Real GDP during each prime minister's tenure
Every prime minister since 1991, ranked by how real GDP changed from their first day in office. Politare shows what happened during a tenure; it does not claim the office-holder caused it.
| # | Prime minister | In office | Total | Per year | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Helen Clark | 10 Dec 1999 – 19 Nov 2008 | +31.4% Q3 1999 → Q3 2008 | +3.1%/yr | |
| 2 |  Jim Bolger | 2 Nov 1990 – 8 Dec 1997 from Q1 1991 | +28.6% Q1 1991 → Q3 1997 | +3.9%/yr | |
| 3 | John Key | 19 Nov 2008 – 12 Dec 2016 | +23.2% Q3 2008 → Q3 2016 | +2.6%/yr | |
| 4 | Jacinda Ardern | 26 Oct 2017 – 25 Jan 2023 | +17.6% Q3 2017 → Q4 2022 | +3.1%/yr | |
| 5 | Jenny Shipley | 8 Dec 1997 – 10 Dec 1999 | +4.3% Q3 1997 → Q3 1999 | +2.1%/yr | |
| 6 | Bill English | 12 Dec 2016 – 26 Oct 2017 | +3.8% Q3 2016 → Q3 2017 | +3.8%/yr | |
| 7 | Christopher Luxon | 27 Nov 2023 – now | +2.6% Q3 2023 → Q2 2026 | +0.9%/yr |
Sorted by total, highest first. Every row is indexed to the last quarter complete before the first day in office ("from" marks a start that had to move because that period had no data, or because the period cut it); Levels are per cent changes, rates are differences in %; "per year" compounds levels and divides rates. Tenures with under 12 months, or under three observations, are left out. NZ$bn, chain-linked volumes · Stats NZ quarterly national accounts via the OECD (QNA, B1GQ), chain-linked volumes, seasonally adjusted · New Zealand data · as of Jul 2026.