1986 New Zealand National Party leadership election

April 2024 March 2017 none 1986 New Zealand National Party leadership election presidential no New Zealand National Party logo (1970s variant).svg 1984 New Zealand National Party leadership election 1984 1997 New Zealand National Party leadership election 1997 26 March 1986 150x150px Jim Bolger 00529F 25 65.78% 150x150px Jim McLay 00529F 13 34.22% Leader Leader after election Jim McLay Jim Bolger The New Zealand National Party leadership election was an election for the National leadership position in 1986. Background The National Party, led by Robert Muldoon, had lost the 14 July 1984 general election to the New Zealand Labour Party in a landslide. In November 1984, Muldoon was challenged for the party leadership by four candidates; Jim McLay and Jim Bolger were the two main challengers and McLay was successful, taking leadership from 29 November 1984. McLay offered Muldoon the role of Overseas Trade spokesperson, ranked at number ten of the caucus and the same post that Keith Holyoake had held after he had stepped down as National's leader. Barry Gustafson, the biographer of Muldoon and the author of the National Party's history The first 50 years, believes that had Muldoon accepted, National would have avoided the difficulties that it faced in 1985.Gustafson 1986 159 As it was, McLay struggled to get much traction with the media, while Muldoon was seen as the go-to person, all the while criticising the leadership.Gustafson 1986 159–62 In November 1985, McLay demoted Muldoon to the bottom rank in caucus,Gustafson Barry 6m1 Muldoon, Robert David 27 August 2013 Barry Gustafson and Muldoon-supporter Merv Wellington to the second-lowest rank.Gustafson 1986 162 Muldoon then openly challenged McLay and called for his removal.Gustafson 1986 162 When Muldoon was asked whether he was going to be a thorn in National's side, he famously replied: "No, just a little prick."Soper Barry Barry Soper Barry Soper: Politics is a numbers game http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11498406 20 March 2017 The New Zealand Herald 17 August 2015Editorial: Moore opens cracks in Labour edifice http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/comment/editorials/40306/Editorial-Moore-opens-cracks-in-Labour-edifice 20 March 2017 The Dominion Post 2 September 2007 An upcoming leadership challenge before year's end was discussed by the media, and lists of supporters of McLay and his possible successor, Bolger, were printed. The issue came to a head when at the 5 December 1985 caucus meeting, McLay asked three times whether anybody wanted to add anything to the agenda, including the question of leadership. Nobody did, and those caucus members who had stirred the media were reprimanded.Gustafson 1986 159–64 McLay moved his front bench around in February 1986. Some of his supporters (such as Michael Cox and Ruth Richardson) were promoted, whilst George Gair and Bill Birch were demoted.Garnier, Tony Muldoon main loser in Nat line-up 11 February 1986 The Evening Post 3 Gair had made it known in December that he would like to become deputy to Bolger if the challenge had been successful, and Birch was an admirer of Muldoon and a close friend of Bolger.Gustafson 1986 164 Following their demotion, Gair and Birch contacted most of the 38 caucus members for their support of Bolger, and they obtained the signatures of 25 members under a letter. Together with the chief whip, Don McKinnon, they presented the letter to McLay on Wednesday, 26 March 1986. A caucus meeting was hastily arranged for later that morning. Ruth Richardson cancelled a meeting in Auckland and flew back to Wellington. Simon Upton was in the South Island and although the police got involved, he could not be located.Gustafson 1986 164 Result The following table gives the voting results: NameVotesPercentageJim Bolger2565.78%Jim McLay1334.22% Aftermath Shadow Cabinet of Jim Bolger Bolger received a clear majority at the caucus meeting,Gustafson 1986 164 with the support of Muldoon and his supporters. In return, Bolger promoted Muldoon to the front bench, and the former prime minister became National's spokesperson for foreign affairs.Jim Bolger https://nzhistory.govt.nz/people/jim-bolger Ministry for Culture and Heritage 20 March 2017 22 August 2014 Gair was elected deputy leader at the meeting in preference to Ruth Richardson.Gustafson 1986 164 Gair's majority was stated to have been decisive. Winston Peters was also nominated for deputy, but declined nomination.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19860327.2.6 Patricia Herbert Mr McLay fought to last ditch 27 March 1986 The Press 1 Coincidentally National announced a merger with the New Zealand Party the same day which was overshadowed in the media by news of the leadership change.Clifton, Jane NZ Party joins forces with Nats 27 March 1986 The Dominion 1 National lost the 1987 election, but Bolger remained leader and became Prime Minister when the party won in 1990. Notes References Gustafson Barry Barry Gustafson The First 50 Years : A History of the New Zealand National Party 1986 Reed Methuen Auckland 0-474-00177-6 Category:1986 elections in New Zealand 1986 New Zealand National Party leadership election Category:March 1986 in Oceania