Michael Kenneth Moore

Michael Kenneth Moore was born in Whakatane in 1949. He was raised in Kawakawa and went to Dilworth School initially. He left school for the workforce and worked first as a labourer and then a printer. He became an active trade unionist and at the age of 17 was elected to the Auckland Trades Council He also became the first youth representative on the Labour Party executive.

He stood for and was elected MP for Eden in 1972 but lost his seat in 1975. In 1978 he moved to Christchurch and was elected MP for Papanui. He was an Opposition MP until 1984 when the 4th Labour Government got elected and Moore became the 3rd ranked Minister with portfolios of overseas trade, sport and tourism. He became best known in his role as Overseas Trade Minister with involvement in the GATT negotiations. In 1987 he also became Minister of External Relations and in 1988 Deputy Minister of Finance.

When PM Lange resigned in 1989 Moore stood against Palmer for the Leadership but lost. However seven weeks before the 1990 election Palmer stood down and Mike Moore became Labour Party Leader and Prime Minister. His term as Prime Minister lasted less than two months as Labour lost heavily in the 1990 general election.

He was Opposition Leader from 1990 to 1993 but failed to win enough seats to return to Government in the 1993 election. Shortly afterwards he was replaced as Labour Party Leader by Helen Clark.

For three years he had do portfolio within Labour but just prior to the 1996 election he accepted the spokesmanship on foreign affairs and trade. Labour also lost the 1996 election and Moore continued in this role.

In 1998 Moore decided to run for the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation and was supported in his bid by the National Government. After a long protracted contest Moore was elected to the job on 22 July 1999. He took up the post on the 1st of September 1999.

Moore is also a prolific author, having written eight books on subjects ranging from politics to the Pacific.

Moore is also a prolific author, having written eight books on subjects ranging from politics to the Pacific.