David Lange

The Right Honourable David Russell Lange (pronounced Long-ee), CH, ONZ (4 August 1942 Thames, New Zealand – 13 August, 2005 Auckland, New Zealand), served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history. He was renowned for a cutting wit and eloquence. His government implemented far-reaching free market reforms, some of which he later came to oppose and regret. Perhaps his most lasting legacy is New Zealand's nuclear-free legislation, which for many symbolised a pacifist identity for New Zealand.

International affairs

Lange made his name on the international stage with a long-running campaign against nuclear weapons. He refused to allow nuclear ships in New Zealand waters, a policy that New Zealand continues to this day. The effect of that policy was to prohibit U.S. Navy ships from visiting New Zealand. The policy displeased the United States of America and Australia because they regarded it as a breach of treaty obligations under ANZUS and as an abrogation of responsibility in the context of the Cold War against the Soviet Union. After consultations with Australia and after negotations with New Zealand broke down, the United States announced that it was suspending its treaty obligations to New Zealand until United States Navy ships were re-admitted to New Zealand ports, citing that New Zealand was "a friend, but not an ally". The crisis made front-page headlines for weeks in many American newspapers, while many American cabinet members were quoted as expressing a deep sense of "betrayal".

Related Topics:
Nuclear weapon - United States of America - Australia - ANZUS - Cold War - Soviet Union

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It is often erroneously claimed that David Lange withdrew New Zealand from ANZUS. His government's policy may have prompted the US's decision to suspend its ANZUS Treaty obligations to New Zealand, but that was a decision of the U.S. government, not the New Zealand government.

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Relations with France became strained when French agents of the DGSE bombed and sank the Greenpeace ship the Rainbow Warrior on 10 July 1985 while it lay moored in Auckland Harbour, killing one person. In one of the highlights of this period, a widely-televised Oxford Union debate in 1985 showcased Lange, a skilled orator, arguing for the proposition that "nuclear weapons are morally indefensible", in opposition to U.S. televangelist Jerry Falwell. (The audio of Lange's speech was later made available with the kind permission of TVNZ.)

Related Topics:
France - DGSE - Bombed and sank - Greenpeace - Rainbow Warrior - 10 July - 1985 - Auckland - Oxford Union - Televangelist - Jerry Falwell - TVNZ

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In June 1986, Lange obtained a political deal over the Rainbow Warrior affair with France. It was presided over by United Nations Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar. France agreed to pay compensation of NZ$13 million (US$6.5 million) to New Zealand and also apologise. In return, Lange agreed that the convicted French agents Alain Mafart and Dominique Prieur could be detained at the French military base on Hao Atoll for three years. However, the two spies were both free by May 1988, after less than two years had elapsed.

Related Topics:
1986 - Rainbow Warrior - Javier Perez de Cuellar - Alain Mafart - Dominique Prieur - Hao Atoll - 1988

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In 1996 Lange sued the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Lange v ABC 145 ALR 96) over an alleged defamation that it broadcast about him. The ABC used the defence that there exists in the Australian Constitution an implied right to freedom of speech on political matters, which was found to be the case by the High Court of Australia.

Related Topics:
1996 - Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Australian Constitution - High Court of Australia

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