Bill English

Bill English, born on December thirtieth, nineteen sixty-one, is a notable figure in New Zealand's political landscape, having served as the country's thirty-ninth prime minister from December 2016 to 2017. His political journey began in 1990 when he was elected to the New Zealand Parliament as the National Party's candidate for the Wallace electorate. Before his political career, English was a farmer and public servant, which laid the foundation for his future endeavors in governance.

English's rise in politics saw him appointed to the Cabinet in 1996, and he briefly held the position of minister of finance in 1999. However, his tenure was cut short due to the National Party's defeat in the general election that year. In October 2001, he ascended to the leadership of the National Party, taking over from Jenny Shipley. Unfortunately, his leadership was marked by a significant loss in the 2002 general election, leading to his replacement by Don Brash in 2003.

After a period in the political wilderness, English returned to prominence in November 2006 as deputy leader under John Key. Following the National Party's victory in the 2008 general election, he was appointed deputy prime minister and minister of finance once again. His stewardship during this time contributed to steady economic growth in New Zealand throughout the National Party's three terms in government.

In December 2016, following John Key's resignation, English was elected unopposed as the leader of the National Party and subsequently sworn in as prime minister. His time in office was brief, lasting only ten months, during which he led the party into the 2017 general election. Although the National Party secured the most seats, they fell short of a majority, leading to English's replacement by Jacinda Ardern. He continued as Leader of the Opposition until resigning from the party leadership on February twenty-seventh, 2018, and left parliament shortly thereafter.