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Kōrero: Premiers and prime ministers

Norman 'Big Norm' Kirk

Audio file

‘Norm is the fairy on our Christmas tree/handing out presents to the elderly’ were lines from the tongue-in-cheek tune ‘Big Norm’ that Wellington pop duo Ebony took to number four in the charts. The song stuck in people’s minds and featured on this tribute album released after the charismatic prime minister’s unexpected death in 1974.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Don Wilson

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Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Gavin McLean, Premiers and prime ministers – Towards modern leadership, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/music/33196/norman-big-norm-kirk (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Gavin McLean, i tāngia i te 7 May 2012, updated 1 December 2016.