(b. Auckland, 25 Sept. 1921; d. 5 Aug. 1992) New Zealand; Prime Minister 1975 – 84 Muldoon was brought up by his mother and grandmother in frugal circumstances. He scarcely knew his father except as an invalid visited in hospital after a stroke early in Muldoon's life. Muldoon was educated at Mt. Albert Grammar School, Auckland, and trained and worked as a Chartered Accountant and a Cost Accountant. He was elected National Party member for Tamaki in 1960. Prime Minister Holyoake brought him into Cabinet as Minister for Finance in 1967.

From his first budget it was clear that Muldoon was in charge at the Treasury. His practice of adjusting the economy with mini-budgets not only allowed for changing conditions but brought him before the public. His capacity to use television to project himself with clear, direct answers soon made it obvious that he was very much part of the government. When he became leader of the Opposition in 1974 his unparalleled capacity for polarizing politics and for devastating criticism contributed to the Labour government's massive defeat in the 1975 elections.

Muldoon proved to be one of the most interventionist and most dominant Prime Ministers in New Zealand history. Holding both offices of Prime Minister and Minister for Finance gave him considerable power over all the other portfolios because he could approve or disapprove spending as he saw fit. His forceful personality was intimidating and Cabinet ministers had to buckle under or resign. Ironically, he introduced a programme of government regulation so comprehensive that his own National Party supporters, believers in private enterprise and free markets, began to question the government's policies. His bible was the election manifesto which was kept at hand for Cabinet meetings. If disagreement arose he would refer to it. He was perfectly clear that he had to stick to his election promises. The basis of his popular support was that people trusted him to keep his word.

Muldoon called a snap election in 1984 but the mood was for change and the Labour Party led by David Lange won. Muldoon remained a member of parliament but was not appointed to Cabinet when National Party leader Jim Bolger became Prime Minister after the defeat of Labour in the 1990 elections. He remained a truculent figure on the back bench and there were rumours of leadership challenges. In November 1991 he announced that he would quit politics in February 1992 in protest against the policies of the National government, at the same time denying that his intention had anything to do with his ailing health.

A Dictionary of Political Biography. Copyright © 1998, 2003 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.