Zeekiel From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 725 times:
RIP.
I respect him most for sticking up for our anti-nuclear policy.
While I don't agree with it, he deserves a round of applause for doing what he thought was right and true.
His economic reforms enabled New Zealand to transform into a modern competitive market that we are reaping the benefits of.
That is the true test of a man.
"I can smell the uranium coming from your breath"
Cheers
Zeekiel
(P.S. As a little side note, isn't it interesting we're feel like outcasts for an anti-nuclear policy today (not then) despite the fact the United States is trying to rid the world of nuclear weapons.)
QANTASforever From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 729 times:
Lange was certainly one of those rare antipodean statesmen who commanded attention in almost any venue. He's certainly up there with the likes of Whitlam, Muldoon and Menzies in this regard.
He seemed to be a formidable man, a politician who took decisions on principle (anti-nuclear policy) in the face of huge American resentment. In doing so, he shaped New Zealand politics in a very significant way. No doubt this legacy will live on in New Zealand politics for years to come.
Pacificjourney From New Zealand, joined Jul 2001, 2698 posts, RR: 9 Reply 3, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 708 times:
This guy shaped (or reshaped) NZ as the country it is now.
People seem to emphasise the anti-nuke stuff but the real changes were economic, from basic controlled economy to probably the most truely free and liberal economy on the planet !
Truely a serious physical presence in person as well and not just because of his size. I met him several times with some special moments when in the navy during a tour of the south pacific and us and his camera and .....
- Actual event, launch of some foodie tourism project in the UK which DL attended. Another guest demures from the chocolates with the 'my bodies a temple' line. Lange replies, " ... well mines a warehouse so pass them over ".
VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 49 Reply 7, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 660 times:
I was very saddened to hear of his passing. He was truly a witty and intellectual leader, and a skilled orator. His government made massive reforms which have laid the foundation for where New Zealand is at now. People may not agree with them all, but it can't be denied that he truly left his mark on the country.
The first time I heard he was ill was when he was interviewed on TV programme here in Australia. Having not been in NZ for a couple of years, I was shocked to see how ill he looked. It is really sad how quickly he deteriorated. It seems his mental prowess remained though - when his leg was amputated a couple of weeks ago, it had to be done under local anaesthetic (since he was too ill for general), and during the operation, he asked the surgeon if he was certain he was cutting off the correct leg.
It is a terrible shame to see him pass away at such a young age. We have lost a great New Zealander, loved by many, and especially by his Mangere electorate. He will be sorely missed.
V/F
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh
GDB From United Kingdom, joined May 2001, 12735 posts, RR: 79 Reply 8, posted (7 years 10 months 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 651 times:
I was going to post an obituary, but VirginFlyer has made that unnecessary!
Whether you agreed with some or all of his ideas, Lange was well beyond just being a big political fish in a small pond, well known abroad, albeit aided by the stupid and inept piece of French sabotage and US bullying, he certainly seemed a larger than life figure in more ways then one.
Not the standard buffed up, spin spouting politico.
His appearance in the 1985 Oxford Union debate on Nuclear arms is well remembered, his opponent was, wait for it, US fundamentalist nut Jerry Falwell!
Even if you did not agree with Lange's general stance, your sympathy would always be with this eccentric but worldly man, not the fanatic he was debating with.
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