Gallery - Norman Kirk P.M. - The First 250 Days

David 'Mr Current Affairs' Exel politely interrogates Labour Prime Minister Norman Kirk on his first 250 days in office. The topics range from a recent meeting of Commonwealth leaders in Canada, to Kirk's weight loss. Dairne Shanahan comments on the PM’s image and Ross Stevens helps Exel out on broken election promises. Exel became Gallery host when Brian Edwards quit after the NZ Broadcasting Corporation refused to screen a pilot for an Edwards-fronted show (featuring Finance Minister Rob Muldoon sparring with young critics, including Tim Shadbolt). Kirk died a year after this August 1973 interview took place.

Warning: video shows some imperfections. 

Every person knew that if their income increased they would be paying more taxation, regardless of who was the government. You knew that, I knew it and the man on the street knew it. But why don’t we talk about some of the other things that happened on taxation; like the concessions for overtime, like the lifting of the tax burden on the man on the smaller income. That was also promised and it was done. What about the relief for the man who works shifts. Why do these escape observation?

– Norman Kirk provides examples of how his government has benefitted workers, in part three

Key Cast & Crew

Ross Stevens

Reporter

David Exel

Interviewer

Tony Rimmer

Producer

Norman Kirk

Subject

Dairne Shanahan

Reporter

John Veysey

Director