Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jim Bolger, who led the country from 1990 to 1997 and played a pivotal role in advancing reconciliation with the Māori people, has died aged 90, his family announced on Wednesday.
Bolger, who had been suffering from kidney failure and undergoing dialysis, passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife Joan, their nine children, and 18 grandchildren, the family said in a statement.
Born in Taranaki in 1935, Bolger entered parliament in 1972 and rose through the ranks of the National Party, becoming its leader in 1986. He became prime minister in 1990 after leading the party to victory, overseeing a period of significant political and social transformation.
During his tenure, Bolger’s government introduced the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system, which remains the foundation of New Zealand’s democracy today.
He also spearheaded the country’s first major Māori settlement agreements, establishing a framework for compensation and reconciliation over historic injustices stemming from colonization.
“Jim modernised the whole process of reconciliation in an effort to bring Aotearoa-New Zealand closer together to reflect a more contemporary reality of our nation,” said Tukoroirangi Morgan, chair of the Waikato Tainui iwi (tribe), which signed the first landmark settlement under Bolger’s leadership.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon paid tribute to Bolger, describing him as “a principled and formidable colleague” and “a worthy adversary who never allowed disagreement to become personal.”
After retiring from politics in 1998, Bolger served as New Zealand’s ambassador to the United States from 1998 to 2002.
A committed republican, he advocated for New Zealand’s independence from the British monarchy and declined a knighthood, later being appointed to the Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest honour.
Bolger is remembered as a steady and pragmatic leader, whose efforts to modernize New Zealand’s governance and promote unity between Māori and non-Māori communities left a lasting imprint on the nation’s history.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
