Colin Moyle
Encyclopedia
Colin James Moyle, CBE
(born 1929) is a former politician of the New Zealand Labour Party
. He was a Government Minister in the Third Labour
and Fourth Labour Governments
. In the Fourth Labour Government he oversaw the removal of farming subsidies and the establishment of a fisheries quota system.
. Before entering parliament, Moyle was a secondary school teacher and also had a dairy farm.
, as a Labour MP for the South Auckland electorate of Manukau
. In 1969 the Mangere
electorate was created in the same general area, and Moyle moved his candidacy there, allowing Roger Douglas
to take over Manukau. Moyle was elected for Mangere in the 1969 election
, and would hold the electorate for another eight years.
In the 1972 general election
, the Labour Party came to power for the first time in over a decade, forming the Third Labour Government led by Norman Kirk
. Moyle was appointed to the Ministerial positions of Agriculture and Fisheries, Forests, and Science. In September 1975 he also became Minister responsible for the newly-formed Rural Banking and Finance Corporation. He was generally well-regarded, especially as Minister of Agriculture. He was 'enduringly popular with the farming community', and was instrumental in opening up New Zealand's meat trade with the Middle East. As Minister of Forests, Moyle also helped preserve the remaining stands of giant kauri.
In August 1974, Kirk died suddenly, and Bill Rowling
took over as Prime Minister
and Labour Party leader.
, bringing to power the Third National Government
led by Robert Muldoon
. Many within Labour were dissatisfied with their party's performance under Rowling, and began a campaign to replace him. According to political commentator Bruce Jesson
, Moyle was the preferred candidate due to his strong performance as Minister of Agriculture. However any potential leadership coup was derailed due to what became known as 'the Moyle Affair'.
Muldoon accused Moyle in Parliament of having been questioned by the police on suspicion of homosexual activities, which were then illegal in New Zealand. After changing his story several times, Moyle resigned from Parliament. He later said that he had not been obliged to resign, but had done so because 'the whole thing just made me sick'. It has been suggested that Muldoon saw him as a threat and acted accordingly. Ironically, the subsequent by-election
was won by David Lange
, and the attention that this got him helped propel him to the leadership of the Labour Party and his landslide victory over Muldoon in the 1984 election
. In a 1990 interview, Moyle said that the scandal had made him a 'sadder and wiser person'. While out of parliament he returned to farming.
. This was abolished before the 1984 election
, and Moyle stood for, and won, the new electorate of Otara
, which he held until his retirement in 1990. In 1984 Labour was again returned to power, forming the Fourth Labour Government under David Lange. As one of the few Labour MPs with Ministerial experience, Moyle was reappointed to Cabinet, again holding the portfolios of Agriculture and Fisheries (now separate departments) and regaining charge of the Rural Banking and Finance Corporation.
The government's policy was market liberal and reformist. Driven by Finance Minister
Roger Douglas, it embarked on a programme, known as Rogernomics
, aimed at deregulating the economy. Moyle's portfolio of Agriculture was strongly affected by this, as the farming sector had been one of New Zealand's most heavily subsidised
. In the 1982-83 financial year, for example, it has been estimated that farm subsidies cost 'well over' a billion New Zealand dollar
s. Under the Fourth Labour Government, virtually all state financial assistance was removed from agriculture. Moyle was a supporter of the reforms, but was not associated with them to the same extent as many of his colleagues despite their effect on his portfolio.
The fishing industry was also overhauled at this time. In particular, a Quota Management System
was introduced in order to manage the country's fishing stocks. Because this initially made little provision for traditional or other Māori fishing rights, it was challenged by the Waitangi Tribunal
and several iwi
. Under Moyle, a Maori Fisheries Act was introduced to deal with this, recognising Māori rights to a share of fisheries and the fishing industry.
Although involved in several important reforms, Moyle had a low profile in the government, avoiding publicity. At the 1987 election
he had announced that he would probably retire from parliament at the 1990 election
, and in 1989 he confirmed this. Along with other Ministers who had announced their retirement, Moyle was dropped from Cabinet by Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer in early 1990. He had wanted to keep his Ministerial position until that year's election in order to complete the restructuring of the meat industry.
In the June 1990 Queen's Birthday Honours List, Moyle was awarded a CBE
for public service.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1929) is a former politician of the New Zealand Labour Party
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
. He was a Government Minister in the Third Labour
Third Labour Government of New Zealand
The Third Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1972 to 1975. During its time in office, it carried out a wide range of reforms in areas such as overseas trade, farming, public works, energy generation, local government, health, the arts, sport and recreation,...
and Fourth Labour Governments
Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand
The Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 26 July 1984 to 2 November 1990. It enacted major social and economic reforms, including reformation of the tax system. The economic reforms were known as Rogernomics after Finance Minister Roger Douglas...
. In the Fourth Labour Government he oversaw the removal of farming subsidies and the establishment of a fisheries quota system.
Early years
Moyle was born on 18 June 1929 in ThamesThames, New Zealand
Thames is a town at the southwestern end of the Coromandel Peninsula in New Zealand's North Island. It is located on the Firth of Thames close to the mouth of the Waihou River. The town is the seat of the Thames-Coromandel District Council....
. Before entering parliament, Moyle was a secondary school teacher and also had a dairy farm.
Member of Parliament
MP and Minister, 1963-75
Moyle first came to parliament in the 1963 general electionNew Zealand general election, 1963
The 1963 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 34th term. The results were almost identical to those for the previous election, and the governing National Party remained in office....
, as a Labour MP for the South Auckland electorate of Manukau
Manukau (New Zealand electorate)
Manukau is a former New Zealand Parliamentary electorate in the south Auckland Region. It existed from 1881 to 1978, with a break from 1938 to 1957. It was represented by nine Members of Parliament...
. In 1969 the Mangere
Mangere (New Zealand electorate)
Māngere is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Māngere is Su'a William Sio, elected for the Labour Party. He has held this seat since 2008....
electorate was created in the same general area, and Moyle moved his candidacy there, allowing Roger Douglas
Roger Douglas
Sir Roger Owen Douglas , is a New Zealand politician who formerly served as a senior New Zealand Labour Party Cabinet minister. He became arguably best-known for his prominent role in the radical economic restructuring undertaken by the Fourth Labour Government during the 1980s...
to take over Manukau. Moyle was elected for Mangere in the 1969 election
New Zealand general election, 1969
The 1969 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament's 36th term. It saw the governing National Party win a fourth consecutive term, under Prime Minister Keith Holyoake.-The Election:...
, and would hold the electorate for another eight years.
In the 1972 general election
New Zealand general election, 1972
The New Zealand general election of 1972 was held to elect MPs to the 37th session of the New Zealand Parliament. The Labour Party, led by Norman Kirk, defeated the governing National Party.-Background:...
, the Labour Party came to power for the first time in over a decade, forming the Third Labour Government led by Norman Kirk
Norman Kirk
Norman Eric Kirk was the 29th Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in 1974. He led the Parliamentary wing of the New Zealand Labour Party from 1965 to 1974. He was the fourth Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, but the first to be born in New Zealand...
. Moyle was appointed to the Ministerial positions of Agriculture and Fisheries, Forests, and Science. In September 1975 he also became Minister responsible for the newly-formed Rural Banking and Finance Corporation. He was generally well-regarded, especially as Minister of Agriculture. He was 'enduringly popular with the farming community', and was instrumental in opening up New Zealand's meat trade with the Middle East. As Minister of Forests, Moyle also helped preserve the remaining stands of giant kauri.
In August 1974, Kirk died suddenly, and Bill Rowling
Bill Rowling
Sir Wallace Edward Rowling, KCMG , often known as Bill Rowling, was the 30th Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was in office for just over a year, having been appointed Prime Minister following the death of the highly popular Norman Kirk...
took over as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of New Zealand
The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the Parliament of New Zealand...
and Labour Party leader.
Opposition and the Moyle affair
Labour lost power in the 1975 general electionNew Zealand general election, 1975
The 1975 New Zealand general election was held to elect MPs to the 38th session of the New Zealand Parliament. It was the first election in New Zealand where 18-20 year olds and all permanent residents of New Zealand were eligible to vote, although only citizens were able to be...
, bringing to power the Third National Government
Third National Government of New Zealand
The Third National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. It was an economically and socially conservative government, which aimed to preserve the Keynesian economic system established by the First Labour government while also being socially conservative...
led by Robert Muldoon
Robert Muldoon
Sir Robert David "Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH served as the 31st Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984, as leader of the governing National Party. Muldoon had been a prominent member of the National party and MP for the Tamaki electorate for some years prior to becoming leader of the party...
. Many within Labour were dissatisfied with their party's performance under Rowling, and began a campaign to replace him. According to political commentator Bruce Jesson
Bruce Jesson
Bruce Edward Jesson was a left wing journalist, author and political figure in New Zealand.-Early life:Bruce Edward Jesson was the son of Victor John and Edna Cavell Jesson and the great-grandson of an immigrant from Leicestershire,UKHe was educated at Christchurch Boys' High School Bruce Edward...
, Moyle was the preferred candidate due to his strong performance as Minister of Agriculture. However any potential leadership coup was derailed due to what became known as 'the Moyle Affair'.
Muldoon accused Moyle in Parliament of having been questioned by the police on suspicion of homosexual activities, which were then illegal in New Zealand. After changing his story several times, Moyle resigned from Parliament. He later said that he had not been obliged to resign, but had done so because 'the whole thing just made me sick'. It has been suggested that Muldoon saw him as a threat and acted accordingly. Ironically, the subsequent by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was won by David Lange
David Lange
David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH , served as the 32nd Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. He headed New Zealand's fourth Labour Government, one of the most reforming administrations in his country's history, but one which did not always conform to traditional expectations of a...
, and the attention that this got him helped propel him to the leadership of the Labour Party and his landslide victory over Muldoon in the 1984 election
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
. In a 1990 interview, Moyle said that the scandal had made him a 'sadder and wiser person'. While out of parliament he returned to farming.
Re-election and new Ministerial career
In 1981, Moyle stood for and won the Hunua electorateHunua
The Hunua electorate existed three times for the New Zealand House of Representatives beginning in 1978, based at the south end of the Auckland urban area, and named for the Hunua Ranges. It covered different geographical areas over those periods...
. This was abolished before the 1984 election
New Zealand general election, 1984
The 1984 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 41st New Zealand Parliament. It marked the beginning of the Fourth Labour Government, with David Lange's Labour Party defeating long-serving Prime Minister Robert Muldoon of the National Party. It was also the...
, and Moyle stood for, and won, the new electorate of Otara
Otara (New Zealand electorate)
Otara was a New Zealand parliamentary electorate, from 1984 to 1993.-Population centres:This suburban electorate is in the southern part of greater Auckland.-History:The electorate was established in the 1984 election...
, which he held until his retirement in 1990. In 1984 Labour was again returned to power, forming the Fourth Labour Government under David Lange. As one of the few Labour MPs with Ministerial experience, Moyle was reappointed to Cabinet, again holding the portfolios of Agriculture and Fisheries (now separate departments) and regaining charge of the Rural Banking and Finance Corporation.
The government's policy was market liberal and reformist. Driven by Finance Minister
Minister of Finance (New Zealand)
The Minister of Finance is a senior figure within the government of New Zealand. The position is often considered to be the most important Cabinet role after that of the Prime Minister....
Roger Douglas, it embarked on a programme, known as Rogernomics
Rogernomics
The term Rogernomics, a portmanteau of "Roger" and "economics", was coined by journalists at the New Zealand Listener by analogy with Reaganomics to describe the economic policies followed by Roger Douglas after his appointment in 1984 as Minister of Finance in the Fourth Labour Government...
, aimed at deregulating the economy. Moyle's portfolio of Agriculture was strongly affected by this, as the farming sector had been one of New Zealand's most heavily subsidised
Subsidy
A subsidy is an assistance paid to a business or economic sector. Most subsidies are made by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry or an increase in the prices of its products or simply to encourage it to hire more labor A subsidy (also...
. In the 1982-83 financial year, for example, it has been estimated that farm subsidies cost 'well over' a billion New Zealand dollar
New Zealand dollar
The New Zealand dollar is the currency of New Zealand. It also circulates in the Cook Islands , Niue, Tokelau, and the Pitcairn Islands. It is divided into 100 cents....
s. Under the Fourth Labour Government, virtually all state financial assistance was removed from agriculture. Moyle was a supporter of the reforms, but was not associated with them to the same extent as many of his colleagues despite their effect on his portfolio.
The fishing industry was also overhauled at this time. In particular, a Quota Management System
Individual fishing quota
Individual fishing quotas also known as "individual transferable quotas" are one kind of catch share, a means by which many governments regulate fishing. The regulator sets a species-specific total allowable catch , typically by weight and for a given time period. A dedicated portion of the TAC,...
was introduced in order to manage the country's fishing stocks. Because this initially made little provision for traditional or other Māori fishing rights, it was challenged by the Waitangi Tribunal
Waitangi Tribunal
The Waitangi Tribunal is a New Zealand permanent commission of inquiry established under the Treaty of Waitangi Act 1975...
and several iwi
Iwi
In New Zealand society, iwi form the largest everyday social units in Māori culture. The word iwi means "'peoples' or 'nations'. In "the work of European writers which treat iwi and hapū as parts of a hierarchical structure", it has been used to mean "tribe" , or confederation of tribes,...
. Under Moyle, a Maori Fisheries Act was introduced to deal with this, recognising Māori rights to a share of fisheries and the fishing industry.
Although involved in several important reforms, Moyle had a low profile in the government, avoiding publicity. At the 1987 election
New Zealand general election, 1987
The 1987 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 43rd sitting of the New Zealand Parliament. The governing New Zealand Labour Party, led by Prime Minister David Lange, was re-elected for a second term, although the Opposition National Party made gains...
he had announced that he would probably retire from parliament at the 1990 election
New Zealand general election, 1990
The 1990 New Zealand general election was held on 27 October to determine the composition of the 43rd New Zealand parliament. The governing Labour Party was defeated, ending its controversial two terms in office...
, and in 1989 he confirmed this. Along with other Ministers who had announced their retirement, Moyle was dropped from Cabinet by Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer in early 1990. He had wanted to keep his Ministerial position until that year's election in order to complete the restructuring of the meat industry.
In the June 1990 Queen's Birthday Honours List, Moyle was awarded a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
for public service.