A man of the people

MIKE’S LASTING LEGACY

- Julie Jacobson

Equally at home in them smoko room as he was in the boardroom or on the world stage, Mike Moore, who died last week aged 71, is being remembered as a passionate politician with a generous heart who would go in to bat for everyday people.

Born in Whakatane in 1949, Mike left school at 14, working as a labourer and a printer. He joined the Labour Party at 16 and became New Zealand’s youngest Member of Parliament when, at the age of just 23, he was elected MP for Mt Eden in 1972.

Three years later he married Yvonne Dereany, a teacher and children’s TV presenter who he often acknowledged made him not only a better person but a better politician and leader.

In 1978, Mike moved to Christchurch and was elected MP for Papanui, a seat he held for the rest of his parliamentary career. He went on to hold various portfolios including tourism, trade and foreign affairs before becoming Labour Party leader.

A member of the infamous group known as the “fish and chip brigade” or “B Team”, Mike’s big personality and confidence was seen as a potential saviour of the government when he was brought in as Prime Minister in the lead-up to the 1990 election. However, his reign in the Beehive was brief – just 59 days – with National winning in a landslide.