Social Democratic Party (New Zealand)

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Social Democratic Party of New Zealand (SDP) was a centre-left to left-wing party that existed from July 1, 1913, to June 1, 1922. It formed after a Unity Conference that brought together the Socialist Party and the United Labour Party, while some United Labour members stayed as a rump. The SDP aimed to represent working‑class interests in Parliament and, during its existence, held two seats.

Early MPs included Paddy Webb and James McCombs, who won by-elections and joined Parliament, along with John Robertson, who had been elected in 1911 as a Labour candidate and joined the SDP caucus, giving it a small parliamentary presence. A major 1913–14 strike by dockworkers and miners led to government crackdowns and the jailing of several SDP leaders, which weakened the party. In the 1914 elections, the SDP and remaining United Labour Party won some seats, with other Labour-aligned candidates also elected.

In 1916 the SDP merged with the United Labour Party remnant to form the Labour Party, which survives today. The SDP continued for a short time as a more militant wing of Labour before finally dissolving on June 1, 1922.