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Concept
Robert Muldoon
Summary
Sir Robert David Muldoon (mʌlˈduːn; 25 September 1921 5 August 1992) was a New Zealand politician who served as the 31st prime minister of New Zealand, from 1975 to 1984, while leader of the National Party.
Serving as a corporal and sergeant in the army in the Second World War, Muldoon completed his training as an accountant and returned to New Zealand as its first fully qualified cost accountant. He was first elected to the House of Representatives at the 1960 general election as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamaki, representing the National Party. In this time of political stability, Muldoon served successively as Minister of Tourism (1967), Minister of Finance (1967–1972), and Deputy Prime Minister (1972). Over this time he built up an informal but solid backing amongst National's mostly rural right faction, which he labelled "Rob's Mob"—possibly in imitation of gangs such as the Mongrel Mob. National were then expelled from office in 1972, beginning the tenure of Labour Party Prime Minister Norman Kirk and ending 12 years of the Second National Government. Using his newfound connections, Muldoon was able to oust moderate party leader Jack Marshall and take his place, becoming Leader of the Opposition in 1974. Through his own mixture of moderate liberalism and protectionist right-wing populism ("counterpunching", a term he coined), and promise of a lucrative superannuation scheme, Muldoon gained widespread support quickly. The early death of Norman Kirk severely weakened the Labour Party, and Muldoon soon led the National Party to a decisive victory in the 1975 general election.
Muldoon came to power promising to lead "a Government of the ordinary bloke." He appointed himself Minister of Finance. Although he used populist rhetoric to rail against elites and the political establishment, he consistently tried to centralise power under himself during his premiership. His tenure was plagued by an economic pattern of stagnation, high inflation, growing unemployment, and high external debts and borrowing.
Official source
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