New Zealand National Party leadership election, 1984
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The New Zealand National Party leadership election, 1984 was held to determine the future leadership of the New Zealand National Party. The election was won by Birkenhead MP Jim McLay.
Muldoon's government was defeated in a landslide in the 1984 election and there was widespread desire in the party for a leadership change. This desire came mainly from the younger and less conservative wing of the party, which saw Robert Muldoon as representing an era that had already passed. Muldoon, however, refused to resign the leadership voluntarily, thereby forcing a direct leadership challenge. Two main candidates emerged for the leadership; Jim McLay, a more socially liberal and free market friendly candidate, and Jim Bolger who occupied the middle ground between Muldoon and McLay projecting himself as a compromise candidate.Bill Birch and George Gair were the other candidates.
By 1984 McLay had become a senior member of Muldoon's government. He had served as both Attorney General, Minister of Justice and later as Deputy Prime Minister upon the retirement of Duncan MacIntyre. McLay was a distinct contrast to Muldoon, he promoted free market economic policies and possessed a relatively liberal social outlook. Indeed, he had been elected deputy due to his difference to Muldoon and building on this campaigned on winning back support from urban liberals and youth voters. McLay had flirted with the prospect of the party leadership earlier in the year following Muldoon's refusal to act in accordance with the incoming governments wishes which triggered a constitutional crisis. McLay and several other senior cabinet ministers threatened to appeal to the Governor General to dismiss Muldoon in favour of McLay unless Muldoon enacted Labour's request to devalue the New Zealand Dollar. Muldoon backed down and thus had remained leader.
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