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Haurongo: Lange, David Russell

The new leader of the Labour Party

The new leader of the Labour Party

In 1983 David Lange supplanted Bill Rowling as leader of the Labour Party. He and fellow MPs Roger Douglas, Michael Bassett, Richard Prebble and Mike Moore had unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow Rowling in 1980. Lange’s second tilt at the leadership followed stomach-stapling surgery and an appearance makeover, involving a new hairstyle and glasses, and smart suits.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library, Dominion Post Collection (PA-Group-00685)

Reference: EP/1983/0459/9-F

Photograph by Ian Mackley

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Barry Gustafson. 'Lange, David Russell', Ngā Tāngata Taumata Rau, i tāngia tuatahitia ki 2010. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/20408/the-new-leader-of-the-labour-party (accessed 25 June 2026).