Third National Government of New Zealand

Third National Government
Third National Government
; Ministries of New Zealand
1975–1984
	Queen Elizabeth II and the 1981 New Zealand Cabinet
Date formed	12 December 1975
Date dissolved	26 July 1984
People and organisations
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Prime Minister	Robert Muldoon (1975–1984)
Deputy Prime Minister	Brian Talboys (1975–1981); Duncan MacIntyre (1981–1984); Jim McLay (1984)
Member party	National Party
Status in legislature	Majority
Opposition party	Labour Party
Opposition leader	Bill Rowling (1975–1983); David Lange (1983–1984);
History
Elections	1975 general election; 1978 general election; 1981 general election;
Predecessor	Third Labour Government of New Zealand
Successor	Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand

The Third National Government of New Zealand (also known as the Muldoon Government) was the government of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. It was an economically conservative government that aimed to preserve the Keynesian economic system established by the First Labour government and was also socially conservative. Throughout its three terms it was led by Robert Muldoon, characterised by his populist and antagonistic personality, and who was sometimes described as the National Party's best asset and worst liability.