Michael Bassett Historian and Former NZ Cabinet Minister

Michael Edward Rainton Bassett CNZM QSO (born 28 August 1938) is a distinguished figure in New Zealand public life, having served as a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister for the Labour Party, as well as becoming a renowned historian and biographer.

Early Life and Academic Foundations

Born in Auckland, Bassett's academic journey began at Owairaka School, Dilworth School, and Mount Albert Grammar. He pursued higher education at the University of Auckland, where he earned both his BA and MA degrees in history. His intellectual curiosity led him to the United States in 1961, where he won a fellowship to Duke University. There, he completed a PhD in American history with a dissertation focusing on the Socialist Party of America between 1912 and 1919.

Upon returning to New Zealand in 1964, Bassett joined the faculty of the University of Auckland as a senior lecturer in history, establishing a foundation in academia that would complement his later political career.

Political Career and Ministerial Roles

Bassett's entry into politics was marked by early challenges, with unsuccessful runs for Parliament in 1966 and 1969. However, he was elected to the Auckland City Council in 1971 and subsequently won the Waitemata seat as a Labour MP in 1972. After a brief period out of office following the 1975 election, he returned to Parliament in 1978 representing the Te Atatu electorate, a seat he held until 1990.

The Fourth Labour Government

Bassett played a pivotal role in the reformist fourth Labour government (1984–1990). Appointed by David Lange as the Minister of Health and Minister of Local Government, Bassett was instrumental in implementing significant changes. In local government, he introduced electoral reforms that replaced the "at large" system with a ward system for local electoral districts.

He was a staunch supporter of the government's broader social and economic reforms, including the decriminalization of homosexuality via the Homosexual Law Reform Act 1986 and the economic shifts known as "Rogernomics." Later in his tenure, he served as Minister of Internal Affairs, Civil Defence, and Arts and Culture.

Contributions to History and Public Service

After retiring from active politics in 1990, Bassett returned to his academic roots. He has authored numerous books on New Zealand political history and written biographies of prominent Prime Ministers, including Peter Fraser, Gordon Coates, and Joseph Ward. His academic contributions extend to roles as a professor at the University of Western Ontario and a Fulbright Professor of New Zealand Studies at Georgetown University.

Bassett's commitment to New Zealand's national identity is further evidenced by his membership in the Waitangi Tribunal from 1994 to 2004, where he helped investigate breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. He also chaired the 1990 Commission for the 150th anniversary of the Treaty's signing.