Michael Bassett has combined a political career where he was Minister of the Arts 1987-90 (and held other portfolios) with writing mostly political biography. Publications include Sir Joseph Ward, Coates of Kaipara, a biography of Peter Fraser (with Michael King), and the entry on Norman Kirk for the DNZB. He has also taught New Zealand history at the University of Auckland and after retiring from Parliament was J.B. Smallman Professor at the University of Western Ontario, and then Fulbright Professor at Georgetown University in 2002. He was also a political columnist for the Fairfax papers 2001-2007, winning the Qantas Media Award for Best Political Columnist in 2004. His most recent book was a political memoir: Working with David: Inside the Lange Cabinet (2008).

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