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Encyclopedia > Robert Muldoon

Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon

Rt. Hon. Sir Robert Muldoon in 1977. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...


In office
12 December 1975 – 26 July 1984
Monarch Elizabeth II
Governor–General Sir Denis Blundell
Sir Keith Holyoake
Sir David Beattie
Deputy Brian Talboys (1975 - 1981)
Duncan MacIntyre (1981 - 1984)
Jim McLay (1984)
Preceded by Bill Rowling
Succeeded by David Lange
Constituency Tamaki

In office
9 February 1972 – 8 December 1972
Prime Minister Jack Marshall
Preceded by Jack Marshall
Succeeded by Hugh Watt

In office
4 July 1974 – 12 December 1975
26 July 1984 - 29 November 1984
Preceded by Jack Marshall (1974)
David Lange (1984)
Succeeded by Bill Rowling (1975)
Jim McLay (1984)

Born 25 September 1921(1921-09-25)
Auckland, Flag of New Zealand New Zealand
Died August 5, 1992 (aged 70)
Auckland, Flag of New Zealand New Zealand
Political party National
Spouse Dame Thea Flyger Muldoon (DBE, QSO), married 1951, 3 children
Profession Accountant
For the fictional character in Jurassic Park, see List of characters in Jurassic Park.

Sir Robert David ("Rob") Muldoon, GCMG, CH (25 September 19215 August 1992) served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealands head of government and is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Elizabeth II in an official portrait as Queen of Canada (on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002, wearing the Sovereigns badges of the Order of Canada and the Order of Military Merit) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary) (born 21 April 1926), styled HM The... Sir (Edward) Denis Blundell GCMG GCVO KBE QSO (1907–1984) was Governor-General of New Zealand from 1972 to 1977. ... The Right Honorable Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO was a New Zealand politician. ... Sir David Stuart Beattie, GCMG, GCVO, QSO, QC, (29 February 1924–4 February 2001) was the fourteenth Governor-General of New Zealand, from 1980 to 1985. ... The Right Honourable Sir Brian Edward Talboys AC, CH, KCB, (7 June 1921-) was a New Zealand politician. ... Duncan McIntyre could refer to either of the below-referenced individuals: Duncan Ban MacIntyre - Scottish Gaelic poet Duncan McIntyre - Canadian businessman Duncan MacIntyre - New Zealand politician Category: ... James Kenneth McLay (born 21 February 1945), generally known as Jim McLay, is a former New Zealand politician. ... Sir Wallace Edward Rowling KCMG, (15 November 1927 - 31 October 1995), often known as Bill Rowling, was a Prime Minister of New Zealand. ... David Russell Lange (who pronounced his name long-ee IPA: lɔŋi) CH, ONZ (4 August 1942 — 13 August 2005), served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. ... Tamaki is a suburb of the city of Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand. ... The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand is second most senior officer in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate into power. ... is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 342nd day of the year (343rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Right Honourable Sir John Ross Marshall GBE (March 5, 1912 – August 30, 1988), generally known as Jack Marshall, was a New Zealand politician. ... Right Honourable Sir John Ross Marshall GBE (March 5, 1912 – August 30, 1988), generally known as Jack Marshall, was a New Zealand politician. ... Hugh Watt (1912–1980) was a Labour member of Parliament and Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 - 1974. ... The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, leads the Opposition bloc in the New Zealand Parliament. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. ... is the 346th day of the year (347th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 207th day of the year (208th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Right Honourable Sir John Ross Marshall GBE (March 5, 1912 – August 30, 1988), generally known as Jack Marshall, was a New Zealand politician. ... David Russell Lange (who pronounced his name long-ee IPA: lɔŋi) CH, ONZ (4 August 1942 — 13 August 2005), served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. ... Sir Wallace Edward Rowling KCMG, (15 November 1927 - 31 October 1995), often known as Bill Rowling, was a Prime Minister of New Zealand. ... James Kenneth McLay (born 21 February 1945), generally known as Jim McLay, is a former New Zealand politician. ... is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... is the 217th day of the year (218th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest urban area in New Zealand. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_New_Zealand. ... The New Zealand National Party (National or the Nats) currently forms the second-largest (in terms of seats) political party represented in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus functions as the core of the parliamentary Opposition. ... Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jurassic Park is a techno-thriller novel written by Michael Crichton that was published in 1990. ... The following is a list of characters from Michael Crichtons novels Jurassic Park and The Lost World. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. ... is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... is the 217th day of the year (218th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealands head of government and is the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand. ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

Contents

Youth

Robert Muldoon, born to lower-middle-class parents in Auckland, New Zealand's largest city, came early in life under the strong formative influence of his fiercely intelligent, iron-willed maternal grandmother, Jerusha, a committed socialist. Though Muldoon never accepted her creed, he did develop under her influence a potent ambition, a consuming interest in politics, and an abiding respect for New Zealand's welfare state. He attended Mount Albert Grammar School from 1933 to 1936. For other uses, see Auckland (disambiguation). ... Socialism is a social and economic system (or the political philosophy advocating such a system) in which the economic means of production are owned and controlled collectively by the people. ... The Welfare State of the United Kingdom was prefigured in the William Beveridge Report in 1942, which identified five Giant Evils in society: squalor, ignorance, want, idleness and disease. ... Mount Albert Grammar School is a secondary school in Mount Albert, Auckland, New Zealand. ...


Early career

Muldoon joined the New Zealand Army during the Second World War and served in the South Pacific and in Italy. While in Italy he served in the same battalion as two other future National Party colleagues, Duncan MacIntyre and Jack Marshall. He completed his training as an accountant, sitting his final exams to become an accountant while in Italy. He returned to New Zealand after the war as the country's first fully-qualified cost accountant. Ngāti Tumatauenga or New Zealand Army is the land armed force of the New Zealand military and comprises around 4,500 regular personnel and 2,500 non-regulars and civilians. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Duncan McIntyre could refer to either of the below-referenced individuals: Duncan Ban MacIntyre - Scottish Gaelic poet Duncan McIntyre - Canadian businessman Duncan MacIntyre - New Zealand politician Category: ... Right Honourable Sir John Ross Marshall GBE (March 5, 1912 – August 30, 1988), generally known as Jack Marshall, was a New Zealand politician. ... Accountant, or Qualified Accountant, or Professional Accountant, is a certified accountancy and financial expert in the jurisdiction of many countries. ...


In March 1947 Muldoon joined a newly-founded branch of the Junior Nationals, the youth wing of the conservative New Zealand National Party. He quickly became active in the party, making two sacrificial-lamb bids for Parliament against entrenched but vulnerable Labour incumbents in 1954 (Mount Albert) and 1957 (Waitemata). But in 1960 he won election as MP for the suburban Auckland electorate of Tamaki, winning against Bob Tizard, who had taken the former National seat in 1957. In 1960, an electoral swing brought Keith Holyoake to power as Prime Minister of the Second National government. Muldoon would represent the Tamaki constituency for the next 32 years. Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The New Zealand Young Nationals are the youth wing of the New Zealand National Party a centre-right political party in New Zealand. ... The New Zealand National Party (National or the Nats) currently forms the second-largest (in terms of seats) political party represented in the New Zealand Parliament, and thus functions as the core of the parliamentary Opposition. ... The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. ... The 1954 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 31st term. ... Mount Albert is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. ... The 1957 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 32nd term. ... The 1960 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 33rd term. ... Tamaki is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate. ... Robert (Bob) James Tizard (born 1924) is a former Labour politician from New Zealand, former Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Minister of Finance. ... The 1960 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 33rd term. ... The Right Honorable Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO was a New Zealand politician. ... Keith Holyoake was Prime Minister for almost all of the Second National Governments term in office. ...


Entry into Cabinet

Muldoon displayed a flair for debate and a diligence in his backbench work, and in 1963 he became Under-Secretary to the Minister of Finance, Harry Lake. While holding this office, he took responsibility for the successful introduction of decimal currency into New Zealand in July 1967. Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. ... Harry Robson Lake (1911 - 1967) was a New Zealand politician. ... Decimal currency is the term used to describe any currency for which the ratio between the basic unit of currency and its sub-unit is a power of 10. ...


Minister of Finance

When Lake died in 1967, Muldoon seemed the natural (and only obvious) choice to replace him; at 45, he became the youngest Minister of Finance since the 1890s. However, because Holyoake saw Muldoon as too arrogant and ambitious for his own good, he ranked him only eighth in Cabinet (Traditionally Ministers of Finance rank second or third in seniority lists within Westminster-style Cabinets). Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... The 1890s were sometimes referred to as the Mauve Decade, because William Henry Perkins aniline dye allowed the widespread use of that colour in fashion, and also as the Gay Nineties, under the then-current usage of the word gay which referred simply to merriment and frivolity, with no...


Muldoon opposed both abortion and capital punishment. He crossed the floor to vote with the Opposition for abolishing the death penalty, in 1961. Later, in 1977, he voted against abortion when the issue came up as a conscience vote. Capital punishment, or the death penalty, is the execution of a convicted criminal by the state as punishment for crimes known as capital crimes or capital offences. ...


From his early years as a Member of Parliament, Muldoon became known as Piggy; the epithet that would remain with him throughout his life even amongst those who were his supporters. Muldoon himself seemed to relish his controversial public profile and later claimed[citation needed] that he thought that satirical critics were not hard enough on him. A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters to a parliament. ...


Muldoon established a considerable national profile rapidly; many historians[citation needed] credit his image, rather than that of the Prime Minister, Holyoake, or of his deputy, Jack Marshall, for the National Party's surprise victory in the 1969 election. He also displayed a flair — lacking in his senior colleagues — for the newly-introduced medium of television[1]; commentators still consider him one of New Zealand's most artful practitioners of media manipulation.[citation needed] Right Honourable Sir John Ross Marshall GBE (March 5, 1912 – August 30, 1988), generally known as Jack Marshall, was a New Zealand politician. ... The final results of the New Zealand General Election 1969 were 45 seats won by the National Party, and 39 seats won by the Labour Party, with no minor parties winning any seats. ...


Deputy Prime Minister

When Holyoake stood down in 1971, Muldoon challenged Marshall for the top job; he lost (just), but won unanimous election as deputy leader of National and hence Deputy Prime Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand is second most senior officer in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate into power. ...


Leader of the Opposition

Marshall fought the 1972 election on a slogan of "Man For Man, The Strongest Team" — an allusion to Marshall's own low-key style, particularly compared to his deputy. The party lost control of the House, ending 12 years in power. In the aftermath, Marshall resigned, and Muldoon took over, becoming Leader of the Opposition on 4 July 1974. Many members of the party caucus regarded Marshall as not up to the task of taking on the formidable Labour Prime Minister, Norman Kirk. The final results of the New Zealand General Election 1972 were 55 seats won by the Labour party (led by Norman Kirk) and 32 seats won by the National Party, with no minor parties winning any seats. ... This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who, at least in theory, leads the Opposition bloc in the New Zealand Parliament. ... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. ... Norman Eric Kirk served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974 and led the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1972. ...


Muldoon, on the other hand, relished the opportunity — but had it for only a short time, until Kirk's sudden death on 31 August 1974. In the 1975 election, Muldoon overwhelmed Kirk's more lacklustre successor, Bill Rowling, reversing the 32–55 Labour majority into a 55–32 National majority. His platform offered "New Zealand - The Way You Want It", promising a generous national superannuation scheme to replace Kirk and Rowling's employer-contribution superannuation scheme (which the famous "Dancing Cossack" television advertisement implied would turn New Zealand into a communist state), and undertaking to fix New Zealand's "shattered economy". Economics correspondent Brian Gaynor has claimed that Muldoon's policy of reversing Labour's saving-scheme lost New Zealand the chance of transforming the New Zealand economy.[2] is the 243rd day of the year (244th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1975 New Zealand general election was the first election in New Zealand where all permanent residents of New Zealand were eligible to vote, although only citizens were able to be elected. ... Sir Wallace Edward Rowling KCMG, (15 November 1927 - 31 October 1995), often known as Bill Rowling, was a Prime Minister of New Zealand. ... Social security primarily refers to social welfare service concerned with social protection, or protection against socially recognized conditions, including poverty, old age, disability, unemployment and others. ... This article is about communism as a form of society and as a political movement. ...


Prime Minister

Muldoon had remained National's Finance spokesman when he became party leader, and as a result became Minister of Finance as well as Prime Minister — the last to hold both posts to date. He had a reputation as combative, and many people in political positions and the media feared openly confronting him. The Third National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. ... 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


Muldoon led National to victory in 1978 and 1981; however, in both elections, the Labour opposition received more popular votes across the country as a whole. This ambiguous mandate did not dilute Muldoon's agenda, and he became more emphatic and autocratic as his time in power continued. The 1978 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to elect the 39th New Zealand Parliament. ... The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. ...


The "Muldoon years" featured Muldoon's obstinate and resourceful attempts to maintain New Zealand's "cradle to the grave" welfare state, dating from 1935, in the face of a changing world. The country's economy suffered the aftermath of the 1973 energy crisis, the loss of New Zealand's biggest export market upon Britain's entry to the European Economic Community, and rampant inflation. The Welfare State of the United Kingdom was prefigured in the William Beveridge Report in 1942, which identified five Giant Evils in society: squalor, ignorance, want, idleness and disease. ... (Redirected from 1973 energy crisis) United States, drivers of vehicles with odd numbered license plates were allowed to purchase gasoline only on odd-numbered days of the month, while drivers with even-numbers were limited to even-numbered days. ... The European Community (EC), most important of three European Communities, was originally founded on March 25, 1957 by the signing of the Treaty of Rome under the name of European Economic Community. ...


Concerned about the use of foreign exchange during the 1970s' oil crises, Muldoon supported a scheme whereby natural gas or a dual-fuel gas–petrol system could power cars. Muldoon's 1979 budget introduced incentives to encourage the conversions, and New Zealand emerged as possibly the first country to have dual-fuel cars as a commonplace sight. However, the projection that oil prices would become ever-higher did not happen during this period. Foreign exchange has several meanings: In telecommunications, Foreign exchange service is a type of network service. ... This article is about the fossil fuel. ... Also: 1979 by Smashing Pumpkins. ...


In 1980 an abortive attempt, known as the Colonels' Coup, took place to replace Muldoon with his more economically liberal deputy, Brian Talboys. However, Talboys proved a somewhat reluctant draftee, and Muldoon saw the plotters off with relative ease. No other serious challenge to Muldoon's authority occurred in his years as Prime Minister. The Right Honourable Sir Brian Edward Talboys AC, CH, KCB, (7 June 1921-) was a New Zealand politician. ...


Muldoon became a Companion of Honour in the 1970s, and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1983, only the second New Zealand Prime Minister (after Sir Keith Holyoake) to receive a knighthood while still in office. The Order of the Companions of Honour is a British and Commonwealth Order. ... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... The Right Honorable Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO was a New Zealand politician. ...


Think Big

Main article: Think Big

As economic pressures continued to build, Muldoon tried to control spiralling wages through a trade-off with the trade-union leadership: a reduction in the tax rate against an agreement not to press for further rounds of wage increases. When this strategy proved unsuccessful, as a last resort Muldoon imposed a total freeze on wages, prices, interest rates and dividends across the country, against a "sweetener" of a tax cut which cost the New Zealand treasury approximately a billion New Zealand dollars, and held the country in that state against the hope that his "Think Big" strategy, in which the government borrowed heavily and pumped the funds into large-scale industrial projects, would create trickle-down benefits in the form of jobs and revenue. This never happened: most of the Think Big projects yielded minimal profit whilst Muldoon was still Prime Minister and many were hampered by industrial disputes. With a fiscal deficit, and with a billion dollars not now coming into treasury coffers, Muldoon was also obliged to borrow to fund the welfare state and New Zealand's agricultural subsidies. Ultimately the Wage and Price Freeze, which had been intended only to last for a year, remained in force for nearly two years. Years later, Muldoon admitted that the freeze was a political mistake. The New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon (Prime Minister: 1975 - 1984; Sir Robert from 1983) and his New Zealand National Party government in the early 1980s sponsored Think Big as an interventionist state economic strategy. ... A trade union or labor union is an organization of workers. ...


Springbok tour of 1981

Main article: 1981 Springbok Tour

Muldoon's belief in keeping his word on never allowing politics to enter sport resulted in his refusal to bar the 1981 Springbok Tour by the Springboks, the national rugby squad of apartheid-era South Africa. "The Tour", as it has become known, provoked massive public demonstrations, the formation of public pressure group Halt All Racist Tours(HART) and some of the worst social schisms New Zealand has ever seen. Muldoon came down firmly on the pro-Tour side, arguing that sport and politics should be kept separate. He argued that his refusal to ban the Springboks was anti-authoritarian, leaving it up to individual consciences whether to play sports with representatives of apartheid. He also argued that allowing their rugby team to tour did not mean supporting apartheid any more than playing a Soviet Union team meant supporting Communism. The 1981 Springbok Tour (still known by many in New Zealand as The Tour) was a controversial tour of New Zealand by the South African Springbok rugby team. ... The Springboks or Bokke are the South African national rugby team. ... For other uses, see Rugby (disambiguation). ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Halt All Racist Tours was a group set up in New Zealand in 1969 to protest rugby union tours to and from Apartheid South Africa. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... Communism is an ideology that seeks to establish a classless, stateless social organization based on common ownership of the means of production. ...


Falklands War

In 1982, Muldoon's government supported the British in the Falklands War. While New Zealand did not directly participate in the conflict, Muldoon undertook to send the frigate HMNZS Canterbury to the Indian Ocean to relieve a Royal Navy frigate, so that it could in its turn deploy in the conflict. New Zealand also broke off its diplomatic relations with Argentina. In defence of his support for the war, Muldoon wrote an article that was published in The Times, entitled "Why we Stand by our Mother Country".[3] Combatants Argentina United Kingdom Commanders President Leopoldo Galtieri Vice-Admiral Juan Lombardo Brigadier-General Ernesto Crespo Brigade-General Mario Menéndez Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Admiral Sir John Fieldhouse Rear-Admiral John “Sandy” Woodward Major-General Jeremy Moore Casualties 649 killed 1,068 wounded 11,313 taken prisoner 75 fixed... History HMNZS Canterbury was one of two broad beam Leander class frigates operated by the RNZN from 1971 to 2005. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom (and the Kingdom of Great Britain before the United Kingdom existed) since 1788 when it was known as The Daily Universal Register. ...


Closer Economic Relations

Muldoon initiated a Closer Economic Relations (CER) free-trade programme with Australia to liberalise trade, which came into effect from New Year's Day 1982. The aim of total free trade between the two countries was achieved in 1990, five years ahead of schedule. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article is about January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ...


Nuclear ships policy and the snap election of 1984

Ultimately, the end of Muldoon's government came following a late-night clash with National backbencher Marilyn Waring over highly contentious Opposition-sponsored nuclear-free New Zealand legislation, in which Waring told him she would cross the floor (giving the Opposition a victory). A visibly drunk Muldoon called a snap election for 14 July 1984 (Most commentators[citation needed] noted the unfortunate coincidence with Bastille Day). He was heavily defeated by David Lange's resurgent Labour Party, which won 56 seats to National's 37 with a massive vote division caused by the New Zealand Party in particular. Marilyn Waring (born 1952) is a renowned New Zealand feminist, an activist for female human rights, an author and an academic. ... World map with nuclear weapons development status represented by color. ... In politics, crossing the floor is to vote against party lines, especially where this is considered unusual or controversial. ... The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... For the Battlestar Galactica episode, see Bastille Day (Battlestar Galactica). ... David Russell Lange (who pronounced his name long-ee IPA: lɔŋi) CH, ONZ (4 August 1942 — 13 August 2005), served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. ... Party logo The New Zealand Party was, as its name suggests, a political party operating in New Zealand. ...


By convention in New Zealand politics a prime minister does not advise the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament prematurely unless he or she cannot govern, or unless they need to seek the electorate's endorsement on a matter of national importance (as was the case in 1951). Muldoon justified the snap election because he felt Waring's revolt impeded his ability to govern. Indeed, it was obvious that Muldoon was finding it hard to pass financial measures with neo-liberal rebels like Ruth Richardson and Derek Quigley voting against the Government on certain issues;[4] however, some historians have been critical of this excuse, as Waring said that she would not have denied Muldoon confidence or supply, and would not have prevented him from governing, as the government still had the constitutional means to govern. Dropping the writ is the informal term for a procedure in some parliamentary government systems, where the head of government, that is the prime minister, premier or chief minister as the case may be, goes to the head of state and formally advises them to dissolve parliament. ... The 1951 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 30th term. ... The term neoliberalism is used to describe a political-economic philosophy that had major implications for government policies beginning in the 1970s – and increasingly prominent since 1980 – that de-emphasizes or rejects positive government intervention in the economy, focusing instead on achieving progress and even social justice by... Ruth Richardson (born December 13, 1950) served as New Zealands Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993, and is known for her strong pursuit of radical economic reforms (sometimes known as Ruthanasia). Early life Richardson was born in southern Taranaki on 13 December 1950. ... Derek Francis Quigley (born 31 January 1932) is a former New Zealand politician. ... Loss of Supply occurs where a government in a parliamentary democracy is denied a supply of treasury or exchequer funds, by whichever house or houses of parliament or head of state is constitutionally entitled to grant and deny supply. ...


Foreign exchange and constitutional crises

A final controversy occurred during the course of the election and transfer of government: during early 1984 Roderick Deane, then Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, became concerned that the New Zealand dollar (which had a fixed exchange-rate to the US Dollar) had become significantly overvalued and was vulnerable to currency speculation on the financial markets in the event of a "significant political event". This was exacerbated by media speculation following a leak that an incoming Labour administration would be likely to significantly devalue the NZ dollar upon election. The Reserve Bank counseled Muldoon that the dollar should be devalued. Muldoon ignored the advice, owing to his belief that it would hurt poor New Zealanders in the medium term, and in June of 1984 announced the snap election mentioned above which, as predicted, caused an immediate run on the dollar. The New Zealand constitutional crisis of 1984 was an important constitutional and political event in the history of New Zealand. ... Roderick (Rod) Deane, (b. ... The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is the central bank of New Zealand. ... ISO 4217 Code NZD User(s) New Zealand, Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn Islands, Tokelau Inflation 2. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...


Following the election the controversy became a constitutional crisis: Muldoon refused to do as the incoming government instructed, causing the currency crisis to worsen. Eventually he relented however, after his position as leader of the National party was threatened by members of his caucus. A constitutional crisis is a severe breakdown in the smooth operation of government. ...


After nine years, Muldoon's stewardship of the nation and its economy ceased. The newly-elected radically neo-liberal and unexpectedly pro-free market Fourth Labour Government embarked on a series of fundamental free-market reforms known (after Labour's finance minister Roger Douglas) as Rogernomics, and which were then continued from 1990 to 1994 by the succeeding National government's policies known as (after National's finance minister Ruth Richardson) as Ruthanasia. These policies marked a fundamental break with the more interventionist policies of Muldoon's era. Sir Roger Douglas is a former New Zealand politician and senior Cabinet minister, best known for his leading role in the radical economic restructuring undertaken by the New Zealand Labour Party government in the 1980s. ... The term Rogernomics, a portmanteau of Roger and economics, was created by analogy with Reaganomics to describe the economic policies followed by New Zealand Finance Minister Roger Douglas from his appointment in 1984. ... Ruth Richardson (born December 13, 1950) served as New Zealands Minister of Finance from 1990 to 1993, and is known for her strong pursuit of radical economic reforms (sometimes known as Ruthanasia). Early life Richardson was born in southern Taranaki on 13 December 1950. ... Ruthanasia, a portmanteau of Ruth and euthanasia, is the pejorative name given to the period of free-market economic reform conducted under the auspices of the National Party government of New Zealand between 1990 and 1993. ...


Later life

Muldoon's deputy leader, Jim McLay, deposed him as National Party leader shortly after the election. McLay lasted two years in the role, with Muldoon and others actively undermining his leadership. In 1986, he was ousted in turn by his own deputy (and Muldoon's preferred candidate), Jim Bolger, who had served as Minister of Labour for the latter half of Muldoon's term as Prime Minister. James Kenneth McLay (born 21 February 1945), generally known as Jim McLay, is a former New Zealand politician. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... The Right Honourable James Brendan Jim Bolger, ONZ, (born 31 May 1935) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997. ...


Muldoon remained in Parliament as the MP for Tamaki until shortly before his death. He lived through the Fourth Labour Government's neo-liberal reforms, known as Rogernomics, and to his horror — to see a National government (led by his own man, Bolger, after winning the landslide of 1990) take up the same baton with Ruthanasia, named after Finance Minister Ruth Richardson. Muldoon's conscience tormented him; he could not bring himself to vote with the Labour Party against the Bolger government's benefit cuts, and, looking miserable, abstained. David Lange led the Fourth Labour government for most of its time in power. ... The term neoliberalism is used to describe a political-economic philosophy that had major implications for government policies beginning in the 1970s – and increasingly prominent since 1980 – that de-emphasizes or rejects positive government intervention in the economy, focusing instead on achieving progress and even social justice by... The term Rogernomics, a portmanteau of Roger and economics, was created by analogy with Reaganomics to describe the economic policies followed by New Zealand Finance Minister Roger Douglas from his appointment in 1984. ... The 1990 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliaments 43rd term. ... Ruthanasia, a portmanteau of Ruth and euthanasia, is the pejorative name given to the period of free-market economic reform conducted under the auspices of the National Party government of New Zealand between 1990 and 1993. ...


Muldoon also opposed the legalisation of homosexual behavior when Labour MP Fran Wilde introduced the Homosexual Law Reform Bill in 1985. The Bill passed as the Homosexual Law Reform Act in 1986. Since its coinage, the word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ... Fran Wilde QSO, is a New Zealand politician, and former Wellington Labour MP and 32nd Mayor of Wellington. ... Please wikify (format) this article as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... The New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 legalised consensual homosexual sex. ...


Although he remained iconic to particular segments of society, particularly the elderly, Muldoon faded quickly as a force on the political scene. His biographer, Barry Gustafson — who described himself as not a Muldoon supporter — wrote that he still served as an active MP for his Tamaki electorate, dealing immediately with matters from all walks of life. He continued to write in international economic journals, arguing that the unemployment that had arisen as a result of the free-market reforms was worse than the gains that were made, a view that came to be popular by the time of the Fifth Labour Government in 1999. This article is about the year. ...


Muldoon had a short stage career in a New Zealand production of The Rocky Horror Show, starring as the narrator, had minor television appearances on commercials for Panasonic (when it changed its name in New Zealand from "National") and in the television series Terry and the Gunrunners (as Arnos Grove) and in The Friday Frights (as the host); he also hosted a talkback radio show entitled Lilies and Other Things, referencing his favourite flower. The Rocky Horror Show is a long running stage musical (opening in London initially, on June 19, 1973) that inspired the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show. ... Panasonic is an international brand name for Japanese electric products manufacturer Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. ...


On this show, on 17 November 1991, Muldoon announced he would stand down from Parliament; he formally retired one month later, on 17 December. His retirement party featured taped speeches from Ronald Reagan (commenting that at Muldoon's age, he was only getting started) and Margaret Thatcher. He fell seriously ill almost immediately, and died in hospital on 5 August 1992, aged 70. 17 November is also the name of a Marxist group in Greece, coinciding with the anniversary of the Athens Polytechnic uprising. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... December 17 is the 351st day of the year (352nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Reagan redirects here. ... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (née Roberts; born 13 October 1925) served as British Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990 and leader of the Conservative Party from 1975 until 1990, being the first and to date only woman to hold either post. ... is the 217th day of the year (218th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...


Legacy

Muldoon remains one of the most complex, fascinating, and polarising figures in New Zealand history. He divided people into camps of those who loved him and those who hated him; very few people, except those born after his fall, remained neutral. To his enemies, "Piggy" Muldoon was a dictatorial Prime Minister who nearly destroyed both New Zealand's economy and New Zealand society through his arrogance.


To those, known as "Rob's Mob", who revered him, he represented an icon of the New Zealand national character, a supporter of the "ordinary bloke" (his own description of himself) and an international statesman. Curiously, he was also patron of the Mongrel Mob gang [citation needed], members of which paid him solemn respect by kneeling on the street and performing two haka during his funeral procession in 1992. The Mongrel Mob is a New Zealand gang formed and organised in Petone near Wellington, New Zealand. ... This article is about the traditional Māori dance genre. ...


Historians like Gustafson and Brian Easton criticise Muldoon because, according to them, he pursued an ultimately unsustainable line of policy.[5][6] Some argue[citation needed] that he was responsible for much of the pain caused by the free-market reforms of 1984 – 1993, because by holding on for as long as he did he forced the inevitable reforms to be implemented with unusual speed and severity. However, this view is not universal, and many also argue that the free market reformers of the 1980s and 1990s used Muldoon as an excuse to embark on radical ideological programs. Brian Easton (born 1943) is an economist from New Zealand. ...


Muldoon famously declared upon becoming Prime Minister that he hoped to leave New Zealand "no worse off than I found it". He dominated New Zealand politics for over a decade, and still influences the conduct of government today. Gustafson gives him the following epitaph: "By 1992 New Zealand had not become what Muldoon or many other New Zealanders wanted it to be but he was not prepared to take the blame for that. Muldoon died unrepentant and still convinced that his way, even if never perfect, had been a better way." 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...


Thea Muldoon

In 1951 Muldoon married Thea Flyger, by whom he would have three children, and who survives him. She became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1993, and QSO. Year 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand Cross... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... This may refer to: The post-nominals of the Queens Service Order The Queensland Symphony Orchestra A Q code for the exchange between two radio amateurs or a SWL and an radio amateur or a commercial HF radio station. ...


Trivia

  • When questioned about increased levels of emigration from New Zealand to Australia, Muldoon responded that these migrants "raised the average IQ of both countries".
  • In April 1980, in the face of efforts to remove a 40% sales tax on music-sales in New Zealand, Muldoon refused to have the tax lifted remarking that "[t]he records that are sold in this country are not Kiri Te Kanawa's: they are about 50 to one these horrible pop groups and I'm not going to take the tax off them"[7]. This remark was followed a couple of days afterwards with "If you use the word 'cultural' in its normal sense, I don't think Split Enz and Mi-Sex are cultural"[8]. Several New Zealand bands answered to Muldoon, notably Mi-Sex, who invited him to a Wellington concert (he attended), and The Knobz, who recorded a song "Culture?", which parodied Muldoon - complete with a Rob Muldoon soundalike.
  • In 1979, Muldoon imposed a controversial 20-percent surcharge on boats and caravans. Instead of generating extra revenue, this tax virtually brought the caravan and boating industry to its knees as customers could not afford the new tax and thus cancelled their orders. Despite evidence showing clearly that this tax had resulted in a detrimental effect to the industry, Muldoon refused to repeal it on the grounds that such an admission of error on his part would be regarded as an opposition victory. This tax led to a popular bumper-sticker which read I'd rather be sailing, but I voted National. The Lange Government's first budget repealed this tax.
  • Muldoon had a reputation for the variety of the ties he wore (in contrast to subsequent Labour Prime Minister David Lange who did not necessarily want to wear ties in the debating chamber). This was so well known that some of his ties were made available for sale to the public following his death.
  • In 1995, actor Ian Mune played Sir Robert Muldoon in the made-for-television mini-series Fallout, depicting the end of the Muldoon National Government.

Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Dame Kiri Janette Te Kanawa IPA: , ONZ, AC, DBE, (born March 6, 1944) is an internationally famous New Zealand opera singer. ... Mi-Sex is a New Zealander rock band during 1978 unitl 1985,led by Steve Gilpin as vocalist. ... The Knobz were a New Zealand pop band, originally based in Dunedin, but not considered part of that citys main wave of Dunedin Sound bands. ... David Russell Lange (who pronounced his name long-ee IPA: lɔŋi) CH, ONZ (4 August 1942 — 13 August 2005), served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. ... Ian Mune (born 1941) is a New Zealand character actor and director. ...

References

  1. ^ Television broadcasts in New Zealand started in 1960.
  2. ^ Brain Gaynor (22 September 2007). Brian Gaynor: How Muldoon threw away NZ's wealth. The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved on 2007-09-22.
  3. ^ James Belich, Professor, Department of History, University of Auckland. The 1999 Papers. Retrieved on 2007-04-16.
  4. ^ Bohan, Edmund: "Burdon: A Man Of Our Time." page 95. Hazard Press, 2005
  5. ^ Easton, Brian. The Nationbuilders, pp. 239-53. Auckland: Auckland University Press, ISBN 1-86940-260-X (2001)
  6. ^ Gustafson, Barry. His Way: A Biography of Robert Muldoon. Auckland University Press. 
  7. ^ The Press, Monday 21 April 1980, p.1
  8. ^ The Dominion, Tuesday 22 April 1980, p.1

is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the officer of arms, see New Zealand Herald Extraordinary. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 106th day of the year (107th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Auckland University Press (AUP) founded in 1966, is the book publishing arm of the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. ...

Suggestions for further reading

  • Clark, Margaret. (ed.) Muldoon Revisited. Palmerston North: Dunmore Press, ISBN 0-86469-465-2 (2004). [The revised proceedings of a conference on Muldoon held at Victoria University of Wellington during 2002.]
  • Gustafson, Barry, His Way, a biography of Robert Muldoon, Auckland University Press, 2000, ISBN 1-86940-236-7
  • Jones, Bob. Memories of Muldoon. Christchurch: Canterbury University Press, ISBN 0-908812-69-8 (1997).
  • Muldoon, R.D.
    • The Rise and Fall of a Young Turk. Wellington: A.H. & A.W. Reed, ISBN 0-589-00873-1 (1974).
    • Muldoon. Wellington: Reed, ISBN 0-589-01087-5 (1977).
    • My Way. Wellington: Reed, ISBN 0-589-01385-8 (1981).
    • The New Zealand Economy: A Personal View. Auckland: Endeavour Press, ISBN 0-86481-105-5 (1985).
    • Number 38. Auckland: Reed Methuen, ISBN 0-474-00220-9 (1986).
    • [Muldoon's autobiographical writings, while inevitably self-serving, provide a candid expression of his thinking and of his desires for New Zealand.]
  • Russell, Marcia. Revolution:New Zealand from Fortress to Free Market Hodder Moa Beckett, 1996
  • Zavos, Spiro. The Real Muldoon. Wellington: Fourth Estate Books (1978).

Victoria Universitys Kelburn Campus. ... Sir Robert Bob Jones (born 1939) is a property tycoon, author and former politician in New Zealand. ... Spiro Zavos (born in 1937 in Wellington, New Zealand of Greek immigrant parents) is an Australasian historian, journalist and writer. ...

External links

 

NZ Coat of Arms
Preceded by: Bill Rowling (1975-1984) Succeeded by: David Lange
Sewell | Fox | Stafford | Domett | Whitaker | Weld | Waterhouse | Vogel | Pollen | Atkinson | Grey | Hall | Stout | Ballance | Seddon | Hall-Jones | Ward | Mackenzie | Massey | Bell | Coates | Forbes | Savage | Fraser | Holland | Nash | Holyoake | Marshall | Kirk | Rowling | Muldoon | Lange | Palmer | Moore | Bolger | Shipley | Clark
Persondata
NAME Muldoon, Robert David
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Muldoon, Rob
SHORT DESCRIPTION Prime Minister of New Zealand, politician
DATE OF BIRTH September 25, 1921
PLACE OF BIRTH Auckland, New Zealand
DATE OF DEATH August 5, 1992
PLACE OF DEATH