Jim Bolger
Jim Bolger is a notable figure in New Zealand's political history, serving as the thirty-fifth prime minister from 1990 to 1997 and later as the country's ambassador to the United States. Born on May 31, 1935, in Taranaki to Irish Catholic immigrant parents, Bolger was raised on a farm where he developed a strong work ethic. He entered politics as a member of the National Party, winning a parliamentary seat in 1972 and eventually becoming the party leader in 1986. His tenure as prime minister was marked by significant economic reforms that revitalized New Zealand's economy, achieving a balanced budget and a surplus by 1994. Additionally, Bolger was instrumental in advancing Māori reconciliation efforts, negotiating settlements related to historical grievances. He also initiated a referendum that led to the adoption of a mixed member proportional electoral system. After leaving politics, Bolger continued to contribute to public life as the ambassador to the U.S. and held various leadership roles in organizations. He was appointed to the Order of New Zealand in recognition of his contributions, and his personal life includes a long marriage to Joan Riddell and nine children.
Subject Terms
Jim Bolger
- Born: 31 May 1935
New Zealand prime minister and diplomat
Place of birth: Taranaki, New Zealand
Significance: The Right Honourable Jim Bolger ONZ was the thirty-fifth prime minister of New Zealand and later New Zealand's ambassador to the United States. As prime minister, he effected economic growth and settlements with Māori over violations of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Background
Jim Bolger was born on 31 May 1935 in Taranaki, New Zealand, to Irish Catholic immigrant parents. One of five children of Cecelia and Daniel Bolger, Bolger grew up on the family's farm in Taranaki. At fifteen, he left school to work on the farm.
In 1963, Bolger married and shortly thereafter moved to North Island and founded his own cattle and sheep farm near Te Kūit in King Country.
Political Career
After attending his first meeting of a farming organisation in his new town, he quickly became active in the Federated Farmers and became the vice-president of its Waikato division. A member of the National Party, he was elected to Parliament for the King Country electorate (renamed Taranaki-King Country in 1996) in 1972.
Bolger spent the first three years of his twenty-six years in Parliament in the opposition. After the National Party's victory in the 1975 election, he became a parliamentary undersecretary before being appointed the minister of fisheries in 1977. Following the 1978 election, he became the minister of labour and minister of immigration. As an MP, Bolger earned a reputation for his negotiating skills and solid and stable disposition—which, together with his background as a farmer, earned him the nickname Spud. He also served as the minister of Māori affairs and minister in charge of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service.
After the National Party lost the 1984 election, Bolger was elected the deputy leader of the opposition. In March 1986, he became the leader of the National Party, a position he would hold for twelve years. During the mid-to-late 1980s, New Zealand suffered an economic recession. Promising voters a "decent society", Bolger led the National Party to a landslide victory in the 1990 election and became the prime minister. As prime minister, he cut public spending and made other reforms to improve the economy. By 1994, his government had balanced the budget, created a surplus and revitalised the economy, turning it from one with the lowest growth rate among OECD nations to one of the strongest. He also focused on international relations, and New Zealand developed stronger relationships with other countries and was a member of the United Nations Security Council from 1992 to 1994. Domestically, he advanced the reconciliation process with the Māori and negotiated settlements with the Tainui and Ngai Tahu tribes.
Bolger also kept his campaign promise to hold a referendum on electoral change. Voters approved the mixed member proportional (MMP) representation system to replace the traditional plurality system. The 1996 election—the first held under the MMP method—resulted in the National Party gaining the largest share of the votes but failing to gain a majority. Thus, National formed a coalition government with New Zealand First and Bolger retained his position as prime minister. Bolger's third term as prime minister was fraught with discontent. The coalition government was unpopular among New Zealanders and among National MPs, who were unaccustomed to governing with another party. In addition, many New Zealanders were dissatisfied with the National Party due to the spending cuts and other economic reforms during Bolger's first two terms. MP Jenny Shipley capitalised on this discontent and gained support among fellow National MPs for the leadership of the National Party. Knowing Shipley had the votes to gain the party leadership, Bolger resigned as prime minister and party leader on 8 December 1997 and Shipley succeeded him. He was named the minister of state and associate minister of foreign affairs and trade in Shipley's new government. In March 1998, he resigned from Parliament.
Following his resignation, Bolger wrote the book A View from the Top: My Seven Years as Prime Minister (1998), which described his experiences and the changes New Zealand that occurred during his three terms as prime minister. From 1998 to 2002, he served as New Zealand's ambassador to the United States. As ambassador, he helped to normalise relations between New Zealand and the United States and advocated for a free trade agreement between the countries.
In 2002, Bolger returned to New Zealand to live on the farm he had left thirty years earlier. He became the chair of New Zealand Post and its subsidiary Kiwibank and the vice-chair of the World Agricultural Forum in St Louis, Missouri. He also served as chair of several other companies, including Mount Cook Alpine Salmon.
Bolger was named the tenth chancellor of Waikato University in February 2007.
Impact
On 31 December 1997, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Jim Bolger to the Order of New Zealand (ONZ) in recognition of his contributions to New Zealand. Bolger not only brought about strong economic growth, but presided over the government during a time of major changes. During his seven years as prime minister, Bolger supported voluntary union legislation, advocated for nuclear disarmament, privatised the railways and post and telegraph unions, strengthened international relations and worked for reconciliation with Māori. He also obtained funding, despite his party's opposition, for a national museum, Te Papa. In 2022, Bolger was named to the board of Te Uru Taumatua, a protected forest region on the North Island.
Personal Life
Bolger married Joan Riddell in 1963. They have nine children. In 2002, they returned to the farm they had left thirty years earlier when Bolger entered Parliament.
Bibliography
Bolger, Jim. Interview by Sue Onslow. Commonwealth Oral Histories, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, 10 Aug. 2015, www.commonwealthoralhistories.org/2015/interview-with-the-rt-hon-jim-bolger. Accessed 18 June 2024.
"Jim Bolger." New Zealand History, 2024, nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/jim-bolger. Accessed 18 June 2024.
"Meet the Board." Te Uru Taumatua, 2024, www.ngaituhoe.iwi.nz/meet-the-te-urewera-board. Accessed 18 June 2024.
Trevett, Claire. "Jim Bolger—Regrets and Legacies." New Zealand Herald, 21 Apr. 2007, www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c‗id=1&objectid=10435251. Accessed 18 June 2024.