 |
Sir Robert Muldoon | |
|---|---|
 Muldoon in 1978 | |
| 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| In office 12 December 1975 – 26 July 1984 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governors‑General | Denis Blundell Keith Holyoake David Beattie |
| Deputy | Brian Talboys (1975–1981) Duncan MacIntyre (1981–1984) Jim McLay (1984) |
| Preceded by | Bill Rowling |
| Succeeded by | David Lange |
| 32nd Minister of Finance | |
| In office 12 December 1975 – 26 July 1984 | |
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Bob Tizard |
| Succeeded by | Roger Douglas |
| In office 4 March 1967 – 8 December 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Keith Holyoake Jack Marshall |
| Preceded by | Harry Lake |
| Succeeded by | Bill Rowling |
| 4th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand | |
| In office 9 February 1972 – 8 December 1972 | |
| Prime Minister | Jack Marshall |
| Preceded by | Jack Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Hugh Watt |
| 21st Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 9 July 1974 – 12 December 1975 | |
| Prime Minister | Norman Kirk Bill Rowling |
| Deputy | Brian Talboys |
| Preceded by | Jack Marshall |
| Succeeded by | Bill Rowling |
| In office 26 July 1984 – 29 November 1984 | |
| Prime Minister | David Lange |
| Deputy | Jim McLay |
| Preceded by | David Lange |
| Succeeded by | Jim McLay |
| Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Tamaki | |
| In office 26 November 1960 – 31 December 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Bob Tizard |
| Succeeded by | Clem Simich |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert David Muldoon 25 September 1921 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Died | 5 August 1992 (aged 70) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Resting place | Purewa Cemetery, Meadowbank |
| Political party | National |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | James Henry Muldoon Amie Rusha Browne |
| Profession | Accountant |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Branch/service | New Zealand Military Forces |
| Years of service | 1940–1946 |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | 37th Battalion Divisional Cavalry Regiment |
| Battles/wars | |
| ||
|---|---|---|
General elections  |
||
Sir Robert David Muldoon GCMG CH PC (/mʌlˈduːn/; 25 September 1921 – 5 August 1992) was a New Zealand conservative politician who served as the 31st prime minister of New Zealand, from 1975 to 1984, while leader of the National Party. Departing from National Party convention, Muldoon was a right-wing populist and economic nationalist, with a distinctive public persona described as reactionary, aggressive, and abrasive.[1][2][3][4]
After a troubled childhood, Muldoon served as a corporal and sergeant in the army in the Second World War.[5] After a career as a cost accountant, he was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1960 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamaki, representing the National Party. Muldoon rose in the Second National Government to serve successively as Minister of Tourism (1967), Minister of Finance (1967–1972), and Deputy Prime Minister (1972). Over this time he built up an informal but solid backing amongst National's mostly rural right faction, which he called "Rob's Mob". After National lost the 1972 general election to the Labour Party, Muldoon used his connections to oust moderate party leader Jack Marshall and take his place, becoming Leader of the Opposition in 1974. Through Muldoon's ideological blend of moderate social liberalism and protectionist right-wing populism ("counterpunching", a term he coined)[4] and the promise of a lucrative superannuation scheme, National enjoyed a resurgence. The early death of prime minister Norman Kirk severely weakened the Labour Party, and Muldoon soon led National to a decisive victory in the 1975 general election.[4]
Muldoon came to power promising to lead "a Government of the ordinary bloke".[6] He appointed himself Minister of Finance. Although he used populist rhetoric to rail against elites and the political establishment,[7] he consistently tried to centralise power under himself during his premiership.[8] His tenure was plagued by an economic pattern of stagnation, high inflation, growing unemployment, and high external debts and borrowing. Economic policies of the Muldoon Government included national superannuation, wage and price freezes, industrial incentives, and the Think Big industrial projects. He reintroduced and intensified the previous government's policies of the Dawn Raids, which racially targeted Pasifika overstayers. To engage with crime, Muldoon built "unusually close relationships" with criminal gangs; he personally favoured Black Power, and he and his wife Thea met with them on several occasions.[9] In foreign policy, Muldoon adopted an anti-Soviet stance and re-emphasised New Zealand's defence commitments to the United States and Australia under the ANZUS pact. His refusal to stop a Springbok rugby tour of New Zealand divided the country and led to unprecedented civil disorder in 1981. Muldoon became more and more controversial as his premiership progressed; in addition to the controversy of the Springbok tour, he began a smear campaign against Labour MP Colin Moyle for alleged illegal homosexual activities and punched demonstrators at a protest.[2][10][3]
Muldoon led his party to two additional election victories in 1978 and 1981, with the first-past-the-post electoral system keeping him in power despite losing the popular vote in each election except 1975. At the 1984 snap election, which Muldoon infamously announced while intoxicated on live television, National finally suffered a significant defeat to Labour. Shortly before leaving office, amid a constitutional crisis, Muldoon was forced by the incoming Government to devalue the New Zealand dollar. In 1984, he was only the second prime minister (after Sir Keith Holyoake) to receive a knighthood while still in office. Mounting legal costs encouraged Muldoon to pursue a novelty acting career, but he remained in parliament until his retirement in 1992. He died shortly thereafter; the gang Black Power performed a haka at his funeral.[11]
- ^ Walker, Simon (5 August 1992). "Obituary: Sir Robert Muldoon". The Independent. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ a b "US media compares Robert Muldoon to Trump". Newshub. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ a b Cowen, Tyler (14 February 2017). "Feisty, protectionist populism? New Zealand tried it". Stuff. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ a b c McLean, Gavin (15 June 2015). "Robert Muldoon Biography". NZHistory. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ Gustafson 2000, p. 36.
- ^ Russell 1996, p. 21.
- ^ "Revolution - 1, Fortress New Zealand". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 1 July 2022.
- ^ Roberts, Neil. "Robert Muldoon: The Grim Face of Power - Part One". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ Gustafson, Barry (2010). "Muldoon, Robert David: Thea Muldoon with Black Power members". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ "MPs rush to reveal strip club experience". Stuff. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ Campbell, Gordon. "On When National's Leaders Had A More Enlightened Approach To Gangs". Scoop. Retrieved 20 June 2022.