What do you think?
Rate this book
The Mighty Totara: The Life and Times of Norman Kirk
As Norman Kirk's body lay in state near the steps of Parliament on the day after his death on 31 August 1974, a kaumatua wailed ‘the mighty totara has fallen'. The lament reflected what many New Zealanders felt about this big, commanding and loved leader, dead at just 51. More than 30,000 people filed past Kirk's casket over two days, and again in Christchurch, in a commemoration that matched only Michael Joseph Savage's for emotional power.
Both men died in office, both men were humanitarians. Kirk also worked to move the Labour Party away from its cloth-cap heritage to embrace a much broader electoral compass, for it to become, in his words, ‘the natural party of New Zealand'. Prime Minister of New Zealand between November 1972 and August 1974, Kirk's childhood was blighted with poverty, yet he thrived. He moved into a succession of manual trades, before booming into local body politics. His political rise was rapid, from mayor of Kaiapoi at the age of 30 to leader of the Labour Party within a few years.
This book examines Kirk's political leadership; his successes, especially his stunning performances on the international stage, but also his later difficulties when the country's economy was rocked by international oil shocks. He deferred the 1973 Springbok tour and sent warships into the French nuclear testing zone near Mururoa Atoll, his government set up ohu and the established the DPB. He was New Zealand's first truly regionalist Prime Minister, drawing New Zealand closer to Asia and the Pacific, as the ties to ‘mother Britain' slowly loosened.
This landmark book takes the full measure of the remarkable New Zealander who was our last working-class Prime Minister.
Both men died in office, both men were humanitarians. Kirk also worked to move the Labour Party away from its cloth-cap heritage to embrace a much broader electoral compass, for it to become, in his words, ‘the natural party of New Zealand'. Prime Minister of New Zealand between November 1972 and August 1974, Kirk's childhood was blighted with poverty, yet he thrived. He moved into a succession of manual trades, before booming into local body politics. His political rise was rapid, from mayor of Kaiapoi at the age of 30 to leader of the Labour Party within a few years.
This book examines Kirk's political leadership; his successes, especially his stunning performances on the international stage, but also his later difficulties when the country's economy was rocked by international oil shocks. He deferred the 1973 Springbok tour and sent warships into the French nuclear testing zone near Mururoa Atoll, his government set up ohu and the established the DPB. He was New Zealand's first truly regionalist Prime Minister, drawing New Zealand closer to Asia and the Pacific, as the ties to ‘mother Britain' slowly loosened.
This landmark book takes the full measure of the remarkable New Zealander who was our last working-class Prime Minister.
- GenresNonfictionHistory
512 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2014
6 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
David Grant
6 books5 followersDavid Grant is a Wellington historian and author with a background in journalism and teaching. In 1999 he was awarded Victoria University's JD Stout Research Fellowship in New Zealand cultural studies. He reviews for New Zealand Books, and is a guest lecturer in history at Victoria University. As well as contributing to a wide range of anthologies, dictionaries, encyclopaedias, journals and magazines, he did background research for the TV series One People: Our Century.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 25, 2014
Well written and interesting I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. It goes into far more detail than earlier biographies of Kirk. While Kirk had a short time as Prime Minister and took controversial stands on some social issues like abortion he made a profound difference to New Zealand in particular foreign policy and David Grant has done a good job detailing his exploits.
November 23, 2020
Excellently researched and written.
Recommended - indeed a must - for all NZ political science students and others interested in NZ history.
A thoroughly informative read.
Recommended - indeed a must - for all NZ political science students and others interested in NZ history.
A thoroughly informative read.
March 21, 2015
Superb and comprehensive biography of Kirk's short but frenetic life, beginning with the hardship of his early years, through a variety of jobs into politics and ultimately as NZ's Prime Minister. He was the driving force behind many ground-breaking initiatives (withdrawal of troops from Vietman, opposition to French nuclear testing, dealing with the oil crisis, and improving trade with Asia and South America as Britain entered the Common Market) and becoming a respected voice in the international arena, all without a formal secondary education. For anyone who grew up in the baby boomer era, this is an indispensible guide to this time in New Zealand's history. Compelling read, very thoroughly researched.
October 4, 2015
Interesting insight into one of NZ's best and sadly short-lived Prime Ministers. Provides a very detailed look at Kirk's background and rise to political prominence. Grant includes discussions of all Kirk's major policy decisions, his values (a fascinating mix of socially progressive and morally conservative), as well as his personal life and causes of the poor health which cut short his time in power. A great read about a formative figure and period of NZ history.
January 7, 2015
I enjoyed it - a good book - which was about the man, and the political spectrum of the times.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews