Mike Moore obit

Former prime minister and WTO director-general Mike Moore dies aged 71

 

He was not on the list.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Mike Moore has died. He was 71.

Moore served as prime minister with Labour from September to November in 1990, at the age of 41, installed by caucus just weeks before the 1990 general election, replacing Sir Geoffrey Palmer.

At the time he was New Zealand's third prime minister in 13 months, and lasted 59 days until Labour lost the general election. Moore subsequently lost the leadership to Helen Clark, but he stayed in Parliament for nine years in Opposition.

"I enjoyed Parliament, I came back to the party and I had a couple of senior jobs," Moore recalled in 2018. "But I just saw the way the place was managed, that I would not be as successful as I wanted to be. And my mind started travelling ..."

Moore's wife, Yvonne, said he has suffered "numerous health issues" since having a stroke in 2015 while he was New Zealand's ambassador in Washington DC.

She said he wanted to spend his final months in Kawakawa and Moerewa in the Far North, where he had grown up.

"[He] wanted to spend his final months in the place that gave him his drive, spirit and courage."

Moore spent most of his summer in Matauri Bay, only returning to Auckland in recent weeks due to ill health.

She described him as "stubborn, optimistic, generous and kind".

Moore's greatest fear was that he'd die before seeing another Labour government.

"He was elated when Jacinda Ardern became prime minister and thinks she's extraordinarily gifted and has the potential to achieve more for New Zealand and on the international stage than any other leader."

In 1999, Moore secured the job of director-general of the World Trade Organisation, a job he kept until 2002.

"Even when I took the first plane to Geneva, on the flight over I was wondering if I'd done the right thing," Moore recalled in 2018. "But the WTO is the most important job a New Zealander's ever held."

OLD FOES UNITED BY HISTORY

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger – the man who defeated Moore in an election landslide in 1990 – praised the former Labour leader for his enthusiasm and commitment to spreading free trade across the globe.

"I think the main thing, the important thing - and he carried this work to the World Trade Organisation – was an extraordinary passion for lowering borders for trade," Bolger reflected on hearing the news of Moore's death.

"He would have been terribly disappointed with the current administration in the US tightening up trade," Bolger said.

"Mike would be horrified at the tariff wars going on between the US and others at the current time, so contrary to what he put his life and passion into opposing."

The ex-prime ministers club is small enough, but Bolger and Moore were also both New Zealand Ambassadors to the US and both entered parliament in 1972.

"The thing that distinguished him from that time was his enthusiasm and compassion in whatever he was doing," Bolger said. "You don't have to agree with anything he said, but you had to admire that."

Bolger also said that Moore's death might be time for some on the Labour side of politics to reflect on a man who - in his estimation - stayed true to Labour values.

"The Labour Party – and it's hard for an outsider to know – had terrible division and debates during the Rogernomics years. That all sort of came out in three prime ministers in 13 months, culminating in Mike taking over as leader. He thought it was best to throw the dice to bring a coherence to the Labour message in that year [1990]," Bolger said.

"I'm sure there will be many in the Labour Party who will reflect on that period and how he held true to the core values of the Labour movement while others moved away."

'A HUGE INTELLECT, AND A HUGE HEART'

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she had been "incredibly lucky" to have seen Moore on Friday.

"He never lost his interest and passion for politics, because he saw it as such an important vehicle for change."

She said he had marked his legacy to New Zealand by opening up world trade and creating opportunities for New Zealand exporters to new markets.

"He dedicated his life to the service of New Zealand.

"The world lost a man with a huge intellect, and a huge heart today."

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters described Moore as "one of the great New Zealanders".

"Mike spent every day of his life trying to make things better for New Zealand and New Zealanders," he said.

Moore was a "rare politician" where politics improved his outlook, he added. He never stopped learning and worked to evolve his views over time.

Peters said Moore was a "passionate, funny, mischievous man" who would be sorely missed. 

"Many New Zealanders will have fond memories of his political career – whether his championing of lamb burgers, his witty turn of phrase, his restless energy, or his passion for helping New Zealanders of all walks of life.

"Everywhere he went, people saw the passion Mike had for New Zealand and connecting it to the world."

National Party leader Simon Bridges said Moore was "a great fighter for Kiwis who needed a hand up and a staunch advocate for free trade," while deputy leader Paula Bennett said he was "a damned good bloke" who had shown her great kindness and support despite being a "staunch Labour man".

Former prime minister Helen Clark shared her condolences to Moore's family via Twitter.

"Mike was a passionate New Zealander and spent his life serving New Zealand and its values," she wrote.

'SHAMELESS ADVOCATE FOR NZ INC'

Former prime minister Jenny Shipley, who backed Moore for the WTO role, said he was a shameless and compelling leader and advocate for NZ Inc.

"Mike managed to transcend the line in political term in his belief in market economies and won enthusiatic support from the left and the right.  He believed in inclusive trade policy that carried everyone forward as he did it his way.

"He was admired and loved by a wide range of people. His devotion to Yvonne and she to him was so clear to all who knew him in their remarkable political partnership. He will missed enormously."

MOORE UNDERESTIMATED

Auckland mayor and former Labour MP Phil Goff paid tribute to Moore, whom he lived with during a stint of "couch surfing" when he left home at age 15.

Goff said he looked to Moore as a key influence on his policies as mayor.

"He was here to make a difference in parliament and he did. He had a knowledge and a wisdom beyond his years."

Moore "probably underestimated" his influence on New Zealand, he said, and his appointment to the World Trade Organisation was homage to his reputation.

"He won that position from being, effectively, a backbencher in the New Zealand parliament. That was a phenomenal achievement."

Moore's "special ability" to deliver fresh and innovative ideas was one of his greatest achievements, especially in his role as the overseas trade minister, Goff said.

"Not many people have that in politics."

He had battled illness for most of his life, and the fact he made it to "the top in politics" spoke volume about his "sheer commitment" to what he believed in.

"He stood for the underdog and he had a strong sense in social justice."

United States Ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown said he was "deeply saddened" to learn his friend had passed, and said he would never forget his advice and counsel.

"Mike lived a life of service to his country. The US-NZ friendship is deeper and stronger because of him," he tweeted.

Former Ambassador of Australia to Italy Mike Rann also tweeted his "immense sadness" over Moore's death.

"[He was] a great patriot for his country and a great friend of Australia."

ROAD TO POLITICS

Moore was born in Whakatane in 1949, and his earliest work was in the construction and printing industries, at the freezing works, and as a trade union researcher.

He left school at 14 and made history in 1972 when he entered Parliament after being elected to represent Mt Eden, in Auckland,and became, then, New Zealand's youngest MP, aged just 23. He later represented seats in Christchurch.

During his time in Parliament he held the ministerial portfolios including overseas trade and marketing; tourism sport and recreation; foreign affairs, and finance.

In 1990, Moore received the Commemoration Medal, and in 1999 he was given the Order of New Zealand.

He authored several books including Beyond Today, A Pacific Parliament, and Fighting for New Zealand, was a member of the Privy Council, and in 2000 was given an honorary doctorate of commerce by Lincoln University.

In 2015, Moore suffered a stroke, and subsequently left his then-post as ambassador to the United States, a role he had had since 2010. Prior to that, in 2014, he had heart valve replacement surgery.

In one of his final interviews, in 2018, from his Matauri Bay home in the Bay of Islands, he spoke of his recuperation.

"I've recovered as much as I can. I have problems walking, but everything else is pretty good."