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.

Political career

Lange entered parliament as the Labour MP for Mangere, a working-class Auckland electorate with a large Maori population, in 1977 in a by-election. On becoming an MP, Lange quickly made an impression in the House as a debater, a wit, and the scourge of Robert Muldoon. He succeeded Bill Rowling as Parliamentary party leader and as Leader of the Opposition on 3 February 1982. When Muldoon called a snap election in 1984, Lange led Labour to a landslide victory, becoming at 41 New Zealand's youngest prime minister of the 20th century.

Related Topics:
Parliament - Mangere - Maori - 1977 - Robert Muldoon - Bill Rowling - Leader of the Opposition - 3 February - 1982 - Snap election - 1984

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Upon coming to office, Lange's government uncovered a skyrocketing public debt, the result of Muldoon's policy of government regulation of the economy, including a wage- and price-freeze and regulation of the exchange rate. Lange and Minister of Finance Roger Douglas engaged in a rapid programme of deregulation and public asset sales, which brought criticism from many people in Labour's traditional support base.

Related Topics:
Minister of Finance - Roger Douglas

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Commentators coined the term Rogernomics and drew connections with Reaganomics and with Thatcherism. After the government's first term (1984-87), significant divisions started to form in the Labour parliamentary caucus, with Lange becoming uncomfortable with the extent of the reforms, while Douglas and Richard Prebble wanted to push on.

Related Topics:
Rogernomics - Reaganomics - Thatcherism - 1984 - 87 - Richard Prebble

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The worldwide stock market crash of 19 October 1987 damaged confidence in the New Zealand economy. In 1988 consensus on economic policy amongst the Labour leadership finally broke down, with Lange dismissing Douglas after he proposed a radical flat income tax. After losing many members, the Labour Party finally fractured, with Jim Anderton MP forming a breakaway New Labour Party, which later merged into the Alliance Party.

Related Topics:
19 October - 1987 - 1988 - Flat income tax - Jim Anderton - New Labour Party - Alliance Party

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During his tenure as Prime Minister, Lange engaged in competitive motor-sport, appearing in the New Zealand One Make Ford Laser Sport series.

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Lange also held the positions of Minister of Foreign Affairs (1984 to 1987) and Minister of Education (1987 to 1989). Upon his replacement as party leader and Prime Minister by Geoffrey Palmer in 1989, he became (from 1989 to 1990) Attorney-General, Minister in Charge of the Serious Fraud Office and a Minister of State. In failing health, he retired from Parliament in 1996. His Labour Party colleague Taito Phillip Field succeeded him as the Member for the Mangere electorate.

Related Topics:
Minister of Foreign Affairs - 1984 - 1987 - 1989 - Geoffrey Palmer - 1990 - Attorney-General - Serious Fraud Office - 1996 - Taito Phillip Field

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The Queen made Lange a Companion of Honour in 1990 and created him an Ordinary Member of the Order of New Zealand on 2 June 2003.

Related Topics:
Companion of Honour - 1990 - Order of New Zealand - 2 June - 2003

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