    michael joseph savage (23 march 1872 â 27 march 1940) was the first labour prime minister of new zealand. he is commonly known as the architect of the welfare state and is constantly regarded as one of new zealand's greatest and most revered prime ministers. he was given the title new zealander of the century by the new zealand herald in 1999. == early life == born in tatong, victoria, australia, savage first became involved in politics while working in that state. he emigrated to new zealand in 1907. there he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, flax-cutter and storeman, before becoming involved in the union movement. savage initially opposed the formation of the 1910 new zealand labour party as he viewed the grouping as insufficiently socialistic. instead he became the chairman of the new zealand federation of labour, known as the "red feds". ==political career== ===socialist origins===     {{nz parlbox |party=n
1872_births 1940_deaths Australian_emigrants_to_New_Zealand Edward_VIII_abdication_crisis Leaders_of_the_Opposition_(New_Zealand) New_Zealand_Labour_Party_MPs New_Zealand_Labour_Party_leaders New_Zealand_Roman_Catholics New_Zealand_conscientious_objectors New_Zealand_foreign_ministers New_Zealand_miners New_Zealand_people_of_Irish_descent People_from_Victoria_(Australia) Prime_Ministers_of_New_Zealand Unsuccessful_candidates_in_the_New_Zealand_general_election,_1911 Unsuccessful_candidates_in_the_New_Zealand_general_election,_1914