Nordy: Arnold Nordmeyer - a political biography
Mary Logan

	Biographies History, Biography, NZ Society Price: $49.99 Availability: now Format: 488pp paperback, 165x230mm ISBN: 978-1-877448-33-1 Add this book to your shopping bag

About the Book

Arnold Nordmeyer formed his vision of an equitable society in the Depression, when he helped set up a medical benefits scheme in Kurow, a South Island hydro town. Elected to the first Labour government in the turbulent 1930s, he played a major role in shaping the social security system we have today.

Nordy was also a radical Minister of Health, but — unfortunately — is most remembered for his 1958 ‘Black Budget’. It was Labour’s nemesis — though Nordmeyer has been vindicated by history.
Mary Logan’s sympathetic biography traverses a 20th century political landscape where Savage, Lee, Fraser, Holland, Nash, Holyoake and Kirk loom large. Throughout it all Nordy stands out as a humble, principled and astute politician who made a profound contribution to New Zealand.

“… one of the builders of New Zealand. Much of what we take for granted in our ordinary lives is the work of Arnold Nordmeyer. His achievements led to a better life for more thousands of people than we can ever count.”
— David Lange

“… a remarkable politician and parliamentarian, as straight as they come … probably the most brilliant mind of any politician in my time.” — Robert Muldoon

About the Author

Many people wanted to write Nordy’s biography while he was alive: he gave the nod to Mary Logan, who has compiled it meticulously over twenty years. Mary has an MA Hons in English and a BA Hons in Psychology from Victoria University. A prize-winning short fiction writer, her stories have been published widely and broadcast
on National Radio.