320:. Douglas was its first president. He proposed a compact with the government whereby wage increases were limited to two percent plus further increases linked to productivity. Many trade unionists felt that this signalled he had sold out to business interests. He was also blamed by many for not leading a general strike against the Employment Contracts Act 1991, which gutted the power of the trade union movement. Douglas held the CTU presidency until he retired from the role in 1999.
387:
ambassador to New
Zealand for allegedly providing funds to the Socialist Unity Party. In an interview in the 2000s, Douglas said of Muldoon, "while he had this public persona of being antagonistic, whenever we met he was very polite and he gave me the respect my position as secretary of the Federation of Labour deserved."
386:
regularly railed against what he saw as the dangerous influence of communists and trade unions, and there were public marches against these groups. Muldoon saw
Douglas as a malign influence in the union movement and often sought to discredit him as a Soviet puppet. In 1980 Muldoon expelled the Soviet
301:
After starting work as a truck driver, his father who was also a truck driver insisted
Douglas attend a meeting of the Wellington Drivers' Union. In about a year, he was on its executive, and when we was 23 he was elected its president, the youngest president of any trade union in New Zealand
40:
379:'s regime. However, Russel Hunter, a general manager of NZ Freighters, said of Douglas as a union representative, "regardless of his political interests... he talked you about the case that was on the table... and got the best for his people".
1555:
1550:
1545:
292:
He married Lesley Winter in 1956, and they had four children. They divorced in 1986. Douglas said in a 2000s interview that he was "wasn't a particularly faithful husband on a couple of occasions" which he regretted.
340:
339:
Early in his career, Douglas was anti-communist. He was influenced by communists in the labour movement, and joined the
Communist Party in 1960. He said that the decision to join came from the
273:
a
Catholic, and his family also included a younger sister, Terree. When Douglas was six, Maj left the family and he and Terree went to be raised by Atty's parents. He received his education at
1540:
517:
paid tribute to
Douglas, saying that "he never wavered from his support of working people and commitment to their rights and successes". Acting Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety
1530:
1535:
758:
382:
Douglas was one of the few publicly declared members of the
Socialist Unity Party in the 1970s and 1980s, and was at the forefront of publicly defending the party. Prime Minister
368:
375:. He continued to visit various communist countries, being invited to the Soviet Union, East Germany, and Cuba, through the 1970s and 1980s. Douglas supported and defended
324:
363:, and faced constant accusations that he was a militant communist seeking to overthrow the country. When the Communist Party split in two in 1963, he went with the
1060:
1560:
328:
684:
457:
372:
1368:
1171:
940:
1520:
1429:
364:
323:
He also played a prominent role in the global union movement with roles as president of both the Asia-Pacific
Regional Organisation of the
189:
1348:
995:
726:
487:
437:
390:
Because of his political beliefs, Douglas's wife and children received abusive phone calls and death threats. According to
Douglas, the
317:
55:
899:
309:. In this role, many unions asked him to negotiate with employers on their behalf. In 1988, Knox retired and Douglas became president.
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491:
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29:
1525:
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961:
818:
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859:
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1409:
538:
449:
402:
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97:
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460:, sitting from 2001 to 2010, and was its chair. He was the president of the Titahi Bay Golf Club, and champion golfer
425:
1353:
1150:
811:
New
Zealand Parliamentary Election Results 1946–1987: Occasional Publications No 1, Department of Political Science
1005:
90:
1313:
1298:
1130:
398:
391:
453:
904:
518:
480:
660:
274:
1510:
1505:
1120:
1069:
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834:
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877:
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503:
305:
Douglas was the secretary of the Federation of Labour from 1979 to 1988, serving with president
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1201:
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957:
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814:
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history. He negotiated on behalf of workers with companies for those workers' pay and rights.
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set up a group to phone his house every half hour every weekend to abuse whoever answered.
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described Douglas as a mentor. He was also a Porirua Licensing trustee from 2001 to 2007.
441:
1434:
863:
784:
316:, the three branches of the trade union movement amalgamated into one organisation, the
1444:
1419:
1378:
1243:
1135:
1090:
383:
1038:
560:
513:
Douglas died in Wellington on 14 September 2022, aged 86 years. Acting Prime Minister
39:
1499:
1449:
1338:
1303:
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1186:
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1100:
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521:
said many advancements in worker rights could be traced back to Douglas' leadership.
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376:
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1383:
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1125:
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556:
495:
951:
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1308:
1233:
1176:
1115:
313:
248:
1424:
1399:
1145:
1095:
685:"'He was somebody extraordinary' - Tributes flow for union leader Ken Douglas"
356:
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164:
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appointed him to the Market Development Board. Douglas served on boards of
1253:
988:
306:
120:
78:
507:
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445:
360:
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for which Māori players were banned from playing. Douglas travelled to
270:
436:
Douglas was first appointed to a board in 1987, when trade minister
352:
348:
783:
Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu.
1556:
Unsuccessful candidates in the 1978 New Zealand general election
1551:
Unsuccessful candidates in the 1975 New Zealand general election
1546:
Unsuccessful candidates in the 1972 New Zealand general election
880:. Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1998
838:
1042:
813:. Wellington: Victoria University of Wellington. p. 90.
371:, as opposed to the remaining Communist Party which followed
312:
In 1988, following the effects of economic reforms known as
1022:
President of the ICFTU Asia-Pacific Regional Organisation
759:"'Red Ken': World-renowned union leader Ken Douglas dies"
574:
572:
570:
420:
The Socialist Unity Party split in 1991. Party president
247:(15 November 1935 – 14 September 2022) was a New Zealand
591:
589:
587:
424:
fell out with Douglas over tactics and left to form the
933:
Man for All Seasons: The Life and times of Ken Douglas
727:"Well known trade union giant 'Red Ken' Douglas dies"
654:
652:
650:
648:
646:
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628:
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996:
President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
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604:
56:
President of the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
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1083:
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225:
195:
185:
171:
147:
142:
126:
114:
96:
84:
72:
53:
23:
289:and wharf worker, before becoming a truck driver.
269:Farrow) and John Atholwood "Atty" Douglas. He was
1541:People educated at Wellington College, Wellington
341:1960 New Zealand rugby union tour of South Africa
325:International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
263:in 1935. His parents were Marjorie "Maj" Alice (
1531:Capital and Coast District Health Board members
506:is named after him in honour of his service to
483:to address weight issues, and lost 70 kg.
471:City councillor in 1998 and served six terms.
417:, receiving 68, 46 and 70 votes respectively.
1536:New Zealand Socialist Unity Party politicians
1054:
359:and learning about communist China. He was a
8:
329:International Centre for Trade Union Rights
1218:
1080:
1061:
1047:
1039:
977:
494:(ONZ). He was awarded an honorary degree (
68:20 October 1987 – 1 November 1999
38:
20:
456:and Healthcare NZ. He was elected to the
428:. Both parties subsequently disappeared.
397:Douglas stood for parliament in the safe
595:
548:
530:
458:Capital and Coast District Health Board
725:Boyack, Nicholas (14 September 2022).
16:New Zealand trade unionist (1935–2022)
659:Monique Oomen, Vincent Burke (2006).
578:
264:
110:2 May 1979 – 20 October 1987
98:Secretary of the Federation of Labour
7:
1430:Robin Cooke, Baron Cooke of Thorndon
956:(12th ed.). Auckland: Octopus.
753:
751:
749:
720:
718:
716:
714:
712:
710:
708:
706:
1561:Members of the Order of New Zealand
1070:Members of the Order of New Zealand
318:New Zealand Council of Trade Unions
662:Ken Douglas: Traitor or Visionary?
492:Member of the Order of New Zealand
14:
502:in 1999. A road in the suburb of
500:Victoria University of Wellington
1410:Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
432:Board roles and local government
215:
862:. Healthcare NZ. Archived from
211:
953:Who's Who in New Zealand, 1991
1:
878:"New Year honours list 1999"
285:. His early jobs included a
1521:New Zealand trade unionists
426:Socialist Party of Aotearoa
335:Political party involvement
1577:
935:. Auckland: Random House.
900:"Kenneth Douglas obituary"
490:, Douglas was appointed a
479:In the 2000s, Douglas had
1299:Whetu Tirikatene-Sullivan
1027:
1020:
1012:
1002:
993:
985:
980:
809:Norton, Clifford (1988).
467:Douglas was elected as a
448:, Positively Wellington,
233:
138:
103:
61:
49:
37:
1526:Porirua City Councillors
454:New Zealand Rugby Union
450:NZ Trade and Enterprise
181:Wellington, New Zealand
1516:New Zealand communists
905:The New Zealand Herald
519:Priyanca Radhakrishnan
481:gastric bypass surgery
240:Kenneth George Douglas
152:Kenneth George Douglas
950:Lambert, Max (1991).
931:Grant, David (2010).
488:1999 New Year Honours
365:Socialist Unity Party
190:Socialist Unity Party
981:Trade union offices
835:"NZRU Board Members"
539:Federation of Labour
537:As President of the
259:Douglas was born in
214: 1956;
1259:Frederick Turnovsky
908:. 16 September 2022
691:. 15 September 2022
559:(1 December 2007).
1393:Additional members
1165:Additional members
581:, pp. 10, 55.
283:Wellington College
1493:
1492:
1489:
1488:
1314:Thaddeus McCarthy
1239:Te Atairangikaahu
1210:
1209:
1197:Silvia Cartwright
1037:
1036:
1028:Succeeded by
1003:Succeeded by
942:978-1-86979-389-0
373:Chinese communism
355:in 1964, meeting
237:
236:
175:14 September 2022
1568:
1476:Shridath Ramphal
1469:Honorary members
1460:Catherine Tizard
1374:Doreen Blumhardt
1279:Manuhuia Bennett
1264:Richard Matthews
1229:Arnold Nordmeyer
1222:Ordinary members
1219:
1084:Ordinary members
1081:
1063:
1056:
1049:
1040:
1013:Preceded by
986:Preceded by
978:
974:
972:
970:
946:
918:
917:
915:
913:
896:
890:
889:
887:
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831:
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797:
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771:
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701:
700:
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656:
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593:
582:
576:
565:
564:
553:
541:
535:
462:Michael Campbell
369:Soviet communism
279:Northland School
277:Primary School,
268:
246:
219:
217:
213:
178:
162:15 November 1935
161:
159:
143:Personal details
133:office abolished
129:
117:
108:
87:
75:
66:
42:
32:
21:
1576:
1575:
1571:
1570:
1569:
1567:
1566:
1565:
1496:
1495:
1494:
1485:
1464:
1388:
1359:Alan MacDiarmid
1354:Thomas Williams
1294:Jack Somerville
1269:Douglas Lilburn
1206:
1182:Margaret Bazley
1160:
1072:
1067:
1033:
1024:
1018:
1008:
999:
991:
968:
966:
964:
949:
943:
930:
927:
922:
921:
911:
909:
898:
897:
893:
883:
881:
876:
875:
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866:on 24 May 2010.
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683:
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602:
594:
585:
577:
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563:. The Listener.
561:"Driving Force"
555:
554:
550:
545:
544:
536:
532:
527:
515:Grant Robertson
477:
442:Air New Zealand
434:
367:which followed
337:
299:
257:
242:
221:
218: 1986)
209:
205:
202:
186:Political party
180:
176:
163:
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155:
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153:
127:
115:
109:
104:
85:
73:
67:
62:
45:
44:Douglas in 2011
33:
28:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
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1518:
1513:
1508:
1498:
1497:
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1490:
1487:
1486:
1484:
1483:
1481:Bill Pickering
1478:
1472:
1470:
1466:
1465:
1463:
1462:
1457:
1452:
1447:
1445:Owen Woodhouse
1442:
1437:
1432:
1427:
1422:
1420:Arthur Lydiard
1417:
1412:
1407:
1402:
1396:
1394:
1390:
1389:
1387:
1386:
1381:
1379:Murray Halberg
1376:
1371:
1366:
1361:
1356:
1351:
1346:
1341:
1336:
1331:
1329:James Fletcher
1326:
1321:
1316:
1311:
1306:
1301:
1296:
1291:
1286:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1261:
1256:
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1246:
1244:Edmund Hillary
1241:
1236:
1231:
1225:
1223:
1216:
1212:
1211:
1208:
1207:
1205:
1204:
1202:Tipene O'Regan
1199:
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1189:
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1179:
1174:
1168:
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1162:
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1158:
1153:
1148:
1143:
1138:
1136:Peter Gluckman
1133:
1128:
1123:
1118:
1113:
1108:
1103:
1098:
1093:
1091:Kiri Te Kanawa
1087:
1085:
1078:
1074:
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869:
851:
826:
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745:
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676:
600:
598:, p. 166.
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384:Robert Muldoon
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179:(aged 86)
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1501:
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1471:
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1456:
1455:Prince Philip
1453:
1451:
1450:Brian Lochore
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1369:Jonathan Hunt
1367:
1365:
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1352:
1350:
1347:
1345:
1342:
1340:
1339:Cliff Whiting
1337:
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1332:
1330:
1327:
1325:
1322:
1320:
1317:
1315:
1312:
1310:
1307:
1305:
1304:Margaret Mahy
1302:
1300:
1297:
1295:
1292:
1290:
1287:
1285:
1282:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1274:June Blundell
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1227:
1226:
1224:
1220:
1217:
1213:
1203:
1200:
1198:
1195:
1193:
1192:Malvina Major
1190:
1188:
1187:Peter Jackson
1185:
1183:
1180:
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1175:
1173:
1172:Michael Duffy
1170:
1169:
1167:
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1157:
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1132:
1129:
1127:
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1122:
1119:
1117:
1114:
1112:
1109:
1107:
1106:Kenneth Keith
1104:
1102:
1101:Lloyd Geering
1099:
1097:
1094:
1092:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1082:
1079:
1075:
1071:
1064:
1059:
1057:
1052:
1050:
1045:
1044:
1041:
1032:
1031:Sharan Burrow
1023:
1017:
1011:
1007:
998:
997:
990:
984:
979:
965:
963:9780790001302
959:
955:
954:
948:
944:
938:
934:
929:
928:
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907:
906:
901:
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892:
879:
873:
870:
865:
861:
855:
852:
840:
836:
830:
827:
822:
820:0-475-11200-8
816:
812:
805:
802:
790:
789:teara.govt.nz
786:
785:"Ken Douglas"
779:
776:
764:
760:
754:
752:
750:
746:
734:
733:
728:
721:
719:
717:
715:
713:
711:
709:
707:
703:
690:
686:
680:
677:
665:(Documentary)
664:
663:
655:
653:
651:
649:
647:
645:
643:
641:
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633:
631:
629:
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623:
621:
619:
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611:
609:
607:
605:
601:
597:
592:
590:
588:
584:
580:
575:
573:
571:
567:
562:
558:
557:Barry, Maggie
552:
549:
540:
534:
531:
524:
522:
520:
516:
511:
509:
505:
501:
497:
493:
489:
484:
482:
474:
472:
470:
465:
463:
459:
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
431:
429:
427:
423:
422:Bill Andersen
418:
416:
415:1978 election
412:
411:1975 election
408:
407:1972 election
404:
400:
395:
393:
388:
385:
380:
378:
374:
370:
366:
362:
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354:
350:
346:
342:
334:
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284:
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250:
245:
241:
232:
228:
224:
201:Lesley Winter
198:
194:
191:
188:
184:
174:
170:
167:, New Zealand
166:
150:
146:
141:
137:
134:
131:
125:
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119:
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107:
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99:
95:
92:
89:
83:
80:
77:
71:
65:
60:
57:
52:
48:
41:
36:
31:
22:
19:
1435:Hugh Kāwharu
1405:Allen Curnow
1384:Ralph Hotere
1343:
1334:Ivan Lichter
1324:Miles Warren
1319:Roy McKenzie
1289:Whina Cooper
1249:Sonja Davies
1156:Anne Salmond
1141:Richie McCaw
1126:Albert Wendt
1111:Don McKinnon
1021:
994:
967:. Retrieved
952:
932:
912:16 September
910:. Retrieved
903:
894:
882:. Retrieved
872:
864:the original
860:"Our Boards"
854:
842:. Retrieved
829:
810:
804:
794:14 September
792:. Retrieved
788:
778:
768:14 September
766:. Retrieved
762:
738:14 September
736:. Retrieved
730:
695:15 September
693:. Retrieved
688:
679:
669:16 September
667:. Retrieved
661:
596:Lambert 1991
551:
533:
512:
485:
478:
466:
435:
419:
396:
389:
381:
357:Chairman Mao
338:
322:
311:
304:
300:
297:Union career
291:
258:
239:
238:
177:(2022-09-14)
132:
128:Succeeded by
105:
86:Succeeded by
63:
18:
1511:2022 deaths
1506:1935 births
1440:Paul Reeves
1415:Janet Frame
1364:David Lange
1344:Ken Douglas
1309:Miriam Dell
1234:C. E. Beeby
1177:C. K. Stead
1151:Mason Durie
1121:Bob Charles
1116:Helen Clark
1006:Ross Wilson
314:Rogernomics
287:woolclasser
249:trade union
116:Preceded by
91:Ross Wilson
74:Preceded by
25:Ken Douglas
1500:Categories
1425:Ann Ballin
1400:Guy Powles
1349:Mike Moore
1284:Henry Lang
1146:Joy Cowley
1131:Ron Carter
1096:Jim Bolger
1025:1994–2000
1000:1987–1999
925:References
579:Grant 2010
475:Later life
438:Mike Moore
392:Young Nats
261:Wellington
255:Early life
165:Wellington
158:1935-11-15
1016:Gopeshwar
884:31 August
763:NZ Herald
345:Hong Kong
106:In office
64:In office
1254:Jim Knox
1215:Deceased
989:Jim Knox
401:seat of
327:and the
307:Jim Knox
275:Cashmere
271:baptised
251:leader.
226:Children
121:Jim Knox
79:Jim Knox
1077:Current
969:29 July
844:8 March
508:Porirua
486:In the
469:Porirua
446:NZ Post
405:in the
403:Porirua
361:Marxist
220:
208:
204:
960:
939:
817:
399:Labour
377:Stalin
351:, and
281:, and
196:Spouse
732:Stuff
525:Notes
504:Aotea
498:) by
353:China
349:Japan
210:(
206:
971:2015
958:ISBN
937:ISBN
914:2022
886:2019
846:2010
839:NZRU
815:ISBN
796:2022
770:2022
740:2022
697:2022
671:2022
413:and
216:div.
172:Died
148:Born
54:1st
689:RNZ
496:LLD
266:née
244:ONZ
30:ONZ
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