Robert Muldoon

Robert Muldoon led the National Party to victory in the 1975 general election, defeating the Labour government. He became Prime Minister, a position he held for nine years, known for his confrontational style and populist policies.

Muldoon's government launched the 'Think Big' program, a series of large-scale industrial projects including synthetic fuel plants and steel mills. The projects aimed to reduce New Zealand's dependence on imported oil but incurred massive debt and were criticized as economically unsound.

Muldoon's government allowed the South African rugby team to tour New Zealand despite apartheid, sparking massive protests. The tour divided the country and led to widespread civil disobedience, with police clashing with protesters.

Muldoon imposed a comprehensive wage and price freeze to combat inflation. The freeze was initially popular but led to distortions in the economy and was eventually abandoned, contributing to his government's defeat in 1984.

Muldoon called a snap election in 1984, which his National Party lost to David Lange's Labour Party. The defeat ended his nine-year tenure as Prime Minister, and he later faced a constitutional crisis over the transition of power.