# Peter Fraser

_New Zealand politician (1884–1950)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/peter-fraser
Last updated: 2026-11-02

> Peter Fraser was a New Zealand politician who served as the 24th prime minister of New Zealand from 27 March 1940 until 13 December 1949. Considered a major figure in the history of the New Zealand Labour Party, he was in office longer than any other Labour prime minister, and is to date New Zealand's fourth-longest-serving head of government.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 28 August 1884 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Tain ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P19))
- **Died:** 12 December 1950 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P570))
- **Place of death:** Wellington ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P20))
- **Citizenship:** New Zealand ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; diplomat; head of government ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P106))
- **Political party:** New Zealand Labour Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P102))
- **Spouse:** Janet Fraser ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P26))
- **Positions held:** Leader of the Opposition (13 December 1949 – 12 December 1950); Minister for Māori Development (17 December 1947 – 13 December 1949); Minister for Māori Development (19 December 1946 – 17 December 1947); Member of the New Zealand Parliament (1946–1951); Minister of Foreign Affairs (7 July 1943 – 13 December 1949); Prime Minister of New Zealand (27 March 1940 – 13 December 1949); Minister of Education of New Zealand (6 December 1935 – 30 April 1940); Minister of Health (6 December 1935 – 30 April 1940); Member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P39))
- **Awards:** Virtus et Fraternitas Medal ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226#P166))

## Questions

**When was Peter Fraser born?**  
Peter Fraser was born on 28 August 1884 in Tain.

**What positions has Peter Fraser held?**  
Positions held by Peter Fraser include: Leader of the Opposition (1949–1950); Minister for Māori Development (1947–1949); Minister for Māori Development (1946–1947); Member of the New Zealand Parliament (1946–1951); Minister of Foreign Affairs (1943–1949).

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Peter Fraser](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Fraser) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q1400226](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1400226) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Peter Fraser.jpg by U.S. Office of War Information (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peter_Fraser.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Peter Fraser, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Peter Fraser.jpg — U.S. Office of War Information, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Peter Fraser". DigiNepal. Last updated 2 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/peter-fraser. Retrieved 14 November 2026.