Nation Voices (first edition, WIP)

The first edition of Nation Voices: New Zealand’s premiers and prime ministers in their own words will be published in 2026.

Nation Voices brings together the speeches of all 42 premiers and prime ministers who have helped shape New Zealand as a nation.

This collection aims to trace the country’s evolution while highlighting the challenges its leaders confronted and, in many cases, overcame.

And just as we judge the actions and words of past leaders, future generations will one day judge leaders today. Context matters deeply. By examining these speeches within the circumstances that produced them, we can better absorb the lessons of the past and carry them forward as we work toward a stronger, more inclusive future for all.