New Zealand’s ruling National Party appointed the experienced Bill English as the country’s new prime minister following the resignation of PM John Key.
State Services Minister Paula Bennett was named as deputy prime minister.
English, 54, was Key’s preferred candidate to succeed him after serving under him as finance minister and returning New Zealand’s budget to a surplus.
A farmer with degrees in commerce and literature, he has been in parliament since 1990 and was previously leader of the National Party in 2002 when it suffered its worst election defeat.
