New Zealand and other American allies came under increased pressure to provide combat assistance. An unenthusiastic Holyoake responded to American entreaties in December 1964 by pointing to New Zealand's commitments in Malaysia, where its forces were involved in Confrontation.
‘Kiwi Keith’ Holyoake, the first officially designated deputy PM (1954) was our third-longest serving leader.Although criticised for sending troops to the Vietnam War, he is now seen as ‘the most dovish of the hawks’, doing the bare minimum to keep America happy.
'Better not interfere old boy, he might lose his temper'. President Sukarno of Indonesia threatens a surprised-looking looking President of Malaysia in the background, while, in the foreground, Menzies, Prime Minister of Australia, is advising New Zealand Prime Minister, Keith Holyoake, that any interference could cause trouble.
A civic reception for 161 Battery on its return from Vietnam was disrupted by protesters. They accused the New Zealand soldiers of being murderers and threw red paint symbolising the Vietnamese blood they had on their hands.
In 1977 National Business Review cartoonist Bob Brockie captured the public disquiet over the constitutional propriety of Prime Minister Muldoon appointing a serving minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) Governor-General.
