BILL ENGLISH

NEW ZEALAND'S FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE BILL ENGLISH HAS TAKEN CHARGE AS THE COUNTRY'S 39th PRIME MINISTER ON DECEMBER 11, 2016. HE REPLACED FORMER PRIME MINISTER JOHN KEY TO BECOME THE NEW LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY. HE WAS ELECTED TO PARLIMAMENT IN 1990 AS THE NATIONAL PARTY'S CANDIDATE IN THE WALLACE ELECTORATE. HE WAS ELEVATED TO CABINET IN 1996 AND IN 1999 WAS MADE MINISTER OF FINANCE, ALTHOUGH HE SERVED FOR LESS THAN A YEAR DUE TO HIS PARTY'S LOSS AT THE 1999 GENERAL ELECTION. IN OCTOBER, 2001, ENGLISH REPLACED JENNY SHIPLEY AS THE LEADER OF THE NATIONAL PARTY (AND CONSEQUENTLY AS LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION).