First Labour Government of New Zealand

First Labour Government
First Labour Government
; Ministries of New Zealand
1935–1949
Date formed	6 December 1935
Date dissolved	13 December 1949
People and organisations
Monarch	George V; Edward VIII; George VI
Prime Minister	Michael Joseph Savage (1935–40); Peter Fraser (1940–49)
Deputy Prime Minister	Peter Fraser (1935–40); Walter Nash (1940–49)
Member party	Labour Party
Status in legislature	Majority
Opposition party	United–Reform Coalition (1935–1936); National Party (1936–1949)
Opposition leader	George Forbes (1935–1936); Adam Hamilton (1936–1940); Sidney Holland (1940–1949);
History
Elections	1935 general election; 1938 general election; 1943 general election; 1946 general election;
Predecessor	United–Reform coalition Government of New Zealand
Successor	First National Government of New Zealand

The First Labour Government of New Zealand governed New Zealand from 1935 to 1949. Responsible for the realisation of a wide range of progressive social reforms, it set the tone of New Zealand's economic and welfare policies until the 1980s, establishing a welfare state, a system of Keynesian economic management, and high levels of state intervention. It took power towards the end of, and as a result of, the Great Depression of the 1930s, and governed throughout World War II. It was in office for fourteen years, through four terms, including one five-year term due to a war-time election being postponed for two years.