david lange

26 Jul 1984–8 Aug 1989

Mangere

Labour

Biography

Seven years and one stomach-stapling operation after entering Parliament in 1977, David Lange became PM at the age of 41.

Events In History

13 August 2005

Death of David Lange

David Lange was New Zealand's youngest prime minister of the 20th century. Renowned for his sharp wit and oratory, he led the fourth Labour government from 1984 until 1989. Read more...
1 April 1987

State-owned enterprises are born

The State-owned Enterprises Act heralded a major overhaul of the public sector and was a key part of the strategy of economic liberalisation known as 'Rogernomics'. Read more...

The sinking of the Greenpeace protest ship Rainbow Warrior in Auckland in July 1985 shocked the nation. The incident galvanised an anti-nuclear movement that had emerged in opposition to both French nuclear tests at Mururoa and American warship visits to New Zealand.

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Page 4 - Nuclear-free legislationLabour leader David Lange tried to work with the Americans, but their 'neither confirm nor deny' policy made a middle ground virtually impossible to

Almost 150 years after the government purchased the first official premier's residence on Tinakori Road, Wellington, the address of Premier House remains the same. But in the intervening years the building has been extended, renamed, abandoned and refurbished.
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Page 4 - Vogel House and Premier HouseSince 1975 the official prime minister's residence has been at Vogel House and, since 1990, Premier

This case study examines New Zealand's involvement in the nuclear debate of the 1970s and 1980s, culminating in a breakdown of the ANZUS alliance in 1985. With