Michael Joseph Savage

Michael Joseph Savage
1935 portrait
23rd Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office
6 December 1935 – 27 March 1940
MonarchsGeorge V
Edward VIII
George VI
Governor-GeneralGeorge Monckton-Arundell
Preceded byGeorge Forbes
Succeeded byPeter Fraser
3rd Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party
In office
12 October 1933 – 27 March 1940
DeputyPeter Fraser
Preceded byHarry Holland
Succeeded byPeter Fraser
12th Leader of the Opposition
In office
12 October 1933 – 6 December 1935
Preceded byHarry Holland
Succeeded byGeorge Forbes
Member of the New Zealand Parliament
for Auckland West
In office
17 December 1919 – 27 March 1940
Preceded byCharles Poole
Succeeded byPeter Carr
Personal details
Born
Michael Savage

(1872-03-23)23 March 1872
Tatong, Victoria, Australia
Died27 March 1940(1940-03-27) (aged 68)
Wellington, New Zealand
Resting placeBastion Point, Waitematā Harbour, Auckland
Political partyLabour (1916–40)
Social Democratic (1913–16)
Socialist (1907–13)
ProfessionTrade unionist
politician
Signature

Michael Joseph Savage PC (23 March 1872 – 27 March 1940)[1] was an Australian-born New Zealand politician who served as the 23rd prime minister of New Zealand, heading the First Labour Government from 1935 until his death in 1940.

Savage was born in the Colony of Victoria (present-day Australia), and emigrated to New Zealand in 1907 at the age of 35. A labourer, he became a trade unionist, and in 1910 was elected president of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council. Savage supported the formation of the New Zealand Labour Party in July 1916. He was active in local politics before his election to the House of Representatives in 1919, as one of eight Labour members returned in that election. Savage was elected unopposed as Labour party leader in 1933.

Savage led the Labour Party to its first ever electoral victory in the 1935 election. He won public support for his government's economic recovery policies and social welfare programme. His popularity assured the Labour Party of an even more significant electoral victory in the 1938 election. His government joined Britain in declaring war against Germany in 1939. Savage's health declined rapidly after Labour's second electoral victory and he died in office. He was succeeded as head of government by his deputy Peter Fraser.

Savage saw himself as spokesman on behalf of his entire party and worked to keep its multiple factions in harness, although a left-wing critic of his leadership, John A. Lee, was expelled. Commonly known as the architect of the New Zealand welfare state, Savage is generally regarded by academics and the general public as one of New Zealand's greatest and most revered prime ministers. To date he is the only New Zealand prime minister or premier to serve under three monarchs (George V, Edward VIII and George VI).

  1. ^ Gustafson, Barry (1998). "Savage, Michael Joseph". Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand.