RNZ Interview: The 1984 Leaders Debate - Jim Curry & Ian Johnstone

A week before the 1984 election, then-Prime Minister Robert Muldoon and Labour leader David Lange had the chance to size each other up in a historic televised debate. It made for some famous moments that some Kiwis even found hard to believe, producer Jim Curry says. Muldoon had held power since 1975, but by the mid-80s his grip was weakening and Lange was on the rise. Presenter Ian Johnstone and Jim Curry join Jesse Mulligan in this NZ Screen History interview.

This audio interview was recorded for RNZ National's NZ Screen History series, which aired in 2021 as part of Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan. The content is copyright to RNZ, and may not be reproduced from NZ On Screen.