History rhymes
New Zealand Alt Rock mid 1970s - mid 1980s and some political activities happening simultaneously
1975 (Norman “Big Norm” Kirk 73 -74)
Under the third Labour Government, sales taxes on records doubled from 20% to 40%. Big Norm died of a stroke in 74, leading to Rowling taking the reigns of Labour leading into the 75 elections. Rowling lost to Muldoon, ending in a single term government for Labour. National continued the sales tax during their term in government, due to Muldoon’s belief that most LPs were not contributing to culture in a significant way.
Muldoon headed up the third national government, from 1975 until 1984 due to a snap election referred to as the “schnapps election” due to his drunken announcement.
While “Big Norm” was responsible for the initial sales tax increase, there are a few things to be positive about, namely stopping the springbok tour of 73’ due to South Africa being apartheid, opposing french nuclear tests in the pacific, alongside with strong support for public spending on housing, education, employment and health.
1978
Remind you of anyone? Lol.
1979
Carless days policy adopted, honestly pretty forward thinking which is at odds with policies like overseas borrowing. Also the new parliament is opened, dubbed “The Beehive”.
Be Mine Tonight was voted best single of the year by the NZ Music Awards. Look at those leather pants! Damn… Bring them back
1980
In 1980, Mi-Sex responded to the culture criticism from Muldoon by inviting him to one of their concerts. Muldoon’s daughter is said to have enjoyed it!
In the same year, The Knobz released this single which is specifically about Muldoon’s refusal to remove the sales tax that the third labour government increased. His comments regarding culture and that pop music did not count was the main inspiration for this song and many flyers for concerts and gigs.
1981
During 1981, the springboks were booked for a trip to NZ despite South Africa still being an apartheid state. The reasoning given by Muldoon at the time was that New Zealand would not interfere in any sports activities. Essentially a reversal of the decision made by Kirk in 73’.
These two songs seem to reflect the feelings at the time regarding NZ, the first being a sarcastic reflection of the image projected by politicians regarding the idyllic vision espoused. The second regarding complacency. I think both remind me a little of what Sam Neil had to say in his documentary about New Zealand film making — that a lot of what is produced is influecned by some sense of neuroticism and feelings of isolation.
This is also the year when Flying Nun first started up by Roger Shepherd and a bunch of friends. The first few months they released two singles, ‘Tally Ho’ by The Clean, and ‘Ambivalence/Columbia’ by The Pin Group.
1982
The Fall visited NZ in 1982, and agreed to a live recording of their concerts. Chris Knox of Flying Nun fame recorded the first disc using his four track tape, but running out of tape. The rest of the record being recorded by several different cassette recorders which were later mixed in with the first disc.
At the time, The Fall were having internal troubles. The live album was only meant to be sold in NZ and AUS so when it made it’s way to UK Mark E Smith requested that the album no longer be sold at all. Flying Nun by this point was now a recognized label internationally.
Not particularly important in terms of domestic politics, but an interesting story nonetheless and important in terms of how Flying Nun grew at this point.
1983
DD Smash, I just like the song.
Widespread protests greeted the arrival of the nuclear-powered frigate USS Texas in Auckland in August 1983. This was another reason as to why Lange would subsequently win in a landslide victory against Muldoon, his anti-nuclear stance.
1984
End of an era? Muldoon calls a snap election, now referred to as the “schnapps election” due to his drunkeness during the announcement and subequently is ousted leading to the next Labour government headed up by Lange.
1985
Must be grinning due to all the new kiwi records he could afford!