The Fourth Labour Government was an extremely controversial one and David Lange, its intelligent, quick-witted and charismatic leader, has attracted both criticism and accolade for his role and prime-ministership. That NZ today is a more dynamic, varied, exciting and colourful place than in 1984 can in good part be attributed to the Fourth Labour Government, but so can the fact that the country is more socially divided, with greater extremes of wealth and poverty, and an inadequate consensus around social goals. Many well-known NZers in the political scene look back and offer their views and memories of Lange and this government.
