The 42nd Parliament was the second (and final) term of the controversial fourth Labour Party government.

Later, a dissident Labour MP, Jim Anderton, would found the NewLabour Party in 1989.

[1] Due to internal disputes within the Labour Party, there were three Prime Ministers during the 42nd Parliament: David Lange, Geoffrey Palmer, and Mike Moore.

At the time, this was the highest number of representatives that Parliament had had, although it would later be exceeded.

The table below shows the number of MPs in each party following the 1987 election and at dissolution: Notes The tables below shows the results of the 1987 general election: Key Labour National Democrats Mana Motuhake Table footnotes: There were no by-elections held during the term of the 42nd Parliament.