National at 80

"In 2016 the New Zealand National Party turned 80. Formed in 1936, it was to be 13 years before it took office in 1949. However, of the 67 intervening years, National held office for 45 of them. It is this success, or otherwise, that is examined in Colin James's main text within the book, 'From turbulence to stability: 50 to 80'. Independent political journalist, Colin James assesses the Party's aim to be a 'national party', the changing influence of its various strands of opinions, its swings from populism to radicalism to 'what works' pragmatism through the turbulent years from 1986 to stability under John Key's leadership. To give historical context James summarised briefly Barry Gustafson's The first 50 years: a history of the New Zealand National Party. From the strong ideological positions of 'Ruthanasia' and the 1991 'mother of all budgets' to the prgmatic liberal/conservative apporach of the last decade, the story covers the Party over the last 30 years; it values, policies and leadership wrangles as well as the first MMP election and coalition government and programme of Treaty settlements. Added to the stories of the political wing of the Party, this insightful text looks at National's organisation and membership and its drive for professionalism over a number of campaigns and elections. The text is accompanied by hundreds of photographs and images, many featuring campaign pamphlets, slogans and leaflets providing an interesting snapshot of what National saw as the country's key concerns since the 1980s. At the back of the book there are biographies of all the National Members of Parliament since 1986, as well as the Party's major office holders"--Publisher.