Say it
Pacific
Islands
Monthly
Opinion
Say it again, Lange
THE passing of David Lange from Prime Minister to a position outside Cabinet brings to an end an exciting period of political leadership in the region. No other leader in the Pacinc had his wits. Few had his courage.
From encouraging social reforms in New Zealand to standing up for a nuclear-free Pacinc, Lange demonstrated a unique quality that was typi cally Pacific and politically courageous.
One of the hallmarks of his political leadership was his remarkable verbal quality. He will be remembered for some of the smartest political repartee in New Zealand’s political history. As he came under increasing pressure, his quick wit often became focused with devastating effect on bis political foes within his own party and against press gallery journalists.
On Labour backbencher Bill Sutton, who tried to force Lange into reinstating rival Roger Douglas into the cabinet: “A candidate for a brain transplant . . . they can’t find a compatible
On Opposition Leader Jim Bolger:
Mogadon Man” (after a popularly prescribed brand of sleeping; pill).
On the Pacific and travel: The Pacific is ill-named. It was named by a PR agency in my opinion, having been on it for the last week.”
On France and the bombing in Auckland harbour of the Greenpeace anti-nuclear ship Rainbow Warrior: “ . . . the French are never more intractable than when they are 100
percent wrong.”
On a visit to France’s nuclear test site at Moruroa Atoll by the French Prime Minister and Defence Minister; ... I notice the Prime Minister has a little more sense, he didn’t swim in the waters of Moruroa, but the Minister of Defence apparently took it upon himself to learn how to glow in the dark or something he was there. ”
On Anzus;
“A moron in a hurry could see that it wasn’t a security guarantee.”
On a backbencher Mr who predicted a United States dirty tricks cam paign over New Zealand’s anti-nuclear stance, including efforts to com promise MPs: / ve been waiting a month now to be compromised and all that hap pened was that Naomi [Lange’s wife] turned up.”
On NZ’s Security Intelligence Service: Intelligence gathering is not wearing a mackintosh, a dark hat and a false beard ana lurking through a drainpipe. Intelligence gathering is % 0 * n g to party and listening to what journalists say and report- On New Zealanders: ‘lt’s in the psyche of every New Zealander to think they can run a milkbar, even though the Mercantile Gazette proves not a heck of a lot of them are particularly good at it. ”
On himself: “Because the family’s young and the nature of the job is demanding it happens that most of the time I sleep in Wellington, Naomi, my wife, sleeps in Auckland, and when we sleep together the Deputy Prime Minis
ter rings up.” o