Minister for Social Development
Manatū Whakahiato Ora (Māori)
Coat of arms of New Zealand
Flag of New Zealand
Incumbent Louise Upston since 27 November 2023
Ministry of Social Development
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Cabinet of New Zealand Executive Council
Reports to	Prime Minister of New Zealand
Appointer	Governor-General of New Zealand
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure
Formation	13 December 1938
First holder	Walter Nash (as Minister for Social Security)
Salary	$288,900[1]
Website	www.beehive.govt.nz

The Minister for Social Development (Māori: Te Manatū Whakahiato Ora)^[2] is a minister in the government of New Zealand with responsibility promoting social development and welfare, and is in charge of the Ministry of Social Development. The position was established in 1938 after the passing of the Social Security Act 1938.

The present Minister is Louise Upston.^[3]

List of ministers

The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Social Development:^[4]

Key

  Labour   National

No.		Name	Portrait	Term of office		Prime Minister
	1	Walter Nash		13 December 1938	30 April 1940		Savage
							Fraser
	2	Bill Parry		30 April 1940	13 December 1949
	3	Jack Watts		13 December 1949	19 December 1950		Holland
	4	William Bodkin		19 December 1950	26 November 1954
	5	Eric Halstead		26 November 1954	23 March 1956
	6	Dean Eyre		23 March 1956	13 February 1957
	7	Geoff Gerard		13 February 1957	26 September 1957
							Holyoake
	8	Hilda Ross		26 September 1957	12 December 1957
	9	Mabel Howard		12 December 1957	2 June 1959		Nash
	-	Phil Connolly Acting Minister		2 June 1959	25 August 1959
	(9)	Mabel Howard		25 August 1959	12 December 1960
	10	Norman Shelton		12 December 1960	24 January 1962		Holyoake
	11	Don McKay		24 January 1962	9 February 1972
	12	Lance Adams-Schneider		9 February 1972	8 December 1972		Marshall
	13	Norman King		8 December 1972	12 December 1975		Kirk
							Rowling
	14	Bert Walker		12 December 1975	13 December 1978		Muldoon
	15	George Gair		13 December 1978	12 February 1981
	16	Venn Young		12 February 1981	26 July 1984
	17	Ann Hercus		26 July 1984	24 August 1987		Lange
	18	Michael Cullen		24 August 1987	2 November 1990
							Palmer
							Moore
	19	Jenny Shipley		2 November 1990	29 November 1993		Bolger
	20	Peter Gresham		29 November 1993	12 October 1996
	21	Roger Sowry		12 October 1996	10 December 1999
							Shipley
	22	Steve Maharey		10 December 1999	19 October 2005		Clark
	23	David Benson-Pope		19 October 2005	27 July 2007
	(22)	Steve Maharey Acting Minister		27 July 2007	31 October 2007
	24	Ruth Dyson		31 October 2007	19 November 2008
	25	Paula Bennett		19 November 2008	6 October 2014		Key
	26	Anne Tolley		6 October 2014	26 October 2017
							English
	27	Carmel Sepuloni		26 October 2017	27 November 2023		Ardern
							Hipkins
	28	Louise Upston		27 November 2023	present		Luxon