Sir Robert David Muldoon

Sir Robert David Muldoon 1921-92, New Zealand political leader, prime minister (1975-84). Originally a public accountant, he entered parliament in 1960 as a member of the conservative National party and served (1967-72) as finance minister. He was briefly (1972) deputy prime minister and from 1974 to 1975 was leader of the opposition. Muldoon led his party to victory in the 1975 elections and served in the dual positions of prime minister and finance minister. He attempted to spur economic growth through tax cuts, subsidies to industry, and other basically conservative measures, but growth proved slow and inflation and unemployment marked the years of his tenure. In the 1984 elections the National party lost to Labour, led by leader David Lange . Muldoon was knighted in 1984 and resigned from parliament in 1991.

Muldoon, Sir Robert (David) (1921–92) New Zealand statesman, Prime Minister (1975–84). He became a National Party MP in 1960, serving as deputy Prime Minister for a brief period in 1972 and as leader of the opposition from 1973 to 1974 before becoming Premier the following year. He was chairman of the board of governors for the IMF and World Bank (1979–80) and chairman of the ministerial council for the OECD (1982). His term of office was marked by domestic measures to tackle low economic growth and high inflation.

Muldoon, Sir Robert (b. 21 Sept. 1921, d. 5 Aug. 1992). Prime Minister of New Zealand 1975–84 Born in Auckland, he made his early career in accountancy, becoming president of the Institute of Cost Accountants in 1956. In 1960 he entered politics as a member of the National Party and was elected to the House of Representatives. Never received with enthusiasm, he commanded great respect and credibility, which were crucial assets given the economic crisis that had arisen from the Kirk government. This ensured he gained the party leadership in 1974, and victory in the 1975 general elections, when he became Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. His years in office were a difficult time for the New Zealand economy. Oil prices had risen steeply in 1973 and the traditional market in Britain for New Zealand farm and dairy produce was reduced by Britain's entry into the EEC. Muldoon tried to overcome these problems through state intervention, by introducing price controls and farm subsidies. His foreign policy reversed the anti-nuclear and anti-racist policies of his predecessors. In an attempt to revive ANZUS, he welcomed US warships in New Zealand even if they carried nuclear warheads. Declaring that sport and politics should be kept separate, he revived the sporting links with South Africa which had been broken by Kirk, despite calls by the ANC for a boycott.