New Zealand
Former New Zealand prime minister David Lange dies
By WELLINGTON, (AFP)
Aug 14, 2005, 08:33

Former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange, who led the country through a tumultuous period when it split with the United States over nuclear policy and battled France over the sinking of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, has died aged 63.

In a brief statement early Sunday, Lange's family said he died late Saturday night from complications of renal failure.

Lange was prime minister for five years from 1984, inheriting a country in economic trouble and presiding over a series of radical economic reforms which alienated many of his Labour Party's traditional blue-collar supporters.

He had suffered serious health problems for the past decade and had his right leg amputated below the knee last month following complications with diabetes.

In 1995 he underwent a quadruple heart bypass operation and in 2002 he was diagnosed with a rare incurable plasma disorder, amyloidosis, which causes a build-up of excess protein from bone marrow and damages the organs.

"It is with sadness that we announce the passing of The Right Honourable David Lange. He passed away at 10pm on Saturday," the family statement said.

"Mr Lange died from the complications of renal failure with his close family by his side."

Lange's wit, debating skills and remarkable influence internationally and within the Labour Party were the hallmarks of his career.

After being elected to parliament in 1977, his rise to the top was meteoric. Within two years he was deputy leader and four years later he was at the helm of the party.

In 1984 he led Labour to victory in a snap election, ousting the National Party and Sir Robert Muldoon, to become New Zealand's youngest prime minister in the 20th century.

Within a year, Lange made a splash on the world stage. Adopting Labour's anti-nuclear stand as his own, Lange travelled to the United States and Britain to explain the policy.

His government's decision to ban nuclear-powered and nuclear-armed ships angered Washington and lead to New Zealand's suspension from the regional security alliance ANZUS with the United States and Australia.

In a condolence message Sunday, the US embassy in Wellington said Lange would be missed by his friends in the United States, and said he led New Zealand through a difficult period of profound changes both at home and abroad.

Lange's contribution to the Oxford University Union debate, where he successfully argued against US Moral Majority leader Jerry Falwell "that nuclear weapons are morally indefensible", earned him an international reputation for his oratory skills.

Just a few months later Lange was again espousing the perils of nuclear weapons against world powers, after French agents bombed a Greenpeace ship, Rainbow Warrior, in Auckland harbour before it could travel to Mururoa to protest at French nuclear testing.

But Lange was not immune to criticism from his own party.

The radical economic reforms introduced by his finance minister Roger Douglas alienated many of Labour's traditional supporters.

Douglas resigned his portfolio in 1988 but a year later was voted back into the cabinet by his colleagues in a move which was the last straw for Lange, who announced he was standing down as party leader and prime minister.

In 2003 he was appointed to the Order of New Zealand, the country's highest honour.

In July, Lange was made an honorary member of the Indian community, the first time the New Zealand Indian community has conferred the honour on anyone of non-Indian descent.

He was admitted to hospital last month after complications with his diabetes and had his right leg amputated below the knee. He celebrated his 63rd birthday on August 4 in hospital.



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