1997 New Zealand National Party leadership election
Transport Minister Jenny Shipley grew increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with the cautious pace of National's leader, Jim Bolger, and with what she saw as the disproportionate influence of coalition partner New Zealand First.Shipley struck later that year, while Bolger attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.She convinced a majority of her National Party colleagues to back her bid for the leadership.When Bolger returned to New Zealand, he discovered that Shipley was not only planning to challenge his leadership, but had lined up enough support in the party room to defeat him.Facing an untenable situation, he resigned, and Shipley was unanimously elected to replace him.