Lange, David Russell

▪ 2006

 New Zealand lawyer and politician (b. Aug. 4, 1942, Otahuhu, N.Z.—d. Aug. 13, 2005, Auckland, N.Z.), during his years as prime minister (1984–89), radically transformed New Zealand's economy with free-market reforms and implemented an antinuclear policy that drew the ire of the country's traditional allies, most notably the U.S. After receiving a law degree from the University of Auckland (1966), Lange, a lay Methodist preacher, provided legal assistance to the poor. In 1977 he was elected to represent the Labour Party in Parliament, where he became noted for his oratory skills. He was named Labour leader in 1983 and led the party to victory in the general elections the following year, becoming the country's youngest prime minister of the 20th century. In 1985 Lange gained international attention after he banned nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed vessels from New Zealand's ports, a move that mainly targeted U.S. warships. Later that year he rebuked France after French agents sank a Greenpeace ship that was preparing to leave Auckland Harbour on its way to protest French nuclear-weapons testing in the South Pacific. Although his antinuclear policies proved popular with New Zealanders, Lange encountered growing resistance, particularly from within the Labour Party, over his attempts to open up the country's heavily protected economy. His privatization of state-run enterprises, including the postal service, was especially controversial. Citing poor health, Lange resigned as prime minister in 1989, although he remained in Parliament until 1996. In 2003 he was awarded the Order of New Zealand.

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