# Michael Joseph Savage

_First Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand (1872-1940)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/michael-joseph-savage
Last updated: 2026-11-02

> Michael Joseph Savage was an Australian-born New Zealand politician who served as the 23rd prime minister of New Zealand, heading the First Labour Government from 1935 until his death in 1940.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 23 March 1872 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Tatong ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015#P19))
- **Died:** 27 March 1940 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015#P570))
- **Place of death:** Wellington ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015#P20))
- **Citizenship:** New Zealand ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; diplomat ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015#P106))
- **Political party:** New Zealand Labour Party ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015#P102))
- **Positions held:** Prime Minister of New Zealand (6 December 1935 – 27 March 1940); Minister of Foreign Affairs (6 December 1935 – 27 March 1940); Minister for Māori Development (6 December 1935 – 27 March 1940); Member of the New Zealand Parliament (until 1940) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015#P39))

## Questions

**When was Michael Joseph Savage born?**  
Michael Joseph Savage was born on 23 March 1872 in Tatong.

**What positions has Michael Joseph Savage held?**  
Positions held by Michael Joseph Savage include: Prime Minister of New Zealand (1935–1940); Minister of Foreign Affairs (1935–1940); Minister for Māori Development (1935–1940); Member of the New Zealand Parliament (until 1940).

## Related

- [John Hall](https://diginpl.com/people/john-hall)
- [David Lange](https://diginpl.com/people/david-lange)
- [William Hall-Jones](https://diginpl.com/people/william-hall-jones)
- [Mike Moore](https://diginpl.com/people/mike-moore)
- [Richard Seddon](https://diginpl.com/people/richard-seddon)
- [Keith Holyoake](https://diginpl.com/people/keith-holyoake)
- [Walter Nash](https://diginpl.com/people/walter-nash)
- [Gordon Coates](https://diginpl.com/people/gordon-coates)
- [Francis Bell](https://diginpl.com/people/francis-bell)
- [Daniel Pollen](https://diginpl.com/people/daniel-pollen)
- [George Forbes](https://diginpl.com/people/george-forbes)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Michael Joseph Savage](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Joseph_Savage) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q1371015](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1371015) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Michael Joseph Savage Portrait (cropped).jpg by Spencer Digby (CC BY-SA 2.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_Joseph_Savage_Portrait_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Michael Joseph Savage, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Michael Joseph Savage Portrait (cropped).jpg — Spencer Digby, CC BY-SA 2.0.

## Cite this page

"Michael Joseph Savage". DigiNepal. Last updated 2 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/michael-joseph-savage. Retrieved 6 November 2026.