David Lange (4 August 1942 – 13 August 2005) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 26 July 1984 to 8 August 1989, succeeding Robert Muldoon and preceding Geoffrey Palmer. He was a member of the New Zealand Labor Party.
Biography[]
David Lange was born in Otahuhu, New Zealand in 1942, and he was called to the bar in 1966 after graduating from the University of Auckland. Elected to the House of Representatives for the New Zealand Labor Party in 1977, he became its deputy leader in 1979, and its leader in 1983. In addition to his office as Prime Minister, he was in charge of foreign affairs from 1984 to 1987 and education from 1987 to 1989. In foreign policy, he received worldwide attention through his tough implementationo of Labor's non-nuclear policy. He thus banned nuclear vessels from entering New Zealand ports. Since this applied mostly to US warships, this aggravated US president Ronald Reagan, who duly declared the ANZUS inoperative in 1985, in effect cancelling US military protection in the event of war in 1986. Lange also unsuccessfully demanded firm French government action after French secret service agents sank Greenpeace's vessel, the Rainbow Warrior, while it was at anchor in Auckland harbor. In domestic affairs, he had to overcome the economic difficulties caused by the worldwide recession. This forced him to pursue a relatively centrist economic policy, which stimulated demand through cutting taxes. He also shifted the tax burden from direct income tax to indirect taxation through the introduction of a goods and service tax. This ensured considerable support for his government. Ever-mindful of his more radical labor constituency, he created a Ministry for Women, and introduced a Bill of Rights. He resigned in August 1989 after a quarrel with his popular and successful Minister of Finance, Roger Douglas. He was succeeded by Geoffrey Palmer.