Clark Helen: Obituaries — Rt Hon David Russell Lange ONZ CH John Finlay Luxton QSO Hon John Howard Falloon CNZM Rod David Donald 
Clark Helen: Obituaries — Rt Hon David Russell Lange ONZ CH John Finlay Luxton QSO Hon John Howard Falloon CNZM Rod David Donald 
[Volume:628;Page:43] 
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister) 
: 
 I move  
That this House place on record its high sense of the devoted and distinguished services rendered to New Zealand by the late Right Honourable David Russell Lange Member of the Order of New Zealand a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour one of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Counsellors a member of this House of Representatives representing Mangere from 1977 to 1996 and holding the portfolio of foreign affairs from 1984 to 1987 that of education from 1987 to 1989 and Attorney-General from 1989 to 1990 and Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989 who died on 13 August 2005 and respectfully tender to his family the assurance of its sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement. 
I further move  
That this House place on record its deep sense of loss and its sincere appreciation of the service to Parliament and the community by the late Rod David Donald a member of this House first elected in 1996 co-leader of the Green Party from 1995 a committed advocate of electoral reform and for many environmental human rights and other community issues and convey to his family its profound sympathy in their bereavement 
. 
 It is a privilege for me to move these two motions: the first honouring the memory of the late Rt Hon David Lange a former Prime Minister of New Zealand and the second honouring the late Rod Donald MP co-leader of the Green Party. The House will today also observe a minute’s silence in memory of the Hon John Falloon and of the former member of Parliament for Piako and Matamata Jack Luxton. Each of these men made a significant contribution to this House and to public life. Theirs were lives of note. 
David Lange’s life story is one familiar to many of us. All Prime Ministers live in a goldfish bowl with their lives from birth onwards rather keenly scrutinised for insights into their personalities and characteristics. In David’s case he filled in any outstanding gaps on the public record by writing his autobiography which was published only shortly before his death. The book gives one real insights into life in Otahuhu in the 1940s and 1950s where David grew up and where his father was the local doctor. It tells of David’s legal education and his entry into the law profession and of his rite of passage on his OE through Australia and South-east Asia to India and on to the United Kingdom. India in particular was a country he was to visit and revisit many times during his life and one he greatly loved. 
David came to Parliament in the unusual circumstances created by the Mangere by-election in 1977. His National opponent was the Hon Clem Simich whose election as Deputy Speaker was unanimously supported by the House yesterday. Prior to that David had run for Labour in 1975 in the far north electorate of Hobson where he had connections related to his father’s years as a rural doctor in the Hokianga. I was also a candidate that year in a seat held by National—held as it happens by the late Jack Luxton. Candidates in strongholds for another party seldom get much nationwide publicity. But I do recall Television New Zealand assembling four of us from each of Labour and National placing us in a studio rigged up as a boxing ring and leaving us all to slug it out. It should be said that in every respect in that contest David Lange was the heavyweight. 
I had previously met David in the course of the 1974 election for the Auckland City Council when we were both on the Labour Party ticket with among others Cath Tizard Jim Anderton and Titewhai Harawira whose son Hone has just been elected to this House. 
David’s election to Parliament came about 15 months after Labour’s loss in the 1975 election when it was left with a rather small caucus. He was from an early stage singled out as a likely future leader of the party. David was a big man in every way not only in stature but also in his ability to think broadly and to express his ideas brilliantly and extemporarily and because he had a very big heart for his fellow human beings. David had an ethos of service to the public which was strongly influenced by his family’s values by his church—the Methodist Church—and by the legal firm he entered led by Frank Haigh which always had a reputation for acting for those with little means. 
David’s entry to Parliament came at a time of considerable turmoil for Labour. It took 9 years for the party to return to Government and as all of those who have experienced Opposition know the years on those benches strain friendships and relationships to the limits. Factions develop that can last for years. David came through those years not only to lead the Labour Party but also to lead it to victory and to become one of our most notable Prime Ministers. 
David was an extraordinary New Zealander. He did put our country on the map. He made so many of us feel proud of being New Zealanders. Under his leadership our small country stood up for big ideas and for values critical to the survival of humankind. New Zealand’s nuclear-free status is his legacy. 
I served under David in his second term as Prime Minister by which time the differences within the Government were difficult to contain. I do not recall those years as being happy ones and nor did he; but nor should they detract from his remarkable achievements of twice leading his party into Government and enhancing New Zealand’s reputation as a member of the family of nations. 
Despite scaling our country’s political heights David remained very much a man of the people happiest at home in Manukau City and cherishing his old friendships across Auckland’s multicultural communities. David’s health was very poor for several years before his death and he underwent a good deal of difficult and traumatic treatment. Notwithstanding he remained good humoured and generous spirited. In his last few weeks his ability to stay cheerful in the face of overwhelming odds was truly inspirational to all who saw him. 
To his wife Margaret his children and his extended family it is important to say that many New Zealanders took great pride in David’s achievements and believe that our country is a better place for his contribution. David Lange was a truly memorable Prime Minister and an outstanding New Zealander. We will not see his like again. 
I now pay tribute to the late Rod Donald whose untimely death a few days ago has shocked us all deeply. I offer my heartfelt condolences to Rod’s partner Nicola Shirlaw; his three daughters Holly Emma and Zoe; his extended family and friends; and his Green Party colleagues. 
Rod Donald was a conviction politician with strong roots in his home community in Christchurch. From his mid-teens he was a campaigner first for the environment and then for fair trade the developing world decent housing human rights and electoral reform. Rod became a household name nationally in the debate about electoral reform in the early 1990s. In the lead-up to the two referenda which led to huge changes in our electoral system our Parliament and indeed to our Governments he was a leading advocate for change. Rod was elected to the first MMP Parliament as a Green Party member within the Alliance. His maiden speech reflected his many interests in a forthright way. 
Over the past 6 years I have had many dealings with Rod Donald in his capacity as co-leader of the Green Party. He and Jeanette Fitzsimons have been regular visitors to my office and their goodwill and constructive approach have been indispensable to me and to my Government. To me Rod Donald always was a very honourable person a straightforward person and a very likeable person. Of course we did not always agree; that is the nature of politics. But I felt we always understood why each of us took the positions we did. Rod was a constructive person always looking for ways to resolve an issue—to nut it out. He held fast to his point of view but he could work with those who did not share it and I believe he was deeply democratic in his approach to political life. He was also unfailingly energetic and enthusiastic. Rod had a zest for life that few could match. It is hard to believe that he will not return to this place but I know he will live on in our memory. He certainly will in mine. 
I wish to conclude by also paying my respects to the memory of the two other former senior members of Parliament who passed away while the House was in recess. Both the Hon John Falloon and Jack Luxton were among Parliament’s true gentlemen unfailingly courteous pleasant and decent people. 
The Hon John Falloon came to Parliament in a by-election in 1977 shortly after David Lange. By the time I arrived here in 1981 he was already a Minister although a very young man. He was a strong advocate for New Zealand’s rural communities and for our land-based industries. John was greatly respected by Labour members. The Hon Jim Sutton who cannot be here today described him as a good generous tolerant man who had no enemies in Parliament. I can only add that he was also a public-spirited and well-motivated human being who worked hard for his constituents in his community and I offer my sincere condolences to his family. 
I first met the late Jack Luxton in 1975 when I ran against him in his Piako stronghold. It said something of the size of the challenge that Piako’s was the last Labour candidacy to be filled. I volunteered. Jack was known as an outstanding farmer in the district and he had made his name in Federated Farmers and in dairy company administration before he came to this House. He was well regarded here as Deputy Speaker. It is said that he was prepared to stand up to the late Sir Robert Muldoon; an action that required considerable courage. After Jack retired I would occasionally see him and his wife Margaret at Waihi Beach where they had a holiday home and where my parents have retired. I know that Jack cared for Margaret at home for a very considerable period of time. He was a very strong family man and a devoted husband. 
To his son John who is present in the House today—and also a former colleague; succeeding his dad—and to the whole Luxton family I offer my sincere sympathies. Jack was a good and decent man. 
May our four late colleagues rest in peace.