Phil Goff has been chosen by the Labour Party as its new leader, following Helen Clark's decision to stand down from the job.
The following is a rundown of Goff's time in parliament.
Goff joined the Labour Party in 1969. He was first elected to parliament in 1981, when he stood in the Mt Roskill electorate.
The following term, he became the youngest Cabinet member when Labour won the general election in 1984. He took the Housing and Employment portfolios that year, and became Minister of Tourism and Minister of Youth Affairs after the 1987 elections. He also eventually became Minister of Education.
Goff lost his electoral seat in the 1990 election, but stood for parliament again in 1993, winning the seat back.
By then, Clark was the Labour leader, and she chose to make Goff the Opposition's spokesman for Justice.
When Labour came into power in 1999, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of Justice, carrying these portfolios beyond the 2002 elections.
Winston Peters was handed the Minister of Foreign Affairs role as part of a deal with Labour after the 2005 elections, however, Goff held on to the Trade portfolio and was also made Minister of Defence and Disarmament.
Goff won his Mt Roskill electorate once again in the 2008 general election.
