Michael Joseph Savage (23 March 1872 – 27 March 1940) was the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand. He is commonly known as the architect of the welfare state and is constantly regarded as one of New Zealand's greatest and revered Prime Ministers. He was given the title New Zealander of the Century by the New Zealand Herald in 1999.
Born in Tatong, Victoria, Australia, Savage first became involved in politics while working in that state. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1907. There he worked in a variety of jobs, as a miner, flax-cutter and storeman, before becoming involved in the union movement. Savage initially opposed the formation of the 1910 New Zealand Labour Party as he viewed the grouping as insufficiently socialistic. Instead he became the chairman of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, known as the "Red Feds".[1]
In the 1911 general election Savage unsuccessfully stood as the Socialist candidate for Auckland Central, coming second and beaten by Albert Glover of the Liberal Party.[1][2] During World War I he opposed conscription, arguing that the conscription of wealth should precede the conscription of men. After the war the voters of the Auckland West electorate put Savage into Parliament as a Labour member in the 1919 general election, an electorate that he held until his death.[3] He became one of eight Labour Members of Parliament, and in due course became the party leader following the death of Harry Holland in 1933. He
