1989 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election

New Zealand party leadership election April 2024 April 2022 1989 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election Labour L Logo.png legislative no 1988 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 1988 1990 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election 1990 8 August 1989 Caucus 150x150px Geoffrey Palmer DC241F 41 75.92% 150x150px Mike Moore DC241F 13 24.08% Leader Leader after election David Lange Geoffrey Palmer The 1989 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was held to determine the leadership of the New Zealand Labour Party. The leadership was won by Christchurch Central MP and incumbent deputy leader Geoffrey Palmer. Background David Lange had been leader of the Labour Party since 1983 and Prime Minister since 1984. Roger Douglas had been a key ally of Lange and was Minister of Finance in the Fourth Labour Government until growing divisions between Lange and Douglas over the Government's economic policy (Rogernomics) led to the latter's resignation from the Cabinet in December 1988. A week later, Douglas tried to replace Lange as Labour leader, but failed. Division in the Labour Party continued through 1989. According to Michael Cullen, the then Minister for Social Welfare, most of caucus wanted both Lange and Douglas in Cabinet with a peace deal.Michael Cullen 20 June 2021 Michael Cullen on the end of the Fourth Labour Government Stuff https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/books/300336241/michael-cullen-on-the-end-of-the-fourth-labour-government?rm=a 22 August 2021 On 3 August 1989, the caucus voted to return Douglas to the cabinet. In response, Lange resigned as leader, interpreting the caucus's support for Douglas as a sign of no-confidence in him.Franks McAloon 2016 223 Former Labour leader and Prime Minister Sir Wallace Rowling was saddened to hear of Lange's resignation. He felt the caucus made a significant error in re-electing Douglas to cabinet stating that the vote indicated caucus was "bent on its own political destruction."Steve Evans Bad news for Labour and NZ — Rowling The Dominion 8 August 1989 5 Candidates Mike Moore Moore was the Minister of Overseas Trade and one of the senior cabinet ministers in the government and was ranked third in Labour's caucus. He was a supporter of the Rogernomics reforms, albeit less radical. As a result, he was seen as a more acceptable alternative leader to both Douglas and his supporters as well as critics of Douglas. In the lead up to the vote Moore claimed he could only hope to beat Palmer if he had a "clear run" against him, leading Douglas to withdraw.Bassett 2008 509 Geoffrey Palmer Palmer was the Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Minister of Justice and Minister for the Environment. He stood for the leadership feeling a sense of duty to do so as Lange's deputy. His image with the populace was one of distance to the publicly resented Rogernomics policies and was instead associated with Labour's more popular policies such as environmentalism, electoral reform and the nuclear-free stance.Franks McAloon 2016 223 Many in the party, particularly the newer caucus members, hoped this would allow Labour's popularity to heal and rebrand the party along more positive lines.Bassett 2008 509 Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke backed Palmer for the leadership.Hawke picks Palmer as PM The Dominion 8 August 1989 3 Others David Caygill had been Minister of Finance since Lange sacked Douglas in 1988. He ruled out standing for Prime Minister saying it was "an appalling job" and that he was enjoying his current role as Finance Minister.https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19890808.2.10 Patrick Smellie Caygill not a contender The Press 8 August 1989 1 Former Minister of Finance Roger Douglas (who had previously challenged Lange for the leadership in 1988) also considered contesting the position. He later withdrew in favour of Moore upon realizing that he could not beat Palmer and concentrated on a bid for the deputy leadership. He lost this position to left-wing Health Minister Helen Clark by only a narrow margin.Bassett 2008 509 Public opinion polling DatePolling organisationSample sizeGeoffrey PalmerMike Moore19 December 198889FMPoll puts Moore clear favourite The Dominion 8 August 1989 3 20042.1%57.9% Result A caucus vote was held on 8 August 1989. The result of the ballot saw Geoffrey Palmer win the leadership over Mike Moore 41 votes to 13.Bassett 2008 509 The result for the deputy leadership was far less decisive, with Helen Clark defeating Roger Douglas 29 votes to 25.Bassett 2008 509 Leadership ballot CandidateVotes% Geoffrey Palmer 41 75.92 Mike Moore 13 24.08Majority 28 51.85Turnout 54 Deputy-leadership ballot CandidateVotes% Helen Clark 29 53.71 Roger Douglas 25 46.29Majority 4 7.40Turnout 54 Aftermath Palmer led Labour for the next fourteen months, though struggled to repair the party's damaged image. Palmer retained Moore as third in the cabinet rankings and also gave him the coveted position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in early 1990. After it became clear that Labour could not win the next election, Palmer was replaced as leader by Moore only two months before the 1990 general election. Having Moore as leader was believed by many in the Labour caucus to give it better success at the polls.Bassett 2008 536 Palmer then decided not to stand for election in 1990 and retired from politics, remaining as Minister for the Environment (outside cabinet) until the election before returning to his academic career. Notes 30em References Bassett Michael Michael Bassett Working with David: Inside the Lange Cabinet 2008 Hodder Moa Auckland 978-1-86971-094-1 Franks Peter McAloon Jim Labour: The New Zealand Labour Party 1916-2016 2016 Victoria University Press Wellington 978-1-77656-074-5 Lange David David Lange My Life 2005 Viking 0-670-04556-X Russell Marcia Marcia Russell Revolution: New Zealand from Fortress to Free Market Hodder Moa Beckett 1996 1869584287 Labour Party leadership 1989 Category:August 1989 in Oceania New Zealand Labour Party leadership election