2013 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election

The 2013 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was held on 15 September 2013 to choose the fourteenth Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. The election was won by David Cunliffe.

It followed the resignation of leader David Shearer on 22 August 2013. Nominations closed on 26 August 2013.

It was the first leadership election the Party conducted using new party rules agreed in 2012 that allow party members to vote. The Labour Party election rules state that the vote is split among the party's caucus, party members and party affiliates (unions) in a 40/40/20 split. It was also the first time a Labour leadership contest had been contested by more than two participants since 1940.

Background
On 22 August 2013 Shearer announced his resignation as party leader, explaining, "My sense is I no longer have the full confidence of many of my caucus colleagues".

Candidates
Deputy leader Grant Robertson declared he would contest the leadership on 25 August. Former union leader Andrew Little announced he would not contest the leadership vote on the same day. Robertson was nominated by Megan Woods and Jacinda Ardern.

List MP Shane Jones declared he would contest the leadership on 26 August. At a news conference later that day, MP for New Lynn David Cunliffe, declared he would contest the leadership as well. Cunliffe previously stood for the leadership at the 2011 leadership election, and lost to David Shearer and Grant Robertson.

Opinion polls
A TVNZ Colmar Brunton poll published on 25 August found David Cunliffe led the potential contenders with 29% of the popular vote and 32% of Labour Party members, followed by Jacinda Ardern on 15%, Shane Jones on 11%, Grant Robertson on 10% and Andrew Little on 9%. A Research Now poll released by 3 News on 6 September among the public returned 39.6% support for Cunliffe, 31.6% for Jones and 28.8% for Robertson. On 8 September TVNZ published a poll which asked which candidate respondents thought would be most likely to lead the Labour Party at the 2014 election. David Cunliffe was on 39%, Shane Jones on 18% and Grant Robertson on 15%.

Campaign
The first televised debate was held between the candidates on Māori Television on 26 August. A series of 12 candidates meetings will be held throughout the country for Labour Party members. Controversially, all candidates made use of their ability to fly around the country out of the Parliamentary Service's budget.

Unions
Members of the Service & Food Workers Union directly voted in the election, while union delegates voted in the other five unions.