| # | PREM/PM NAME | DATES IN OFFICE |
| 1 | Premier James Fitzgerald | 14 June–2 August 1854 |
| 2 | Premier Thomas Spencer Forsaith | 31 August–2 September 1854 |
| 3 | Premier Henry Sewell | 7–-20 May 1856 |
| 4 | Premier William Fox | 20 May–2 June 1856 |
| 5 | Premier Edward Stafford | 2 June 1856–12 July 1861 |
| (4) | Premier William Fox | 12 July 1861–6 August 1862 |
| 6 | Premier Alfred Domett | 6 August 1862–30 October 1863 |
| 7 | Premier Frederick Whitaker | 30 October 1863–24 November 1864 |
| 8 | Premier Frederick Weld | 24 November 1864–16 October 1865 |
| (5) | Premier Edward Stafford | 16 October 1865–28 June 1869 |
| (4) | Premier William Fox | 28 June 1869–10 September 1872 |
| (5) | Premier Edward Stafford | 10 September–11 October 1872 |
| 9 | Premier George Waterhouse | 11 October 1872–3 March 1873 |
| (4) | Premier William Fox | 3 March–8 April 1873 |
| 10 | Premier Julius Vogel | 8 April 1873–6 July 1875 |
| 11 | Premier Daniel Pollen | 6 July 1875–15 February 1876 |
| (10) | Premier Julius Vogel | 15 February–1 September 1876 |
| 12 | Premier Harry Atkinson | 1 September 1876–13 October 1877 |
| 13 | Premier George Grey | 13 October 1877–8 October 1879 |
| 14 | Premier John Hall | 8 October 1879–21 April 1882 |
| (7) | Premier Frederick Whitaker | 21 April 1882–25 September 1883 |
| (12) | Premier Harry Atkinson | 25 September 1883–16 August 1884 |
| 15 | Premier Robert Stout | 16–28 August 1884 |
| (12) | Premier Harry Atkinson | 28 August–3 September 1884 |
| (15) | Premier Robert Stout | 3 September 1884–8 October 1887 |
| (12) | Premier Harry Atkinson | 8 October 1887–24 January 1891 |
| 16 | Premier John Ballance | 24 January 1891–27 April 1893 |
| 17 | Premier Richard Seddon | 1 May 1893–10 June 1906 |
| 18 | Prime Minister William Hall-Jones | 21 June–6 August 1906 |
| 19 | Prime Minister Joseph Ward | 6 August 1906–12 March 1912 |
| 20 | Prime Minister Thomas Mackenzie | 28 March–10 July 1912 |
| 21 | Prime Minister William Massey | 10 July 1912–10 May 1925 |
| 22 | Prime Minister Francis Bell | 14–30 May 1925 |
| 23 | Prime Minister Gordon Coates | 30 May 1925–10 December 1928 |
| (19) | Prime Minister Joseph Ward | 10 December 1928–28 May 1930 |
| 24 | Prime Minister George Forbes | 28 May 1930–6 December 1935 |
| 25 | Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage | 6 December 1935–27 March 1940 |
| 26 | Prime Minister Peter Fraser | 27 March 1940–13 December 1949 |
| 27 | Prime Minister Sidney Holland | 13 December 1949–20 September 1957 |
| 28 | Prime Minister Keith Holyoake | 20 September–12 December 1957 |
| 29 | Prime Minister Walter Nash | 12 December 1957–12 December 1960 |
| (28) | Prime Minister Keith Holyoake | 12 December 1960–7 February 1972 |
| 30 | Prime Minister John (Jack) Marshall | 7 February–8 December 1972 |
| 31 | Prime Minister Norman Kirk | 8 December 1972–31 August 1974 |
| 32 | Prime Minister Wallace (Bill) Rowling | 6 September 1974–12 December 1975 |
| 33 | Prime Minister Robert Muldoon | 12 December 1975–26 July 1984 |
| 34 | Prime Minister David Lange | 26 July 1984–8 August 1989 |
| 35 | Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer | 8 August 1989–4 September 1990 |
| 36 | Prime Minister Michael Moore | 4 September–2 November 1990 |
| 37 | Prime Minister James (Jim) Bolger | 28 February 1996–8 December 1997 |
| 38 | Prime Minister Jennifer (Jenny) Shipley | 8 December 1997–5 December 1999 |
| 39 | Prime Minister Helen Clark | 5 December 1999–19 November 2008 |
| 40 | Prime Minister John Key | 19 November 2008– |
