Auckland – PM city
Posted 10 December 2007 // Jock Phillips
Helen Clark – another Auckland PM
Is Auckland becoming the inevitable the seat of power in New Zealand? At the launch of our Auckland entry the Prime Minister Helen Clark, who hails from Auckland, noted that since 1975, more than two-thirds of prime ministers have been Aucklanders.
This does not appear likely to change in 2008, as both John Key and Helen Clark live north of the Bombay Hills.
Even before 1975, two of the most significant 20th century figures, Bill Massey and Mickey Savage, came from Auckland. Savage still lords it over Auckland Harbour from his mausoleum at Bastion Point; while Massey has to be content with a colder, windier location on Wellington Harbour.
At the launch we noted that these Auckland prime ministers have pioneered use of the new media. Savage used the radio, although when you hear his victory speech you might wonder just why he was regarded as the charismatic figure of his age. Rob Muldoon was the absolute master of the television interview – for a great example see his interview with Simon Walker. David Lange too could hold a television audience.
So we are left with a question. Is the explanation for this Auckland near-monopoly of power because, as our entry says, over one third of New Zealanders live in the region; or is it because its chaotic local government is good training for the rough-and-tumble of national politics; or because chief executives of almost every economic activity in the country are now found there? Auckland has become, in the jargon, a ‘primate city’. Rather, is it because Auckland is the centre of our media – television, books, the internet? So its politicians learn to adjust faster to new ways of talking to the country than us hayseeds further south.
