Jenny Shipley

New Zealand politician and prime minister (1997–9), born in Gore, New Zealand. She studied at Christchurch Teachers College, worked as a primary-school teacher, then entered politics, becoming an MP for the (conservative) National Party in 1987. Her ministerial portfolios included social welfare (1990–3), health (1993–6), women's affairs (1990–6, 1997), and transport (1997). She became the country's first woman prime minister following the retirement of Jim Bolger, but lost office in the 1999 elections.

Jenny Shipley

36th Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office 8 December 1997 – December 5, 1999
Preceded by	Jim Bolger
Succeeded by	Helen Clark
Born	February 4, 1952 Gore, New Zealand
Constituency	Ashburton, Rakaia
Political party	National
Spouse	Burton Shipley (Married 1972, two children)
Religion	Presbyterian

Jennifer Mary Shipley DCNZM née Robson (born February 4, 1952), Prime Minister of New Zealand from December 1997 to December 1999, was New Zealand's first female Prime Minister.

Having joined the National Party in 1975, Shipley successfully stood for the Ashburton electorate in 1987 election. When National under Jim Bolger won the election of 1990, Shipley became Minister of Social Welfare, having been National's spokesperson on that topic while in Opposition.

Growing increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with the cautious pace of National's leader, Jim Bolger, Shipley began gathering support to replace him. While Bolger had been able to maintain good relations with New Zealand First (and, in particular, with its leader, Winston Peters), the alliance became strained after Shipley rose to power. Peters, backed by around half of his party's MPs, withdrew support for Shipley's government, but other New Zealand First MPs left their party, either becoming independents or trying to form their own parties.

On 8 September 1998 Shipley backed Cultural Affairs Minister Marie Hasler's call for the New Zealand flag to be changed. Shipley, along with the New Zealand Tourism Board, backed the quasi-national emblem of the silver fern on a black background as a possible alternative flag, along the lines of the Canadian Maple Leaf Flag.

Jenny Shipley was the first New Zealand Prime Minister to attend the gay and lesbian Hero Parade. Shipley continued to lead the Party until October 2001, when Bill English took over the leadership and the role of Leader of the Opposition, and Shipley subsequently retired from Parliament.