30 Aug 2018

The History of Prime Ministerial War Heroes in NZ

From Afternoons, 2:38 pm on 30 August 2018

The death of Senator John McCain reminds us that war heroes often play important roles as political leaders.  This has been a tradition throughout the world but to what extent does it apply to New Zealand?

Historian, Grant Morris of Victoria University looks back

Reform Party leader Gordon Coates became known as ‘the jazz premier’ after his election win in 1925. As this 1919 studio portrait suggests, it also helped to have a good war record.

Reform Party leader Gordon Coates became known as ‘the jazz premier’ after his election win in 1925. As this 1919 studio portrait suggests, it also helped to have a good war record. Photo: Te Ara / Public Domain