Rt Hon Jim Bolger

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Biography
The Rt. Hon. Jim Bolger has been Prime Minister of New Zealand since October 1990.

Under his leadership the New Zealand economy has been transformed from having the lowest growth rate among the 24 OECD nations, to today having one of the strongest.

New Zealand is now recognised as being one of the most competitive countries in the world.

During his terms as Prime Minister, Jim Bolger has pursued an outward-looking foreign policy to strengthen the relationships New Zealand has with other countries.

New Zealand also plays a key role at the United Nations, especially during the period 1992-1994 when elected a member of the Security Council.

Mr Bolger was born in Taranaki on 31 May 1935. He was a beef and sheep farmer before entering national politics in 1972 when he was elected Member of Parliament for King Country, a seat he has held since for the National Party.

After the 1975 General Election he was appointed Under-Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Minister of Maori Affairs.

In 1977 he became New Zealand's first Minister of Fisheries and Associate Minister of Agriculture.

During this time he was engaged in international negotiations associated with New Zealand's proposal to declare a 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Following the 1978 General Election, Mr Bolger was appointed Minister of Labour, a post which he retained until the defeat of the National Government in 1984. From 1978 to 1981 he was Minister of Immigration. Mr Bolger was President of the International Labour Organisation in 1983 and has led several New Zealand delegations to international conferences in Europe, Asia and the Pacific.

In November 1984, Mr Bolger was elected Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and in March 1986 he became Leader of the Opposition.

In October 1990 he led the National Party to the biggest electoral victory in New Zealand's history.

In the November 1993 General Election the Bolger-led National Party was once again returned to Government.

The Prime Minister and his wife Joan, who have been married for 31 years, have nine children.

He was a keen rugby and cricket player in his youth. Today he lists fishing, tramping and reading as his main interests.