Abstract
There has been an increased interest in ‘political leadership’ as a topic in New Zealand political science, in part as a consequence of the emphasis given to the country’s party leaders in opinion polls and election campaigns. The literature on political leadership is still developing, however, and a focus on prime ministers and party leaders overlooks other important leadership roles. Accordingly, this article examines the position of New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister, noting the constraints, opportunities and expectations associated with the role. The article draws upon a ‘case study’ of a long-serving Deputy Prime Minister, Sir John Marshall, as well as survey-based rankings of New Zealand Deputy Prime Ministers from 1960 onwards, in seeking to identify the qualities most appropriate to this significant and distinctive leadership position.
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