Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand living former New Zealand Deputy Prime Ministers, as seen below. The most recent Deputy Prime Minister to die was Jim Anderton (served 1999–2002), on 7 January 2018, aged 79. Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand () is the second-most senior minister in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate into power. The office was created as a ministerial portfolio in 1954. The officeholder usually deputises for the Prime Minister at official functions. The current Deputy Prime Minister is Winston Peters, the Leader of New Zealand First. Generally, the
Helen Clark of Labour and Deputy Prime Minister in August 1989. As Health Minister, Clark introduced a series of legislative changes that allowed midwives to practice autonomously. She also introduced the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990, a law which restricted smoking in places such as workplaces and schools. As Deputy Prime Minister, Clark chaired the Cabinet Social Equity Committee, and was a member of several other important Cabinet committees, such as the Policy Committee, Economic Development and Employment Committee, and Domestic and External Security Committee. From October 1990 until December 1993 Clark held the posts of Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow spokesperson