Robert Muldoon

The Right Honourable Sir Robert David ("Rob") Muldoon KCMG CH (25 September 1921–5 August 1992) served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984.

Later Life

Muldoon was deposed as National Party leader shortly after the election by his deputy leader, Jim McLay. McLay lasted two years, with Muldoon 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 under Muldoon.

Related Topics:
Jim McLay - 1986 - Jim Bolger

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Muldoon remained in Parliament as the MP for Tamaki for the rest of his life. He lived through the Fourth Labour Government's radical neoliberal reforms, known as Rogernomics. He also lived ? to his far greater horror ? to see the government of his own man, Bolger, after being elected in the landslide of 1990, take up the neoliberal baton and brandish it with great enthusiasm under Finance Minister Ruth Richardson, who gave her name to the second-stage neoliberal reforms: Ruthanasia. His 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.

Related Topics:
Fourth Labour Government - Rogernomics - Landslide of 1990 - Ruth Richardson - Ruthanasia

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Muldoon also opposed the legalisation of homosexual behavior when Labour MP Fran Wilde introduced the Homosexual Law Reform Bill, which was passed.

Related Topics:
Homosexual - Fran Wilde

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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 noted that he was 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. He 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 the TV series Terry and the Gunrunners (as Arnos Grove) and The Friday Frights (as the host), and hosted a talkback radio show entitled "Lilies and other things," after his favourite flower. It was on this show, on 17 November 1991, that he 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.

Related Topics:
The Rocky Horror Show - Panasonic - 17 November - 1991 - 17 December - Ronald Reagan - Margaret Thatcher - 5 August - 1992

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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, were 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 was 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, members of which paid him solemn respect by kneeling on the street during his funeral procession in 1992.

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Most historians recognise him as brilliant: talented without being great, because the line of policy he ultimately pursued was not sustainable. Some argue that he was responsible for much of the pain caused by the free-market reforms of 1984?93, because by holding on for as long as he did he forced the inevitable reforms to be implemented with unusual speed and severity.

Related Topics:
1984 - 93

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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."

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