Robert Muldoon: The Grim Face of Power - Part One

The first part of this no-holds-barred portrait of Robert Muldoon — the dominant figure of 20th century New Zealand politics — traces his rise to power. Colleagues and family talk about his childhood, war service, marriage, his immersion in politics and the relentless drive that saw him become Prime Minister in 1975. Directors Neil Roberts and Louise Callan argued that shame over the circumstances of his father's death helped drive him. In a 1994 decision, the NZ Broadcasting Authority partly upheld Dame Thea Muldoon's complaint, ruling that the documentary breached two parts of the Television Code of Practice.  

TV producer Tom Parkinson provides his own memories of Rob Muldoon here. 

You have to hand it to the canny folks at Communicado. They know how to take a slightly unhealthy Kiwi obsession and turn it into a slickly packaged television product.

– Listener reviewer Diana Wichtel, 14 May 1994

Key Cast & Crew

Robin Scholes

Executive Producer

Glen Molesworth

Editor

Jean-Louis Lods

Editor, Editor

Louise Callan

Co-Director, Producer, Writer, Research

Neil Roberts

Writer, Director, Producer

Mark Sainsbury

Subject