Juggernaut: The Story of the Fourth Labour Government

4.9 (295)
POLITICS
WEEKLY SERIES

Forty years ago a brandy-soaked snap election set in motion a seismic chain of events in New Zealand politics. Across a series of extraordinary scenes, Aotearoa lurches from crisis to crisis, with strongman prime minister Rob Muldoon replaced by a Labour Party led by the charismatic David Lange and a finance minister, Roger Douglas, determined to shift the country from the developed world’s most regulated economy to the most embracing of the free market. An economic revolution comes alongside a battle with the US over nukes on the global stage, a terrorist attack in Auckland harbour, and sweeping social and cultural shifts. The reverberations are still being felt today – for many, the impacts remain raw. In a new six-part series, Toby Manhire interviews more than 20 people at the heart of those changes, dives deep into the archives, and presents compelling audio of David Lange that has never been heard publicly, to tell the story of an incredible, whiplash chapter in New Zealand history. Juggernaut was made with the support of NZ On Air.

See All Season 1 (7)

TRAILER

Juggernaut – out now

The Spinoff presents Juggernaut, hosted by Toby Manhire. When a brandy-fuelled Rob Muldoon called a snap election in 1984, the dam burst on a period of unparalleled change in New Zealand. Under David Lange and Roger Douglas, the country witnessed an economy upended, a bold new stance on the world stage, sweeping social and cultural transformations, and bitter personal recriminations. The reverberations of that revolution continue to be felt, 40 years on. Juggernaut was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S1

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1 min

4.9

out of 5

295 Ratings

Fabulous

22 Nov

Nattyg113

Such an interesting listen - it feels like politics is so cyclical
Must listen for all NZers

13 Sept

Thomas_Aotearoa

Great work. Thought I knew about the rise of neoliberalism in NZ but this really explains it and all that happened around in. Highly recommend for all in Aotearoa.
Excellent show,

10 Aug

Slave to coffee

Highly recommended story of political change that continues to reverberate to today.
Simon drought

25 July

Simon Drought

More please Toby, it’s excellent. A story that needs to be told.

Forty years ago a brandy-soaked snap election set in motion a seismic chain of events in New Zealand politics. Across a series of extraordinary scenes, Aotearoa lurches from crisis to crisis, with strongman prime minister Rob Muldoon replaced by a Labour Party led by the charismatic David Lange and a finance minister, Roger Douglas, determined to shift the country from the developed world’s most regulated economy to the most embracing of the free market. An economic revolution comes alongside a battle with the US over nukes on the global stage, a terrorist attack in Auckland harbour, and sweeping social and cultural shifts. The reverberations are still being felt today – for many, the impacts remain raw. In a new six-part series, Toby Manhire interviews more than 20 people at the heart of those changes, dives deep into the archives, and presents compelling audio of David Lange that has never been heard publicly, to tell the story of an incredible, whiplash chapter in New Zealand history. Juggernaut was made with the support of NZ On Air.