Shadow Cabinet of Jim Bolger

The lists below contains an outlay of Bolger's shadow ministers and their respective roles.

Bolger announced his first shadow cabinet in April 1986 just over a week after he replaced Jim McLay as party leader. He made significant changes, particularly a rapprochement with Sir Robert Muldoon who accepted the Foreign Affairs portfolio.^[2][3]

A minor reshuffle occurred in June 1987, shortly before the end of the parliament, caused by the death of Bruce Townshend and retirements of Norman Jones and Neill Austin. The state services portfolio was given to Bill Birch, immigration to Venn Young, works to Tony Friedlander and Don McKinnon given police, war pensions, and rehabilitation. Jones and Austin remained associate spokesmen until the election.^[4]

Bolger reshuffled his shadow cabinet on 11 September 1987 following National's defeat at the 1987 general election. The first twenty members are given rankings with an extended group of junior members who are unranked.^[5]

Bolger announced a major reshuffle on 11 February 1990 ahead of the general election later that year and to reflect the MPs who were intending to retire at the election.^[6]

• Gustafson, Barry (1986). The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party. Auckland: Reed Methuen. ISBN 0-474-00177-6.
• Who's Who in the New Zealand Parliament 1987. Wellington: Parliamentary Service. 1987.