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The spouse of the prime minister of New Zealand is the wife or husband of the New Zealand prime minister. It is not an official office and, as such, is not given a salary or official duties, but the prime minister's spouse may be expected to act as hostess or host of Premier House. The current prime minister, Christopher Luxon, is married to Amanda Luxon.
| Spouse of the Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
|---|---|
Incumbent since 27 November 2023Amanda Luxon | |
| Residence | Premier House |
| Inaugural holder | Elizabeth Kittoe |
| Formation | 7 May 1856 |
When Henry Sewell became the country's first premier in 1856, his wife, Elizabeth Kittoe, became the first person to fill the role. The first husband to the prime minister was Burton Shipley, Jenny Shipley's husband, in 1997. The 23rd prime minister, Michael Joseph Savage, was a bachelor during his term, and prime minister Jacinda Ardern was in an unmarried relationship with Clarke Gayford during her tenure from 2017 to 2023.
Current
editThe current spouse of the prime minister of New Zealand is Amanda Luxon, as her husband became prime minister on 27 November 2023.[1]
Role
editThe prime minister's spouse has no official duties. Some earlier spouses stayed mainly at home and took little part in public life.
However, most recent prime ministers' spouses have been involved in charities or community organisations, working to raise public awareness, funds, and support for a range of causes. They generally assist their partners in political campaigns, and participate in official duties that come with the position, such as hosting foreign dignitaries, and, in particular, entertaining the spouses of dignitaries; accompanying the prime minister on national and international trips; and attending conferences and functions. They have attended the opening of Parliament; hosted visitors at Premier House; visited Buckingham Palace, the White House, or the Japanese Imperial Palace; and been present at royal coronations and conferences.
Official recognition
editSome prime ministers' spouses have received official recognition for their services to the community with a damehood:
- Dame Christina Massey, GBE
- Dame Norma Holyoake, DCMG QSO
- Dame Ruth Kirk, DBE
- Dame Thea Muldoon, DBE QSO
Muldoon was the first spouse of a prime minister to be provided with an official secretary for dealing with her correspondence.[2]
List of spouses
edit| No. | Portrait | Spouse (Maiden name) |
Tenure | Length of tenure | Prime Minister |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Elizabeth Sewell (née Kittoe) – 1880 (aged 61) |
7 May 1856 – 20 May 1856 |
13 days | Sewell m. 1850 |
| 2 |
|
Sarah Fox (Lady Fox) (née Halcomb) – 23 June 1892 (aged 76) |
20 May 1856 – 2 June 1856 |
13 days | Fox m. 1842 |
| 3 |
|
Emily Stafford (née Charlotte) February 1827 – 18 April 1857 (aged 29) |
2 June 1856 – 18 April 1857† |
320 days | Stafford m. 1846 |
| Vacant | 18 April 1857 – 5 December 1859 |
2 years, 231 days | Stafford Widower | ||
| 4 |
|
Mary Stafford (Lady Stafford) (née Bartley) 1835 – 1899 (aged 64) |
5 December 1859 – 12 July 1861 |
1 year, 219 days | Stafford m. 1859 |
| (2) |
|
Sarah Fox (Lady Fox) (née Halcomb) 1816 – 23 June 1892 (aged 76) |
12 July 1861 – 6 August 1862 |
1 year, 25 days | Fox m. 1842 |
| 5 |
|
Mary Domett (née George) unknown – 1887 (aged unknown) |
6 August 1862 – 30 October 1863 |
1 year, 85 days | Domett m. 1856 |
| 6 |
|
Jane Augusta Whitaker (Lady Whitaker) (née Griffith) 1822 – 3 September 1884 (aged 62) |
30 October 1863 – 24 November 1864 |
1 year, 25 days | Whitaker m. 1843 |
| 7 | 
|
Filumena Mary Anne Weld (Lady Weld) (née Lisle Phillipps) c. 1828[3] – 1903 (around aged 75) |
24 November 1864 – 16 October 1865 |
326 days | Weld m. 1859 |
| (4) |
|
Mary Stafford (Lady Stafford) (née Bartley) 1835 – 1899 (aged 64) |
16 October 1865 – 28 June 1869 |
3 years, 255 days | Stafford m. 1859 |
| (2) |
|
Sarah Fox (Lady Fox) (née Halcomb) 1816 – 23 June 1892 (aged 76) |
28 June 1869 – 10 September 1872 |
3 years, 74 days | Fox m. 1842 |
| (4) |
|
Mary Stafford (Lady Stafford) (née Bartley) 1835 – 1899 (aged 64) |
10 September 1872 – 11 October 1872 |
31 days | Stafford m. 1859 |
| 8 |
|
Lydia Waterhouse (née Giles) 1827 – 25 January 1910 (aged 83) |
11 October 1872 – 3 March 1873 |
143 days | Waterhouse m. 1848 |
| (2) |
|
Sarah Fox (Lady Fox) (née Halcomb) 1816 – 23 June 1892 (aged 76) |
3 March 1873 – 8 April 1873 |
36 days | Fox m. 1842 |
| 9 |
|
Mary Vogel (Lady Vogel) (née Clayton) 18 February 1849 – 12 August 1933 (aged 84) |
8 April 1873 – 6 July 1875 |
2 years, 89 days | Vogel m. 1867 |
| 10 |
|
Jane Pollen (née Henderson) 1828[4][5] – 1903 (aged 74–75) |
6 July 1875 – 15 February 1876 |
224 days | Pollen m. 1846 |
| (9) |
|
Mary Vogel (Lady Vogel) (née Clayton) 18 February 1849 – 12 August 1933 (aged 84) |
15 February 1876 – 1 September 1876 |
199 days | Vogel m. 1867 |
| 11 | .jpg)
|
Ann Elizabeth Atkinson (Lady Atkinson) (née Smith) 1838 – 1919 (aged 80–81) |
1 September 1876 – 13 October 1877 |
1 year, 42 days | Atkinson m. 1867 |
| 12 | 
|
Elizabeth Lucy "Eliza" Grey (Lady Grey) (née Spencer) 1823 – 4 September 1898 (aged 74–75) |
13 October 1877 – 8 October 1879 |
1 year, 360 days | Grey m. 1839 |
| 13 |
|
Rose Anne Hall (Lady Hall) (née Dryden) 22 December 1828 – 12 May 1900 (aged 71) |
8 October 1879 – 21 April 1882 |
2 years, 195 days | Hall m. 1861 |
| (6) |
|
Jane Augusta Whitaker (Lady Whitaker) (née Griffith) 1822 – 3 September 1884 (aged 62) |
21 April 1882 – 25 September 1883 |
1 year, 157 days | Whitaker m. 1843 |
| (11) |
|
Ann Elizabeth Atkinson (Lady Atkinson) (née Smith) 1838 – 1919 (aged 80–81) |
25 September 1883 – 16 August 1884 |
326 days | Atkinson m. 1867 |
| 14 | 
|
Anna Paterson Stout (Lady Stout) (née Logan) 29 September 1858 – 10 May 1931 (aged 72) |
16 August 1884 – 28 August 1884 |
12 days | Stout m. 1876 |
| (11) |
|
Ann Elizabeth Atkinson (Lady Atkinson) (née Smith) 1838 – 1919 (aged 80–81) |
28 August 1884 – 3 September 1884 |
6 days | Atkinson m. 1867 |
| (14) |
|
Anna Paterson Stout (Lady Stout) (née Logan) 29 September 1858 – 10 May 1931 (aged 72) |
3 September 1884 – 8 October 1887 |
3 years, 35 days | Stout m. 1876 |
| (11) |
|
Ann Elizabeth Atkinson (Lady Atkinson) (née Smith) 1838 – 1919 (aged 80–81) |
8 October 1887 – 24 January 1891 |
3 years, 108 days | Atkinson m. 1867 |
| 15 | .jpg)
|
Ellen Ballance (née Anderson) 1846 – 14 June 1935 (aged 88–89) |
24 January 1891 – 27 April 1893 |
2 years, 93 days | Ballance m. 1870 |
| 16 | 
|
Louisa Jane Seddon (née Spotswood) 28 May 1851 – 9 July 1931 (aged 80) |
27 April 1893 – 10 June 1906 |
13 years, 44 days | Seddon m. 1869 |
| 17 |
|
Rosalind Lucy Hall-Jones (Lady Hall-Jones) (née Purss) 30 May 1858 – 13 October 1942 (aged 84) |
10 June 1906 – 6 August 1906 |
57 days | Hall-Jones m. 1877 |
| 18 | 
|
Theresa Dorothea Ward (Lady Ward) (née de Smidt) 1866 – 1927 (aged 60–61) |
6 August 1906 – 28 March 1912 |
5 years, 235 days | Ward m. 1883 |
| 19 |
|
Ida Henrietta Mackenzie (Lady Mackenzie) (née Nantes) 23 December 1850 – 28 April 1926 (aged 75) |
28 March 1912 – 10 July 1912 |
104 days | Mackenzie m. 1884 |
| 20 |
|
(Dame) Christina Allan Massey (née Paul) 11 January 1863 – 19 April 1932 (aged 69) |
10 July 1912 – 10 May 1925 |
12 years, 304 days | Massey m. 1882 |
| 21 |
|
Caroline Bell (Lady Bell) (née Robinson) 1853 – 8 September 1935 (aged 81–82) |
10 May 1925 – 30 May 1925 |
20 days | Bell m. 1878 |
| 22 |
|
Marguerite Grace "Marjorie" Coates (née Coles) 3 October 1892 – 1973 (aged 80–81) |
30 May 1925 – 10 December 1928 |
3 years, 194 days | Coates m. 1914 |
| Vacant | 10 December 1928 – 28 May 1930 |
1 year, 169 days | Ward Widower | ||
| 23 |
|
Emma Serena Forbes (née Gee) 20 August 1877 – 9 February 1961 (aged 83) |
28 May 1930 – 6 December 1935 |
5 years, 192 days | Forbes m. 1898 |
| Vacant | 6 December 1935 – 27 March 1940 |
4 years, 112 days | Savage Bachelor | ||
| 24 | 
|
Janet Fraser (née Munro, formerly Kemp) 31 January 1883 – 7 March 1945 (aged 62) |
27 March 1940 – 7 March 1945† |
4 years, 345 days | Fraser m. 1919 |
| Vacant | 7 March 1945 – 13 December 1949 |
4 years, 281 days | Fraser Widower | ||
| 25 | .jpg)
|
Florence Beatrice Holland (Lady Holland) (née Drayton) 26 October 1894 – 1976 (aged 81–82) |
13 December 1949 – 20 September 1957 |
7 years, 281 days | Holland m. 1920 |
| 26 | .jpg)
|
(Dame) Norma Janet Holyoake (née Ingram) 7 March 1909 – 18 December 1984 (aged 75) |
20 September 1957 – 12 December 1957 |
83 days | Holyoake m. 1934 |
| 27 | .jpg)
|
Lottie May "Lotty" Nash (Lady Nash) (née Eaton) 17 March 1880 – 12 December 1961 (aged 81) |
12 December 1957 – 12 December 1960 |
3 years, 0 days | Nash m. 1906 |
| (26) |
|
(Dame) Norma Janet Holyoake (née Ingram) 7 March 1909 – 18 December 1984 (aged 75) |
12 December 1960 – 7 February 1972 |
11 years, 57 days | Holyoake m. 1934 |
| 28 |
|
Jessie Margaret Marshall (Lady Marshall) (née Livingston) 17 January 1917[6] – 2004 (aged 86–87) |
7 February 1972 – 8 December 1972 |
305 days | Marshall m. 1944 |
| 29 | 
|
(Dame) Lucy Ruth Kirk (née Miller) 28 April 1922 – 20 March 2000 (aged 77) |
8 December 1972 – 31 August 1974 |
1 year, 266 days | Kirk m. 1943 |
|
|
Irene Frances Watt (née Ray) 8 February 1918 – 30 April 2013[7] (aged 95) |
31 August 1974 – 6 September 1974 |
6 days | Watt m. 1968 Acting | |
| 30 | .jpg)
|
Glen Elna Rowling (Lady Rowling) (née Reeves) bef. 1933 (aged at least 90–91) |
6 September 1974 – 12 December 1975 |
1 year, 97 days | Rowling m. 1951 |
| 31 | 
|
(Dame) Thea Dale Muldoon (née Flyger) 13 March 1927 – 24 February 2015 (aged 87) |
12 December 1975 – 26 July 1984 |
8 years, 227 days | Muldoon m. 1951 |
| 32 |
|
Naomi Joy Lange (née Crampton) bef. 1950 (aged at least 73–74) |
26 July 1984 – 8 August 1989 |
5 years, 13 days | Lange m. 1968 |
| 33 | .jpg)
|
Margaret Palmer (Lady Palmer) (née Hinchcliff) bef. 1947 (aged at least 76–77) |
8 August 1989 – 4 September 1990 |
1 year, 27 days | Palmer m. 1963 |
| 34 |
|
Yvonne Moore (née Dereany) bef. 1957 (aged at least 66–67) |
4 September 1990 – 2 November 1990 |
59 days | Moore m. 1975 |
| 35 | .jpg)
|
Joan Maureen Bolger (née Riddell) bef. 1945 (aged at least 78–79) |
2 November 1990 – 8 December 1997 |
7 years, 36 days | Bolger m. 1963 |
| 36 | 
|
Burton Shipley bef. 1954 (aged at least 69–70) |
8 December 1997 – 10 December 1999 |
2 years, 2 days | Shipley m. 1972 |
| 37 | 
|
Peter Byard Davis 25 April 1947 (aged 77) |
10 December 1999 – 19 November 2008 |
8 years, 345 days | Clark m. 1981 |
| 38 | .jpg)
|
Bronagh Irene Key (Lady Key) (née Dougan) 14 November 1963 (aged 60) |
19 November 2008 – 12 December 2016 |
8 years, 23 days | Key m. 1984 |
| 39 |
|
Mary English (Lady English) (née Scanlon) c. 1962[8] (aged 61–62) |
12 December 2016 – 26 October 2017 |
318 days | English m. unknown |
| 40 | 
|
Clarke Gayfordα partner 24 October 1976[9] (aged 47) |
26 October 2017 – 25 January 2023 |
5 years, 91 days | Ardern m. 2024 |
| 41 |
|
Jade Marie Hipkins (née Paul)β | 25 January 2023 – 27 November 2023 |
306 days | Hipkins m. 2020 |
| 42 |
|
Amanda Luxon | 27 November 2023 – Present |
339 days* | Luxon m. 1994 |
^α Domestic partner; engaged since May 2019.[10]
^β While remaining married, Chris and Jade Hipkins separated in 2022.[11]
* Incumbent's length of tenure last updated: 30 October 2024.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Amanda Luxon talks marriage, being in the public eye - and those biceps". The New Zealand Herald. 13 January 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ "Dame Thea Muldoon dies". Radio New Zealand News. 25 February 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Person – National Portrait Gallery".
- ^ Sale, Charles. "Daniel Pollen grave monument details".
- ^ Zealand, National Library of New. "Papers Past – DEATHS. (New Zealand Herald, 2 December 1903)".
- ^ "Marshall, Margaret, 1917–2004". National Library. Retrieved 18 May 2017.
- ^ admin (1 May 2013). "Irene WATT Obituary – Auckland, Auckland". Legacy.com.
- ^ Chateau, Carroll du (7 December 2001). "The English Doctor". The New Zealand Herald.
- ^ "The spotlight on Jacinda Ardern's TV presenter partner Clarke Gayford". stuff. 2 August 2017.
- ^ "Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford engaged". The New Zealand Herald. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ "Hipkins addresses marriage split as he asks for family's privacy". 1 News. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.