1965 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election

New Zealand party leadership election

1965 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election

* * *

| <- 1963 | 9 December 1965 | 1974 ->

|
|

|  |  |

|
|

Candidate  | Norman Kirk | Arnold Nordmeyer
Popular vote  | 25 | 10
Percentage  | 71.42% | 28.58%

* * *

| Leader before election

Arnold Nordmeyer

| Leader after election

Norman Kirk

|

The 1965 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was held on 9 December 1965 to determine the future leadership of the New Zealand Labour Party. The election was won by Lyttelton MP Norman Kirk.

## Background[edit]

After Walter Nash retired as leader in 1963 Arnold Nordmeyer became Labour's sixth leader despite holding considerable public blame for Labour's loss of support after the Black Budget of 1958.[1] The memory of the "Black Budget" still plagued Nordmeyer's profile and many within the party believed that it was time for a fresh start. Many MPs in Labour felt Nordmeyer was unelectable as his previous performance as Minister of Finance represented a 'tax and hope' image which the party was keen to rectify. In early 1964 Kirk spoke to Nordmeyer to see if he intended to continue as party leader. Nordmeyer stated he did and was confident he would win the 1966 election and would appoint Kirk Minister of Industries and Commerce in the event of a Labour victory. Kirk thought this hypothetical posting to be insufficient and set his sights on the leadership, despite (according to Nordmeyer) promising he would not.[2] Some colleagues such as Henry May thought it best for Kirk to wait until after the 1966 election, believing Labour would lose regardless of who was leader.[3] Kirk ignored such advice and, as party president, strategically allowed full television coverage of the party's 1965 annual conference. It was the first occasion a political conference was televised and Kirk took full advantage and presented himself well on camera and made impressive speeches including deliberately straying in his 'state of the party' address to speak on foreign affairs and declare reasons why New Zealand should avoid participating in the Vietnam War.[4]

A group of younger Labour MPs formed a group who became dedicated to replace Nordmeyer with Kirk, becoming known as the "Mafia". The main supporters of Kirk were Bill Fox, Warren Freer and Mick Moohan who promoted him to others at gatherings. Moohan attempted to win over the President of the New Zealand Federation of Labour Tom Skinner, who was unconvinced. Skinner respected rather than liked Nordmeyer but thought a challenge being the end of his leadership was less dignified than he deserved and refused to help Kirk.[5] Freer, who supported Kirk but also felt affinity for Nordmeyer, asked his friend Phil Holloway (a Labour MP from 1954 to 1960) to inform Nordmeyer of Kirk's level of support. Freer hoped that if Nordmeyer was aware of the numbers he would not contest the leadership and save himself embarrassment. At a dinner with the Nordmeyers, Holloway informed them of the state of caucus loyalties. Nordmeyer was shocked to hear of Kirk's support but his wife, Frances, was cynical of the news and dismissed the information and assured that her husband had the numbers to win.[6]

By mid-1965 media were openly speculating a challenge for the leadership by Kirk.[7] In October Nordmeyer stated that a caucus meeting would be held in the second week of December to "provide an opportunity for discussing and voting on the leadership and deputy leadership" of the party.[8]

## Candidates[edit]

### Arnold Nordmeyer[edit]

Nordmeyer had led Labour since Nash's retirement nearly three years earlier. He led them in the 1963 election where Labour's vote increased slightly, but still did not perform well enough to win office. Some within Labour's caucus were of the opinion that Nordmeyer was too distant and out of touch with his colleagues and vice versa.[9] Nordmeyer was credited for holding Labour factions together under his leadership with a closer liaison between the Labour movement's political and industrial wings, but the election loss and memory of the 1958 Budget counted against him.[10]

### Norman Kirk[edit]

Kirk first entered parliament in 1957. Gradually, he began to rise through Labour's internal hierarchy, becoming vice-president of the Party in 1963 and president in 1964.[11] As president Kirk made a point of visiting the Labour Representation Committee in every electorate in the country and was apparently received very well.[7] Other MPs often saw Kirk as a champion for ordinary New Zealanders via his working-class background at a time when ordinary voters saw many other politicians, such as Nordmeyer, out-of-touch and aloof.[11] Kirk was seen as lacking in administrative experience as he was a backbencher in the previous Labour government and had not been a cabinet minister.[10]

## Result[edit]

A caucus vote was held on 9 December 1965 where Nordmeyer was defeated by Kirk 25 votes to 10.[1] Nordmeyer's deputy leader, Hugh Watt, retained his position despite the change in leadership receiving 24 votes against a combined total of 10 votes for the other two nominees.[12]

### Leadership ballot[edit]

Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

| Norman Kirk | 25 | 71.42
| Arnold Nordmeyer | 10  | 28.58
Majority | 15  | 42.85
Turnout | 35  | —

### Deputy-leadership ballot[edit]

Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|

| Hugh Watt | 24 | 70.58
| Arthur Faulkner | 8  | 23.52
| Norman Douglas | 2  | 5.88
Majority | 16  | 47.05
Turnout | 34  | —

## How each MP voted[edit]

A list of each MP's vote.[13][14]

MP | Leader Vote

|

Phil Amos | Kirk
Basil Arthur | Kirk
Ron Bailey | Kirk
Paddy Blanchfield | Kirk
Mick Connelly | Nordmeyer
Norman Douglas | Kirk
Jim Edwards | Nordmeyer
Arthur Faulkner | Kirk
Bill Fraser | Kirk
Warren Freer | Kirk
Martyn Finlay | Kirk
Bill Fox | Kirk
Mabel Howard | Kirk
Norman King | Kirk
Norman Kirk | Kirk
Ethel McMillan | Nordmeyer
Brian MacDonell | Kirk
Ritchie Macdonald | Kirk
Robert Macfarlane | Nordmeyer
Rex Mason | Nordmeyer
Jock Mathison | Nordmeyer
Henry May | Nordmeyer
Mick Moohan | Kirk
Colin Moyle | Kirk
Walter Nash | Kirk
Arnold Nordmeyer | Nordmeyer
Bill Rowling | Nordmeyer
Matiu Rata | Kirk
Iriaka Ratana | Kirk
George Spooner | Kirk
Eruera Tirikatene | Kirk
Bob Tizard | Kirk
Steve Watene | Kirk
Hugh Watt | Kirk
Stan Whitehead | Nordmeyer

## Aftermath[edit]

See also: Shadow Cabinet of Norman Kirk

Kirk's new enthusiastic leadership brought about a gradual rejuvenation in Labour's popularity. He suffered narrow election losses in 1966 and 1969 elections before finally winning office and becoming Prime Minister in 1972 election. Nordmeyer remained in Parliament for another four years, moving to the backbenches and becoming an elder statesman of the party. He retired at the 1969 election.[1]

## Notes[edit]

1. ^ a b c Brown, Bruce. "Nordmeyer, Arnold Henry". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
2. ^ Grant 2014, p. 78.
3. ^ Grant 2014, pp. 78–9.
4. ^ Grant 2014, p. 79.
5. ^ Grant 2014, p. 80.
6. ^ Freer 2004, pp. 136–7.
7. ^ a b "Speculation On Party Leadership". The Press. Vol. CIV, no. 30801\. 13 July 1965. p. 1.
8. ^ "Leadership Talks". The Press. Vol. CIV, no. 30889\. 23 October 1965. p. 23.
9. ^ Hayward 1981, p. 56.
10. ^ a b "Choosing Leader Today". The Press. Vol. CIV, no. 30929\. 9 December 1965. p. 1.
11. ^ a b Bassett, Michael. "Kirk, Norman Eric". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
12. ^ Grant 2014, p. 85.
13. ^ Freer 2004, p. 137.
14. ^ Grant 2014, p. 84.

## References[edit]

* Grant, David (2014). The Mighty Totara: The life and times of Norman Kirk. Auckland: Random House. ISBN 9781775535799.
* Hayward, Margaret (1981). Diary of the Kirk Years. Auckland: Reed Publishing. ISBN 0589013505.
* Freer, Warren (2004). A Lifetime in Politics: the memoirs of Warren Freer. Wellington: Victoria University Press. ISBN 0-86473-478-6.
* Logan, Mary (2008) [First ed. published 2008]. Nordy, Arnold Nordmeyer a political biography (1 ed.). Wellington: Steele Roberts Publishers. ISBN 978-1-877448-33-1.

* v
* t
* e

New Zealand Labour Party

Leadership

| Leaders
Names in bold served
as prime minister|

* Alfred Hindmarsh (1916–18)
* Harry Holland (1919–33)
* Michael Joseph Savage (1933–40)
* Peter Fraser (1940–50)
* Walter Nash (1950–63)
* Arnold Nordmeyer (1963–65)
* Norman Kirk (1965–74)
* Bill Rowling (1974–83)
* David Lange (1983–89)
* Geoffrey Palmer (1989–90)
* Mike Moore (1990–93)
* Helen Clark (1993–2008)
* Phil Goff (2008–11)
* David Shearer (2011–13)
* David Cunliffe (2013–14)
* Andrew Little (2014–17)
* Jacinda Ardern (2017–23)
* Chris Hipkins (2023–present)

* * *

|

Deputy leaders|

* James McCombs (1919–23)
* Michael Joseph Savage (1923–33)
* Peter Fraser (1933–40)
* Walter Nash (1940–51)
* Jerry Skinner (1951–62)
* Fred Hackett (1962–63)
* Hugh Watt (1963–74)
* Bob Tizard (1974–79)
* David Lange (1979–83)
* Geoffrey Palmer (1983–89)
* Helen Clark (1989–93)
* David Caygill (1993–96)
* Michael Cullen (1996–2008)
* Annette King (2008–11)
* Grant Robertson (2011–13)
* David Parker (2013–14)
* Annette King (2014–17)
* Jacinda Ardern (2017)
* Kelvin Davis (2017–23)
* Carmel Sepuloni (2023–present)

* * *

Leadership elections|

* 1919
* 1920
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* 1922
* 1923
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* 1983
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Internal offices

| Party presidents|

* James McCombs (1916–17)
* Andrew Walker (1917–18)
* Tom Paul (1918–20)
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* Frederick Cooke (1921–22)
* Tom Brindle (1922–26)
* Bob Semple (1926–28)
* John Archer (1928–29)
* Jim Thorn (1929–31)
* Rex Mason (1931–32)
* Bill Jordan (1932–33)
* Frank Langstone (1933–34)
* Tim Armstrong (1934–35)
* Walter Nash (1935–36)
* Clyde Carr (1936–37)
* James Roberts (1937–50)
* Arnold Nordmeyer (1950–55)
* Mick Moohan (1955–60)
* Martyn Finlay (1960–64)
* Norman Kirk (1964–66)
* Norman Douglas (1966–70)
* Bill Rowling (1970–73)
* Charles Bennett (1973–76)
* Arthur Faulkner (1976–79)
* Jim Anderton (1979–84)
* Margaret Wilson (1984–87)
* Rex Jones (1987–88)
* Ruth Dyson (1988–93)
* Maryan Street (1993–95)
* Michael Hirschfeld (1995–99)
* Bob Harvey (1999–2000)
* Mike Williams (2000–09)
* Andrew Little (2009–11)
* Moira Coatsworth (2011–15)
* Nigel Haworth (2015–19)
* Claire Szabó (2019–22)
* Jill Day (2022–present)

* * *

|

General secretaries|

* John Glover (1916–19)
* Michael Joseph Savage (1919–20)
* Moses Ayrton (1920–22)
* Walter Nash (1922–32)
* Jim Thorn (1932–36)
* David Wilson (1936–40)
* Mick Moohan (1940–48)
* Allan McDonald (1948–71)
* John Wybrow (1971–85)
* Tony Timms (1985–95)
* Rob Allen (1995–2000)
* Mike Smith (2001–08)
* Chris Flatt (2008–12)
* Tim Barnett (2012–16)
* Andrew Kirton (2016–18)
* Andre Anderson (2018–20)
* Rob Salmond (2020–present)

* * *

Senior Whips|

* Andrew Walker (1916–19)
* James McCombs (1919–22)
* Dan Sullivan (1922–35)
* Bill Jordan (1935–36)
* Robert McKeen (1937–39)
* James O'Brien (1939–42)
* Arthur Shapton Richards (1942–47)
* Robert Macfarlane (1947–51)
* Phil Connolly (1951–52)
* Joe Cotterill (1952–58)
* Henry May (1958–72)
* Ron Barclay (1972–76)
* Roger Drayton (1976–78)
* Russell Marshall (1978–80)
* Jonathan Hunt (1980–84)
* Michael Cullen (1984–87)
* Margaret Austin (1987–90)
* Trevor Mallard (1990)
* Jonathan Hunt (1990–96)
* Mark Burton (1996–99)
* Rick Barker (1999–2002)
* David Benson-Pope (2002–04)
* Jill Pettis (2004–05)
* Tim Barnett (2005–08)
* Darren Hughes (2008–11)
* Rick Barker (2011)
* Chris Hipkins (2011–13)
* Sue Moroney (2013–14)
* Chris Hipkins (2014–16)
* Kris Faafoi (2016–17)
* Ruth Dyson (2017–19)
* Michael Wood (2019–20)
* Kieran McAnulty (2020–22)
* Duncan Webb (2022–23)
* Tangi Utikere (2023–present)

Organisation

| Current members
of parliament
Names without
electorates are list MPs
(List of former MPs)|

* Leader: Chris Hipkins (Remutaka)
* Deputy Leader: Carmel Sepuloni (Kelston)

* Ginny Andersen
* Camilla Belich
* Glen Bennett
* Rachel Boyack (Nelson)
* Rachel Brooking (Dunedin)
* Reuben Davidson (Christchurch East)
* Barbara Edmonds (Mana)
* Shanan Halbert
* Peeni Henare
* Willie Jackson
* Ingrid Leary (Taieri)
* Jo Luxton
* Kieran McAnulty
* Tracey McLellan
* Damien O'Connor
* Greg O'Connor (Ōhāriu)
* David Parker
* Willow-Jean Prime
* Priyanca Radhakrishnan
* Adrian Rurawhe
* Deborah Russell
* Jenny Salesa (Panmure-Ōtāhuhu)
* Lemauga Lydia Sosene (Māngere)
* Cushla Tangaere-Manuel (Ikaroa-Rāwhiti)
* Jan Tinetti
* Phil Twyford (Te Atatū)
* Tangi Utikere (Palmerston North)
* Ayesha Verrall
* Duncan Webb (Christchurch Central)
* Helen White (Mount Albert)
* Arena Williams (Manurewa)
* Megan Woods (Wigram)

* * *

|

Related organisations|

* City Vision
* The People's Choice
* Princes Street Labour
* Rainbow Labour
* Rātana
* VicLabour
* Young Labour

History

| History and related topics|

* Liberal–Labour
* Labour Unity Conferences
* Lee affair
* Black Budget
* Mason Affair
* It's Time
* Citizens for Rowling
* Moyle Affair
* Fish and Chip Brigade
* Rogernomics
* Māori loan affair
* Backbone club
* Closing the Gaps
* Helengrad
* Corngate
* Foreshore and seabed controversy
* KiwiSaver

* * *

|

Labour governments|

* First (1935–49)
* Second (1957–60)
* Third (1972–75)
* Fourth (1984–90)
* Fifth (1999–2008)
* Sixth (2017–23)

* * *

Shadow cabinets|

* Kirk
* Rowling
* Lange
* Moore
* Clark
* Goff
* Shearer
* Cunliffe
* Little
* Ardern
* Hipkins

* * *

Predecessor parties|

* New Zealand Liberal Party
* New Zealand Socialist Party
* Independent Political Labour League
* New Zealand Labour Party (1910)
* United Labour Party
* Social Democratic Party

* v
* t
* e

Norman Kirk

6 January 1923 – 31 August 1974
Prime Minister of New Zealand (1972–74) • Leader of the Labour Party (1965–74) • Leader of the Opposition (1965–72)

Premiership|

* 1972–74

General elections|

* 1966
* 1969
* 1972

Constituencies|

* Lyttelton (1957-69)
* Sydenham (1969-74)

Family|

* Dame Ruth Kirk (wife)
* John Kirk (son)
* Jo Luxton (great-niece)

Related articles|

* Electoral History
* 1965 leadership election
* Shadow Cabinet
* Mason Affair
* It's Time
* Save Manapouri campaign
* Death and funeral
* Norman Kirk Park

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