Ms Jenny Shipley yesterday became New Zealand's prime minister-designate but was immediately confronted by a crisis within the ruling coalition. The National Party made the 45-year-old, tough-talking transport minister its new leader after the Prime Minister, Mr Jim Bolger, announced he would stand down rather than face a leadership challenge.
Ms Shipley emerged triumphant from the caucus only to discover that New Zealand First (NZF) and its leader, Mr Winston Peters, were furious at the change.
National has 44 seats in the 120-seat assembly and is in coalition with the 17-seat NZF. Ms Shipley can only become New Zealand's first woman Prime Minister with the help of Mr Peters,
Treasurer in the government, who has never hidden his dislike of her.
National and NZF met in separate caucuses. Mr Peter said his group had still not decided what to do and would meet on Friday, then again next Tuesday before making any decision.
His response leaves the country once again waiting just 12 months after the country sat without a government while the party chose its coalition partner.
Ms Shipley said her party had given her full authority to negotiate "any necessary coalition arrangements" with NZF. She said she was committed to a continuation of the partnership.
Currently number five in the cabinet, Ms Shipley entered politics in 1987, a friend of an up-andcoming politician, Ms Ruth Richardson, who in 1990 became finance minister in the newlyelected Bolger administration.
Ms Richardson delivered a rugged budget in 1990 which slashed government spending, and Ms Shipley, as social welfare minister, took the knife to welfare benefits.
She is, however, a self-confident and tough person. Her physical stature, big and broad, developed over years of swimming, gives her a powerful aura. Even her critics say she is very bright and has a strong grip on her portfolio.