1984: Death of Keith Allen
July 21, 2019
By AHNZ
21 July, 1984: Death of Keith Allen. Tauranga MP and Minister for Muldoon’s National Government (Customs, Life Insurance, State Insurance, Earthquake Damage, Trade and Industry.) Allen was burned out by diabetes and politics. Muldoon ought to have let him go but instead rode his trusty lieutenant into the grave.
National’s grip on power was slipping and the Prime Minister required all hands on deck. To be short of Allen’s crucial vote was out of the question, especially with MPs Waring and Minogue playing silly buggers. But it would take more than flogging a dying minister to keep this lead Zeppelin from hitting the ground.
The death occurred soon after the famous ‘Snap’ election which deposed the Nats for David Lange’s 4th Labour Government. The power hand-over was not yet complete, Muldoon famously and legalistically holding on during a time of financial crisis where Lange and Roger Douglas wanted and needed to see the account books. Perhaps these final efforts of shredding and burning the Government swindle sheets cooked Allen’s goose rather than making for the relief his mind and body needed?
Allen was replaced in the Tauranga seat by Winston Peters. Elected at last and almost ever since.
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Image ref. Taranaki daily news (cropped); Alexander Turnbull Library
#National 4.0
2 thoughts on "1984: Death of Keith Allen"
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A very interesting piece, I was just a boy but the 1984 election is the first I can clearly remember, my parents, uncles, aunts and so on were constantly talking about Muldoon, the economy and what the future might hold.
The particular story of Keith Allen and his final months is something I don’t remember. But as Keith Allen is just 1 link in the chain away from multiple King maker Winston Peters it’s still a crucial piece of New Zealand history.
Looking back and reading up on this now I see that he was dead, physically wrecked and worn out by aged 52, that was all too often the fate of men of that generation.
That footage wasn’t some sort of lucky encounter with a government minister on the streets of Wellington, he was being stalked, and they’re not just making innuendos is that he’s drugged and drunk, they come right out and say it.
Again the position of the camera and the motivations of the people behind it are crucial.
BTW Have you ever done a piece on “Sleeping Dogs” (1977)?
That’s another demonstration of the political power of the camera from the Muldoon years.
Thanks for that. Yes, when I first watched this documentary I didn’t appreciate the tricks they were using to push a particular narrative.
I’ve touched on Sleeping Dogs in a few posts. Of course I’ve read the book and watched the film. Check out this one: https://ahnz.anarkiwi.co.nz/1989-idiot-played-rachmaninov/