[1] His doctoral thesis, supervised by Robert Chapman, was titled Continuing transformation: the structure, composition, and functioning of the New Zealand Labour Party in the Auckland region, 1949-70.
A hundred Waikato women canvassed every house in Tokoroa and Putaruru over two days, using the street lists and blue dot system.
In 1975 he unsuccessfully sought the Labour Party candidacy for the Onehunga electorate alongside 26 other aspirants following the retirement of Hugh Watt, but lost to Frank Rogers.
In 2004 Gustafson retired as Professor of Political Studies, and was appointed Acting Director of the New Zealand Asia Institute, a position he held until 2006.
In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, Gustafson was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to political science and historical research.