robert muldoon

Prime Minister Robert Muldoon and his wife, Thea, in 1977, in the kitchen of Vogel House, Lower Hutt. Muldoon refurbished the house in time for Queen Elizabeth II's visit in February that year.

Prime Minister Robert David Muldoon (1921-1992) (later Sir) reading the budget, 29 July 1983.

The 1975, 1978 and 1981 election campaigns were largely dominated by the self-assured, combative presence of National Party leader Robert Muldoon. One of the relatively few New Zealand politicians who appeared comfortable in television during the 1970s, he was equally adept at addressing large or small public meetings, even when faced with a hostile audience – as in this photograph, taken in Upper Hutt during the bitterly contested 1981 campaign.

Prime Minister Robert Muldoon surprised many by announcing a ‘snap’ election to be held in one month’s time, on 14 July. He hoped to catch the opposition Labour Party under-prepared, but the gamble backfired and National suffered a heavy defeat.

The dominant politician of his era, Muldoon had held power since 1975. He now found himself increasingly under pressure, grappling with economic uncertainty, backbench criticism and a resurgent opposition led by the charismatic David Lange.