InvestigatePodcast

Key Questions May 24 08

National party leader John Key's May online interview with Investigate editor Ian Wishart.

Geoffrey Palmer's first move to challenge Lange

David Lange's leadership of the Labour Party became increasingly shaky in early 1989, when an unfortunate Time magazine cover had him frolicking in a pasture of daisies, and he hit the headlines over an ANZUS gaffe as well.

Deputy Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer, who had on every previous occasion pledged absolute unswerving loyalty to Lange publicly (although  behind the scenes his advisers were continually running the numbers for a challenge) slipped up during an interview with 89FM, choosing not to give his usual loyalty pledge.

Download palmerchal.mp3

Might Go Pop: Sir Robert Muldoon vs Lange

Sir Robert Muldoon goaded Labour Prime Minister David Lange into action one morning in 1989, when he said in an interview on 89FM that Lange's heart condition might be impacting on his job as Prime Minister.

Lange was so incensed he rang the radio station straight away to rebuke Muldoon. This is how it played out:

Download mightgopop.mp3