the leadership of the party. McLay succeeded but Bolger was elected as deputy leader (and henceDeputy Leader of the Opposition).[14] McLay also designated Bolger Shadow Minister of Trade and Industry before switching him to Shadow Minister of Agriculture.[15][16] In December 1985 he attempted an abortive leadership coup against McLay.[17]
In 1986, Bolger organised a second challenge to McLay's leadership. This one was successful, and he defeated McLay in a26 March 1986 ballot for the leadership of the National Party.[17] Initially Bolger pursued a pro law and order approach, with a focus on critiquing Labour's perceived reluctance to combat "lawlessness" and offering a referendum on the reintroduction ofcapital punishment.[18] Bolger went head to head against the popularDavid Lange in the1987 general election, but failed to match the latter's popularity; Lange described Bolger as "an itinerant masseur, massaging the politically erogenous zones."[19] National under Bolger capitalised on public anger at the Labour government'shighly unpopular economic policies to win National's biggest ever majority (and by extension the largest in New Zealand history) at the1990 general election. Bolger became Prime Minister at age 55.[20]
| Premiership of Jim Bolger 2 November 1990 – 8 December 1997 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
|---|---|
| Cabinet | Fourth National Government of New Zealand |
| Party | New Zealand National Party |
| Election | 1990,1993,1996 |
| Appointed by | Paul Reeves |
| Seat | Premier House |
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|---|---|---|
General elections | ||
Three days after being sworn in as prime minister, Bolger's government needed to bail out theBank of New Zealand, then the largest bank in the country. The cost of the bail out was $380 million, but after rewriting its budget, the government needed to borrow $740 million.[21] This had an immediate impact on Bolger's direction in government, with the first budget of his premiership being dubbed the "Mother of all Budgets".[22] Bolger'sFinance Minister,Ruth Richardson, implemented drastic cuts in public spending, particularly in health and welfare. Theunemployment benefit was cut by $14.00 a week, sickness benefit by $27.04, families benefit by $25.00 to $27.00 and universal payments for family benefits were completely abolished.[23] Richardson also introduced manyuser pays requirements in hospitals and schools, services previously free to the populace and paid for by the government.[24] The first budget specifically reversed National's election promise to remove the tax surcharge onsuperannuation and the retention of promises to abolish tertiary fees.[22]
Another major controversial piece of legislation was the 1991Employment Contracts Act which effectively dismantled the industrial relations settlement that had persisted since 1894. Immediate effects of this law change saw union membership fall dramatically in the decade following its passage.[25] His government also introduced the Building Act 1991, which is seen by some as a crucial factor leading to New Zealand's laterleaky homes crisis.[26]
Bolger opposed electoral reform,[20] but despite his party's opposition held a referendum on whether or not New Zealand should change from the British-style electoral system of 'first past the post' to one ofproportional representation. In 1992, New Zealanders voted to change to theMixed Member Proportional (MMP) system. This was confirmed in a binding referendum held alongside the 1993 general election, which National won. Bolger had originally proposed a return to abicameral system, with aSenate elected bySingle Transferable Vote,[20] but retreated from this in the face of support for electoral reform.[27] For his pragmatism and his sense of authority, he was jovially nicknamed "The Great Helmsman".[28]
At the1993 election, National narrowly retained government, owing partly to a slight economic recovery and his opposition being split between three competing parties; Bolger himself expected a comfortable election win, exclaiming "bugger the pollsters" upon the election result. National's unprecedented eighteen-seat majority had virtually disappeared and the country faced an election nighthung parliament for the first time since1931, with National one seat short of the required 50 seats to govern. Finalspecial votes counted over the following days revealed National had retainedWaitaki which it had lost on election night together with holdingWellington-Karori the only electorate National had won from Labour. This allowed it to form a government with the majority of one seat but required the election of a Speaker from the opposition benches (Peter Tapsell of the Labour Party) to hold a working majority in the House.[29]
Following this election result Bolger expressed the need to work with other political parties and decided to demote Richardson from her post, appointingBill Birch who was seen as more moderate. During Birch's tenure, spending on core areas such as health[30] and education increased. His government passed theFiscal Responsibility Act 1994. During the 1994 Address-in-Reply debate, Bolger argued in favour of aNew Zealand republic, but denied that his views related to his Irish heritage.[31]
In April 1995 theCave Creek disaster gained public attention after a scenic viewing platform collapsed, killing fourteen people.[32] The platform had been erected by theDepartment of Conservation (DOC) in 1994 and later inquiries found that many of those who constructed it did not have prerequisite qualifications for building the platform. Despite DOC taking responsibility for its collapse, there would be no prosecutions (as the Crown is unable to prosecute itself) but $2.6 million worth of compensation was paid to the victims' families.[33] Bolger initially attacked the report produced by the Commission of Inquiry, arguing that the platform failed "essentially because it lacked about $20 worth of bolts to hold it together". The Minister of Conservation,Denis Marshall, was criticised in the media for his management of the department. Many people blamed Marshall, although there was also wide criticism of the whole government's policies on management of the conservation estate. Marshall eventually resigned in May 1996, just over a year after the accident occurred.[34] A new Minister,Nick Smith, was appointed, and a full review of the department was conducted by theState Services Commission.[35]
Bolger's second term would also see France resume nuclear testing onMoruroa, prompting swift condemnation from New Zealand and other Pacific nations. Bolger vocally supported anti-nuclear protests by New Zealand yachters. His government dispatchedHMNZSTui to provide support for the flotilla.[36]
Proposals to end the status of theJudicial Committee of the Privy Council as the country's highest court of appeal failed to gain parliamentary sanction during Bolger's premiership (however Helen Clark'sFifth Labour Government would replace the right of appeal in 2003 when it set up theSupreme Court of New Zealand). Bolger's government ended the awarding ofBritish honours in 1996, introducing aNew Zealand Honours System. At a conference on the "Bolger years" in 2007, Bolger recalled speaking to the Queen about the issue of New Zealand becoming a republic: "I have more than once spoken with Her Majesty about my view that New Zealand would at some point elect its own Head of State, we discussed the matter in a most sensible way and she was in no way surprised or alarmed and neither did she cut my head off."[37] With the new MMP environment some National Party MPs defected to a new grouping,United New Zealand in mid-1995, whilst other splinter parties emerged.[38]
The 1996 election sawNew Zealand First, led by former National ministerWinston Peters, holding the balance of power after the1996 election. Bolger's government stayed in office in a caretaker role while negotiations began for a coalition government. Although National remained the largest single party, neither Bolger nor Labour leaderHelen Clark could form a government on their own. Neither party could govern without the support of New Zealand First, leaving Peters in a position where he could effectively choose the next prime minister.[39]
Ultimately, in December 1996, Peters decided to go into coalition with National. Bolger had to pay a very high price in order to stay in power, however. As part of a detailed coalition agreement Peters became deputy prime minister and Treasurer. The latter post was created specifically for Peters, and was senior to the existing post of Minister of Finance, which was retained by Birch. Bolger also made significant policy concessions as well. He also allowed Peters full latitude to select ministers from New Zealand First, unusual for a junior coalition partner in a Westminster system. There were concerns about whether Bolger and Peters could work together, since Bolger had sacked Peters from his cabinet in 1991 over Peters' objections toRuthanasia. However, no major issues surfaced between them.[39]
Bolger's administration made progress in settling historical grievances with theMāori under theTreaty of Waitangi. These settlements aimed to address longstanding issues related to land and resource rights, contributing to the reconciliation process between the government and Māori communities.[40]
Growing opposition to Bolger's slow pace and the perceived exaggerated influence of New Zealand First led Transport MinisterJenny Shipley to plan a caucus room coup while Bolger was attending theCommonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. When Bolger returned to New Zealand, he found that Shipley was not only preparing a leadership challenge, but had marshaled enough support to oust him as party leader and prime minister. Rather than face being voted out, he resigned on 8 December, and Shipley became New Zealand's first woman prime minister. As a concession, Bolger was made a junior minister in Shipley's government.[41]
Bolger remains the National Party's third-longest-serving leader. Retiring political journalist Peter Luke said that Bolger was "[t]he most under-estimated prime minister I have come across. He made up for his lack of education by having an innate ability to relate to the aspirations of ordinary Kiwis. And, as many civil servants discovered to their cost, his image of being a simple King Country farmer did not mean that he would not understand their reports and unfailingly point to the flaws in them."[42]
Bolger retired as MP for Taranaki-King Country in 1998, prompting the1998 by-election and subsequently becameNew Zealand's ambassador to the United States.[41] On his return to New Zealand in 2001, he was appointed chairman of the state-ownedNew Zealand Post and of its subsidiaryKiwibank. He also chaired Express Couriers Ltd, Trustees Executors Ltd, the Gas Industry Company Ltd, the advisory board of the World Agricultural Forum, St. Louis, USA, the New Zealand United States Council, and the board of directors of the Ian Axford Fellowships in Public Policy.[41]
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Bolger was elected chancellor of theUniversity of Waikato on 14 February 2007, succeeding John Jackman.[43]
On 1 July 2008, almost 15 years after his National government soldNew Zealand Rail Ltd, the Labour-led government repurchased its successor,Toll NZ Ltd (less its Tranz Link trucking and distribution arm), having repurchased the track network in 2004. Bolger became chair of the company, renamedKiwiRail, a position he held until 1 July 2010. A number of commentators,[44] includingWinston Peters, viewed this as ironic. In response, Bolger acknowledged his involvement in privatising New Zealand Rail, remarking that "my life is full of ironies",[45] and added that "the world has changed".[44]
Bolger expressed concern about poverty and inequality in an interview withRadio New Zealand'sGuyon Espiner. He also believed that trade unions may not have enough power.[46] Some saw this as disavowing his previous adherence to free market reforms.[47] In 2021, he stated that the modern National Party should reimagine capitalism because social inequality was causing division, saying free market capitalism is "on the verge of destroying the planet and destabilising society".[48]
On 5 June 2018, Bolger was appointed to head theLabour government's fair pay agreement working group, tasked with reporting back on the design of industry-wide fair pay agreements by the end of that year.[49]
In 2019, Bolger retired from the chancellorship of the University of Waikato, and was succeeded byAnand Satyanand.[50][51]
As of 2022, Bolger was a member of the Board ofTe Urewera, aprotected area in the North Island.[52]
In 1977, Bolger was awarded theQueen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal.[53] Both Jim and Joan Bolger received theNew Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, and, in 1993, theNew Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal.[53] In the1998 New Year Honours, Jim Bolger was appointed aMember of the Order of New Zealand, and Joan Bolger was appointed aCompanion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.[54] Bolger received the Order of New Zealand without the customaryknighthood bestowed on former prime ministers, as he supported eliminating honorary titles.[55]
Bolger and his wife Joan wereRoman Catholics, with Bolger describing himself as religious but not "deeply so".[4] The couple had nine children. Bolger voted againstabortion whenever the issue came up in a parliamentaryconscience vote.[56] He was a member ofCollegium International.[57] From 2013, the Bolgers lived inWaikanae.[58]
Some have made reference to Jim Bolger, ironically or affectionately, as theGreat Helmsman.[59][60]
Bolger died of kidney failure at theWellington Regional Hospital in Wellington, on 15 October 2025, at the age of 90.[61][62]
HisRequiem Mass was held on 23 October 2025 atOur Lady of Kāpiti Parish. It was attended byGovernor-GeneralCindy Kiro and Prime MinisterChristopher Luxon, who both spoke,Māori QueenNga wai hono i te po,Speaker of the HouseGerry Brownlee, and former Prime MinistersChris Hipkins, SirBill English,Helen Clark, and DameJenny Shipley. Bolger's Deputy Prime MinisterDon McKinnon attended and spoke at the Mass. While it was not an official state funeral, the Mass did see Parliament's sitting day delayed so that MPs could attend.New Zealand Defence Force leadership also attended with the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, Chief of the Navy, Chief of the Army, and Chief of the Air Force representing the services.[63]
Just as Norway's Prime minister is a popular and respected figure, widely seen as a fit leader for her country, so can Jim Bolger lay claim to a similar role. The Prime Minister has relished the challenge of the transition to PR in New Zealand, basking in his role as the 'Great Helmsman'.
The key [...] was a steady hand on the tiller with 'the great helmsman' Jim Bolger [...].
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of New Zealand 1990–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Leader of the Opposition 1986–1990 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Labour 1978–1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Minister of Immigration 1978–1981 | Succeeded by |
| New title | Minister of Fisheries 1977–1978 | Succeeded by |
| New Zealand Parliament | ||
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for King Country 1972–1996 | Constituency abolished |
| Member of Parliament for Taranaki-King Country 1996–1998 | Succeeded by | |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Leader of the National Party 1986–1997 | Succeeded by |
| Deputy Leader of the National Party 1984–1986 | Succeeded by | |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | Ambassador to the United States 1998–2002 | Succeeded by John Wood |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
