A tweet from Phil Goff was a reminder that today is the anniversary of the death of Norman Kirk, a much loved NZ Labour Prime Minister, who died suddenly at the age of 51 in 1974. “Big Norm” was the fifth New Zealand PM to die in office.
To quote Michael Bassett in the Dictionary of NZ Biography :
“New Zealanders awoke on the Sunday to the news that their Prime Minister was dead. There followed an outpouring of grief paralleled only by that which had followed M.J. Savage’s death in 1940. People who had been slow to embrace Kirk as a leader could not believe that he had been snatched away, seemingly in his prime. As the Labour Party slid towards defeat at the 1975 election, legends grew about the man who might have saved the country from Muldoon. Princes, prime ministers and potentates with whom Kirk had established friendships also mourned his passing; most thought him an extraordinary individual, and the “log cabin to White House” metaphor was on many lips.”
I’m old enough to remember his death, and was young enough at the time for his short tenure as PM to make a formative impact on my fledgling political views. Norman Kirk’s strong protest against French nuclear weapons testing in the Pacific Ocean, which led to the Labour Government taking France to the International Court of Justice in 1972 and his heroic act of sending two New Zealand navy frigates into the test zone area at Mururoa Atoll in 1973 to protest French testing made a big impact. Kirk also refused to allow a visit by a South African rugby team team, a decision he made because of the apartheid régime in South Africa – which was a forerunner to the 1981 Springbok Tour actions.
I strongly recall the sense that something good and promising with his election as a Labour Prime Minister had disappeared, followed soon after by the malevolent and all-pervading presence of Muldoon – which in its weird way was also transformative for my generation.
And of course, only a taste of what was to come.
A great Labour man
I reckon Norm would have sent a couple of frigates down to “observe” the Japanese whaling fleet too…
I joined the Labour Party after hearing Norm speak on the steps of the Wellington Library in 1972.
Now we know who to blame…
That’s cool Trev
And of course he was elected in 1972. Didn’t die until 1974.
Thanks Trevor
I think Muldoon would have had to wait another 3 years for his shot and we’d probably have had Compulsary Super all the way through if he hadn’t died – both would have been very good things…
It’s a pity alright
I heard Norm Kirk speak at University in the late sixties, worked in my Varsity holidays at Firestone in the boilerhouse where he had been a stationary engine driver and joined the NZLP in 1973, later to attend the Annual Conference where I remember him turning up, ill and losing weight.
He was much respected by his former work mates and I respected him very much for his clear and direct manner, his wide reading and for the fact that he withdrew New Zealand troops from Vietnam as he had promised this young anti-Vietnam activist.
He made being a New Zealander a matter of pride.
Kirk debated the Vietnam war with Holyoake at Victoria university theatre. It was a very serious joke that Holyoake was PM defending the American grab and that Kirk so easily demolished every argument Holyoake put forward.
Holyoake was so rattled that he made more mistakes as the night went on.
It appeared so tragic that NZ had this puppet justifying US aggression and our soldiers dying in support of it.
While the truth about Vietnam is an open book today , our newspapers published absolute rubbish to help the US lead propaganda while thousands of Vietnamese were slaughtered defending their county.
The pressure was on Kirk to comply but he had a stronger moral fibre than that.
The US company Hanna Barbera conducted the National Parties dancing cossacks TV campaign against the Labour party for Muldoon. A publication released a few months later showed Hanna Barbera’s political connection with a US so called security organisation we all know.
Kirk also instigated the superannuation scheme where a percentage of all wages were invested in a Govt controlled fund.
National fought this on behalf of Multinational finance. This was a chance for NZ to shake loose from the grip of overseas money but that was not allowed to be. Enough money was collected in a few months to be invested widely by the Govt. National as lapdogs to US demolished the scheme .
Clark and Cullen have revived a parallel scheme but learned not to upset the powerful finance sector by giving them a slice of the cake.
Kirk had enormous courage.
One can only imagine the benefits accrued for the country had the super scheme been allowed to continue. I recall Muldoon saying that the fund would become financially too powerfull and would hold sway over any future government decisions.
If only……
But, there definitely was something about Kirk that had appeal.
Just slightly off subject, the Firestone/Bridgeston plant in Papanui is being dismantled and sent to India.. Our company is hanling the job.
Khrist.
I know the people who took apart the Mosgiel F&P plant and shipped that across the world (was it Mexico and Indonesia?).
Aren’t we supposed to be becoming less reliant on primary production in this economy?
We also moved the South Pacific Tyres machinery to India and the USA from Wellington a couple of years ago.
We need a Government that is committed to providing real jobs, not just service work.
Before we know it we’ll all be either Caddies on the Golf Courses for wealthy tourists or serving coffee in a cafe somewhere !
Loota, the Firestone factory, which opened in 1948, was only ever a very small plant by world standards. Really it is a credit to the guys that worked there that it survived as long as it did. All the plant was obsolete hand me downs from overseas factories, but the standard of product turned out amazed visitors from much larger factories. I read once that the tyre industry worldwide, was bent on selling its product at the lowest possible price. This turned out to be true, and the Papanui plant was eventually killed by a lack of sufficient economy of scale. I worked for the company for 47 years, and was always proud of the Firestone name and product. I doubt that we will ever see tyre production in NZ again.
As oil gets progressively more expensive we will see more and more manufacturing relocating home as transport costs get prohibitive…
Expect to see many industries you thought gone forever returning over the next 30 years and prices for goods markedly increase…
Jeremy
Agreed
We will be penalised heavily for not investing at home now.
No protection is given to us from international operations stripping profit here and dismantling our capability to provide for ourselves.
It is all a short term grab while the public is kept numb with controlled press in the hands of international interests.
While off shore bankers control the country interests of NZ long term as the last consideration.
Keys mates – no will or courage there but compliance and collaboration.
The grab by rich to insulate themselves from the impending changes is stripping our chances of avoiding massive negative consequences. The inequity slide at present will be just a taste of what is to come.
Desperate times will bring breakdown of our way of life on a scale unseen to date.
Export is not our answer. Some of the foodstuffs we send off sure using several times the energy contained in the food to transport it. A no brainer long term.
John W wrote,
“The grab by rich to insulate themselves from the impending changes is stripping our chances of avoiding massive negative consequences. The inequity slide at present will be just a taste of what is to come.
Desperate times will bring breakdown of our way of life on a scale unseen to date.”
Never a truer word spoken, perhaps even a complete breakdown of society as we know it. (maybe that’s what is needed)
Thanks, peter and Richard for the Firestone news.
I remember being told that the tube extruder dated back to the 1920s, and that was in the late 60′s.
The men there worked very hard- good money on bonuses- but they worked in hot conditions and supported each other. I worked as a cleaner as well as a coal trimmer and the heat was such, along with the carbon black, that I drank three and a half pints of milk regularly per shift along with drinking water. The milk also helped reduce the problem of carbon black absorption. My shirts were black at the cuffs and collars for weeks after finishing holiday work seasons.
I learned about how strong and good unionism could be. I worked with remarkable men- war heroes, men with stories. I learnt something of the dignity of labour.
Firestone I remember fondly as a place to learn some good values- unionism, democracy, hard work, responsibility to work and fellow workers.
Yep, Norm was the last Prime Minister of this country that one could be genuinely proud of without having to make qualifications. I remember the silence around the city (Orcland) when his passing was announced. And without delving into conspiracy his medical care was definitely lacking. I thought too at the time of the Ady Gil ramming as alluded to by JMH above, that Big Norm would not have put up with that!
Great memories and contributions – very special and thanks.
That’s what Labour needs. A Kirk-esque kind of leader. Phil’s to the right. Btw I joined the Labour Party after the 2008 election. I came to the realisation that I had to take on the National Party, and the only way I could do that is through Labour.
What proof do you have that Phil is to the right?
He seems to have very Labour values to me! 
He was one of the biggest supporters of Rogernomics in the 80s Spud, which started when I was 1 and you were but a bit of nutter butter…
But the “left” left, i.e. the proper left haven’t trusted him ever since…
“started when I was 1 and you were but a bit of nutter butter” Shudder
Yes he was and I’m not impressed with that
But time has moved on and I’m sure he has learned from his mistakes and is about twice as old. He and Roger are hardly buddies now are they. 
Phil is very against the sale of state assets now and I believe its sincere 
!!!!!!!!
Where are our leaders today?
“Where are our leaders today?” Probably the same place as my comment disappeared to, Spamsville
Labour MPs need to roll Phil and get on with it now. They can’t underestimate the voting public on this. And Labourites stop blaming the media; and National and whoever else isn’t flavour of the month. Only Labour MPs can sort this out. And they’re not!!
Martin, it’s not going to happen and stirring this up again achieves nothing. I’m personally supporting Phil all the way
Yeah like this tactic worked so well for Labor we should repeat it over here
Loota, Labour’s in Opposition. It’s not the same thing. And yes Spud, you’re right. It’s not going to happen because the MPs are in isolation.
He’s a good leader
The Labour Parliamentary lot lost their way in the Lange led Douglas, de Cleene, Moore. Prebble, Cagill. Michael Bassett supported swing to do the work of the ultra right.
National would not have dared to forge the shackle that Douglas successfully placed around the NZ neck. The effect of that still runs deep in our service industries, union structure and working conditions, bloated finance sector, imbalance of trade and growing inequity.
Anderton stood solid against the heist. Clark resisted but kept her role clean.
Labour was and has been since without its roots since. The public has forgotten what Labour was about prior the fiasco of the mid 80s.
There is plenty of ammunition to throw at Nact but Labour will have to be bold and look at the issues Nact is ignoring. That means Labour will have to change its thinking from a right centralist position and educate the people as to where it need to go.
Defending Labour’s past role is a weak position to adopt as much of the difference with National is slight and some subtle, though important.
The differences are not clear enough and a few promises, greasy smiles, lies and press backing gives nact the edge.
It is a well managed and deeply resourced program of public deception.
Phil is a nice guy but so was Rolling. He is going to need a bit more force and TAKE over the moral high ground with strong party backing to reassure the public.
Long term the economy may not recover to meet the Nact hollow promises. Some thing more solid than hand ups for big money and top down view of the future in the hands of the private sector, is needed to bring balance within the community.
Trevor is a respected bulldog and Labour needs more voices to back Phil. Where are the radicals for the people that Phil should have to keep in check baying for change.
Labour stays confined within a centralist pathway paying lip service to the needy in the public eyes.
Vision for the future is needed. It is unlikely the future will be more of the same. There is a wide slate to plan on shifting NZ control onshore.
Norm Kirk took those steps and against international opposition; for NZ
“Trevor is a respected bulldog” – You know what they say about dogs, they sure are loyal
Excellent post John W. Labour needs to drop the centrist stuff that is reminiscent of Rogernomics and just go straight-left. Realistically Labour’s going to have to go left after this lot screw everything up. Right now I don’t think New Zealanders realise what could happen under this government ie the selling of our state assets.
It seems ironic that Labour started the New Right policies in New Zealand, and that at the time a major opponent to them was Muldoon, a former National Prime Minister.
Agree with some of the posters here; being Left and being Progressive does not and should not mean a little bit more Left and a little bit more Progressive than National.