The Right Honourable  Helen Elizabeth Clark  MP, SSI
Prime Minister of New Zealand
Incumbent
Assumed office  05 December 1999
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Michael Hardie Boys Silvia Cartwright Anand Satyanand
Deputy	Jim Anderton Michael Cullen
Preceded by	Jenny Shipley
Leader of the Opposition
In office 01 December 1993 – 05 December 1999
Deputy	Michael Cullen
Preceded by	Mike Moore
Succeeded by	Jenny Shipley
Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
In office 08 August 1989 – 02 November 1990
Prime Minister	Geoffrey Palmer Mike Moore
Preceded by	Geoffrey Palmer
Succeeded by	Don McKinnon
Member of the New Zealand Parliament for Mount Albert
Incumbent
Assumed office  28 November 1981
Preceded by	Warren Freer
Majority	14,749[1]
Born	26 February 1950 (1950-02-26) (age 58) Hamilton, New Zealand
Political party	Labour
Spouse	Peter Davis
Occupation	Politician
Religion	Agnostic[2]

Helen Elizabeth Clark (born February 26, 1950) is the 37th and current Prime Minister of New Zealand. The Right Honourable (abbreviated as The Rt Hon) is an Honorific prefix that is traditionally applied to certain The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's Head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II Sir Michael Hardie Boys, GNZM, GCMG, QSO (born 1931 is a New Zealand jurist and was the country's 17th Governor-General, from Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright, PCNZM, DBE, QSO ( née Poulter (born November 7 1943) was New Zealand 's second Anand "Satch" Satyanand, PCNZM, QSO (born 22 July 1944) is the Governor-General of New Zealand. James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton (born 21 January 1938) is leader of the Progressive Party, a Political party for the Australian ornithologist see John Michael Cullen Michael John Cullen (born 5 February 1945, London) is a Jennifer Mary Shipley, DCNZM, (born 4 February 1952, Gore New Zealand) was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who at least in theory commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) for the Australian ornithologist see John Michael Cullen Michael John Cullen (born 5 February 1945, London) is a Michael Kenneth Moore ONZ (known as Mike Moore, born 28 January 1949) is a Politician from New Zealand who has served both Jennifer Mary Shipley, DCNZM, (born 4 February 1952, Gore New Zealand) was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand is second most senior officer in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate Events 1220 - Sweden is defeated by Estonian tribes in the Battle of Lihula. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer, KCMG, AC (born 21 April 1942) served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from August Michael Kenneth Moore ONZ (known as Mike Moore, born 28 January 1949) is a Politician from New Zealand who has served both Geoffrey Palmer can refer to Sir Geoffrey Palmer 1st Baronet (1598–1670 English lawyer and politician Geoffrey Palmer (actor (b Donald Charles McKinnon, ONZ (born February 27, 1939) is a former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New The Parliament of New Zealand consists of the Queen of New Zealand and the New Zealand House of Representatives and until 1951 the New Zealand Legislative Council Mount Albert is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Warren Wilfred Freer (born 1921 was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hamilton ( Kirikiriroa in Māori) is the centre of New Zealand 's fourth largest Urban area, and is the country's seventh largest City New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party Professor Peter Davis (BA S'ton MSc Lond PhD is a sociologist and the husband of New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. A politician (from Greek " Polis " is an individual who is involved in influencing public decision making through the influence of Politics or a person Agnosticism ( Greek: α- a-, without + γνώσις gnōsis, knowledge after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's Head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in She is New Zealand's second female Prime Minister and has been in office since December 1999, entering her third successive term in 2005. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island In 2007 Forbes magazine ranked her as the 38th most powerful woman in the world. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Forbes is an American Publishing and media company Its flagship publication Forbes magazine is published bi-weekly ^[3]

Contents 1 Early life 2 Member of Parliament 2.1 Cabinet Minister 2.2 Leader of the Opposition 3 Prime Minister 3.1 Social policy 3.2 Economic growth 3.3 Stable government 3.4 Crime-rate 3.5 Foreign policy 4 Controversies 5 Honours 6 Biography 7 References 8 See also 9 Further reading 10 External links 11 Political offices

Early life

Clark grew up as the eldest of four daughters of a Waikato farming family. Her mother, Margaret, of Irish birth, worked as a primary-school teacher. Her father, George, a farmer, supported the National Party at the 1981 election. The New Zealand National Party ("National" or "the Nats" currently forms the second-largest (in terms of parliamentary seats Political party Clark studied at Te Pahu Primary School, at Epsom Girls' Grammar School in Auckland and at the University of Auckland, where she majored in politics and graduated with an MA (Honours) in 1974. Epsom Girls Grammar School is a leading girls school located in Epsom, a suburb of Auckland, New Zealand. The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country The University of Auckland (Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau is New Zealand 's largest University. Her thesis research focused on rural political behaviour and representation. ^[4]

Helen Clark worked as a junior lecturer in political studies at the University of Auckland from 1973 to 1975, studied abroad on a University Grants Committee post-graduate scholarship in 1976, and then lectured in political studies at Auckland again while undertaking her PhD (which she never completed) from 1977 until her election to Parliament in 1981. The University of Auckland (Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau is New Zealand 's largest University. The University of Auckland (Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau is New Zealand 's largest University. "PhD" redirects here for other uses see PhD (disambiguation. The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament.

She married sociologist Peter Davis, her partner of five years at that time, shortly before that election (under pressure from some members of the New Zealand Labour Party to marry despite her own feelings about marriage — her biography reports that she cried throughout the ceremony, although she attributes that to a headache). Sociology (from Latin: socius "companion" and the suffix -ology "the study of" from Greek λόγος lógos "knowledge" Professor Peter Davis (BA S'ton MSc Lond PhD is a sociologist and the husband of New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** ^[5] Dr Davis currently works as a professor in medical sociology and heads the Sociology Department at the University of Auckland. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The University of Auckland (Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau is New Zealand 's largest University.

As a teenager Clark became politically active, protesting against the Vietnam War and campaigning against foreign military bases in New Zealand. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, or the Vietnam Conflict, occurred in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia She has declared herself agnostic. Agnosticism ( Greek: α- a-, without + γνώσις gnōsis, knowledge after Gnosticism) is the philosophical view that the ^[2]

Clark has worked actively in the New Zealand Labour Party for most of her life. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party She served as a member of the Party's New Zealand executive from 1978 until September 1988 and again from April 1989. She chaired the University of Auckland Princes Street branch of the Labour Party during her studies, becoming active alongside future Labour Party politicians including Richard Prebble, David Caygill, Margaret Wilson, and Richard Northey. The University of Auckland (Te Whare Wānanga o Tāmaki Makaurau is New Zealand 's largest University. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party Richard William Prebble CBE, born 7 February 1948, was for many years a member of the New Zealand Parliament. David Caygill, CBE (born 1948 is a former New Zealand politician Margaret Wilson (born 20 May 1947) a New Zealand politician currently serves as Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives. Richard John Northey ( 28 April 1945 -) is a New Zealand politician Clark held the positions of president of the Labour Youth Council, executive member of the Party's Auckland Regional Council, secretary of the Labour Women's Council and member of the Policy Council.

She represented the New Zealand Labour Party at the congresses of the Socialist International and of the Socialist International Women in 1976, 1978, 1983 and 1986, at an Asia-Pacific Socialist Organisation Conference held in Sydney in 1981, and at the Socialist International Party Leaders' Meeting in Sydney in 1991. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party Socialist International is a worldwide organization of socialist ( social democratic and labour) political parties Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4

Member of Parliament

Parliament	Term	Electorate	List Position	Party
40th	1981-1984	Mt Albert		Labour
41st	1984-1987	Mt Albert		Labour
42nd	1987-1990	Mt Albert		Labour
43rd	1990-1993	Mt Albert		Labour
44th	1993-1996	Mt Albert		Labour
45th	1996-1999	Owairaka	1	Labour
46th	1999-2002	Mt Albert	1	Labour
47th	2002-2005	Mt Albert	1	Labour
48th	2005-	Mt Albert	1	Labour

Helen Clark first gained election to the New Zealand House of Representatives in the 1981 general election as one of four women who entered Parliament on that occasion. The 40th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 41st New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 42nd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 43rd New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 44th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 45th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 46th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 47th New Zealand Parliament was the most recent term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 48th New Zealand Parliament was a term of the Parliament of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The New Zealand House of Representatives is the Legislature of New Zealand. The 1981 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. In winning the Mount Albert electorate in Auckland, she became the second woman elected to represent an Auckland electorate, and the seventeenth woman elected to the New Zealand Parliament. The Auckland metropolitan area or Greater Auckland, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country At the 2005 general election Clark won 66% of the electorate votes, or 20,918 votes with a 14,749 majority. The 2005 New Zealand general election took place on 17 September 2005 and determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. ^[1] During her first term in the House (1981 - 1984), she became a member of the Statutes Revision Committee. In her second term (1984 - 1987), she chaired the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Select Committee on Disarmament and Arms Control, both of which combined with the Defence Select Committee in 1985 to form a single committee. See also Committee A Select Committee is a committee made up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues

Cabinet Minister

In 1987, Clark became a Cabinet Minister in the Fourth Labour Government, led by David Lange (1984-1989), Geoffrey Palmer (1989-1990) and Mike Moore (1990), first as Minister of Housing and as Minister of Conservation, then as Minister of Health and later as Deputy Prime Minister. The Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 26 July 1984 to 2 November 1990 David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH (who pronounced his name ˈlɒŋi long-ee) (4 August 1942 – 13 August 2005 served as Prime Minister of New Zealand Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer, KCMG, AC (born 21 April 1942) served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from August Michael Kenneth Moore ONZ (known as Mike Moore, born 28 January 1949) is a Politician from New Zealand who has served both The Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand is second most senior officer in the Government of New Zealand, although this seniority does not necessarily translate

Clark served as Minister of Conservation from August 1987 until January 1989 and as Minister of Housing from August 1987 until August 1989. She became Minister of Health in January 1989 and Minister of Labour and Deputy Prime Minister in August 1989. She chaired the Cabinet Social Equity Committee and became a member of the Cabinet Policy Committee, of the Cabinet Committee on Chief Executives, of the Cabinet Economic Development and Employment Committee, of the Cabinet Expenditure Review Committee, of the Cabinet State Agencies Committee, of the Cabinet Honours Appointments and Travel Committee and of the Cabinet Domestic and External Security Committee.

Leader of the Opposition

From October 1990 until December 1993 Clark held the posts of Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Opposition spokesperson for Health and Labour and member of the Social Services Select Committee and of the Labour Select Committee. After the National Party won the 1993 general election with a majority of one seat, Clark challenged Mike Moore for the leadership of the parliamentary Labour Party and became Leader of the Opposition on 1 December 1993. The New Zealand National Party ("National" or "the Nats" currently forms the second-largest (in terms of parliamentary seats Political party The 1993 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the New Zealand Parliament. Michael Kenneth Moore ONZ (known as Mike Moore, born 28 January 1949) is a Politician from New Zealand who has served both The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who at least in theory commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Events 800 - Charlemagne judges the accusations against Pope Leo III in the Vatican Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) She led the Opposition during the National-led Governments of Jim Bolger (1990-1997) and Jenny Shipley (1997-1999). The Fourth National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 2 November 1990 to 27 November 1999 Rt Hon James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ (born 31 May 1935) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997 Jennifer Mary Shipley, DCNZM, (born 4 February 1952, Gore New Zealand) was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December

Prime Minister

Main article: Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand

When the New Zealand Labour Party came into office as part of a coalition following the 1999 election, Clark became the second female Prime Minister of New Zealand and the first to have won office at an election. The Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand is the current government of New Zealand. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The 1999 New Zealand general election was a nationwide vote to determine the shape of the 46th session of the New Zealand Parliament. (The previous Prime Minister, Jenny Shipley took office as the result of a mid-term party-leadership challenge. Jennifer Mary Shipley, DCNZM, (born 4 February 1952, Gore New Zealand) was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December ) During her term in office women have held a number of prominent offices in New Zealand, such as the Queen, Governor-General, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice. TalkCommonewalth realm.--> New Zealand The Governor-General of New Zealand (Te Kawana Tianara o Aotearoa is the representative of the Sovereign in right of New Zealand (currently Queen In New Zealand the Speaker of the House of Representatives is the individual who chairs the country's legislative body the New Zealand House of Representatives The Chief Justice of New Zealand is the head of the New Zealand judiciary and presides over the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

Clark has held the positions of Prime Minister and of Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage from 1999 until the present. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. She also has ministerial responsibility for the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and for Ministerial Services. The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service ( NZSIS or SIS) is an Intelligence agency of the New Zealand Government. Her particular areas of interest include social policy and international affairs.

As Leader of the Labour Party, Clark negotiated the formation of successive minority coalition governments. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The first such coalition (1999-2002) linked the Labour Party with the Alliance Party (1999). The Alliance, in New Zealand politics, is a Left-wing political party The coalition with the Alliance Party collapsed in 2002. The Alliance, in New Zealand politics, is a Left-wing political party In consequence, Clark called an early election and then went into coalition with Jim Anderton's Progressive Party, a spin-off of the Alliance Party (2002, with parliamentary supply and confidence coming from United Future and a "good-faith" agreement with the Green Party). James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton (born 21 January 1938) is leader of the Progressive Party, a Political party The Progressive Party is a Political party in New Zealand. It is presently the junior partner in the governing coalition being somewhat to the left of The Alliance, in New Zealand politics, is a Left-wing political party United Future New Zealand is a New Zealand Political party. As of 2008 it has two members of the New Zealand Parliament – party leader Peter Dunne The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand is a Political party in the New Zealand parliament. In 2005, following the election of that year, the Labour Party and the Progressive Party renewed their coalition, gaining supply-and-confidence support from both New Zealand First and United Future in exchange for giving the leaders of those parties ministerial positions outside Cabinet. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party The Progressive Party is a Political party in New Zealand. It is presently the junior partner in the governing coalition being somewhat to the left of New Zealand First is a Political party in New Zealand. It has had members in the New Zealand House of Representatives since 1993 United Future New Zealand is a New Zealand Political party. As of 2008 it has two members of the New Zealand Parliament – party leader Peter Dunne The New Zealand Cabinet functions as the policy and decision-making body of the Executive branch within the New Zealand government system

“	I think it's inevitable that New Zealand will become a republic and that would reflect the reality that New Zealand is a totally sovereign-independent 21st century nation 12,000 miles from the United Kingdom	”
— Prime Minister Helen Clark, [6]

Clark, like some other MPs and many New Zealanders (including some Labour Party members), supports New Zealand becoming a republic. Republicanism in New Zealand is a movement to change the country's current status as a Commonwealth realm and Constitutional monarchy to that of a Commonwealth Some critics of Clark's government have derided her support for a republic, arguing that the Prime Minister has no mandate for such a change. ^[7] However, Clark's predecessor, National Prime Minister Jim Bolger also publicly indicated his support for a republic in 1994, during his tenure as Prime Minister. The New Zealand National Party ("National" or "the Nats" currently forms the second-largest (in terms of parliamentary seats Political party Rt Hon James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ (born 31 May 1935) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997 Clark's term in office has seen a number of alleged moves towards a republic, under her government's policy of building national identity. A nation is a Human Cultural and Social Community. In as much as most members never meet each other yet feel a common bond it may be considered Examples include the abolition of appeals to the Privy Council and the setting up of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, the abolition of titular Knighthood and Damehood honours, and the abolition of the title "Queen's Counsel" (replaced by "Senior Counsel"). The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom, established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court in the land and the Court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence at the beginning

On 10 January 2007, Clark passed Sir Joseph Ward to become New Zealand's seventh-longest serving Prime Minister. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon, signaling the start of civil war. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Sir Joseph George Ward 1st Baronet, GCMG (1856 - 1930 was Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century On 24 July 2008 she will pass Sir Robert Muldoon to become the sixth-longest-serving Prime Minister. Events 1132 - Battle of Nocera between Ranulf II of Alife and Roger II of Sicily. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Sir Robert David ("Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH ( 25 September 1921 &ndash 5 August 1992) served as Prime Minister ^[8] Should a Clark government win re-election at the New Zealand general election, 2008 Clark could serve until November 2011, passing Sir Keith Holyoake to become New Zealand's third-longest serving Prime Minister. A general election will be held in New Zealand on November 8 2008 to determine the composition of the 49th New Zealand Parliament, and thus the makeup of the Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ ( 11 February 1904 - 8 December 1983 Clark would need to stay in office until 17 January 2013 (slightly over thirteen years) to become the longest-serving Prime Minister in New Zealand's history. Events 38 BC - Octavian marries Livia Drusilla. 1287 - King Alfonso III of Aragon invades Minorca 2013 ( MMXIII) will be a Common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. (See List of New Zealand Prime Ministers by term. The following is a list of Prime Ministers of New Zealand ranked by their total term in office (multiple terms are added together to give the total term in office ) On February 8 2008, Clark became the longest serving leader of the Labour Party in its history (although some dispute exists over when Harry Holland became leader), having served for 14 years, 69 days^[9]. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party For the Reform Party politician and Mayor of Christchurch see Henry Holland Henry Edmund (Harry Holland ( 10

Social policy

Clark's government has brought in significant changes to the New Zealand welfare system, such as introducing child tax credits in the Working for Families package. Waitangi Day is the National day of New Zealand. It is a public holiday held each year on February 6 to celebrate the signing of the Treaty A child tax credit is a Tax credit based on the number of dependent children in a family In 2004 the New Zealand Labour government introduced the Working for Families package as part of the 2004 budget Her government has also changed industrial-relations law and raised the minimum wage six times in as many years. Labour law (also known as employment or labor law is the body of Laws administrative rulings and precedents which address the legal rights of and restrictions A minimum wage is the lowest hourly daily or monthly Wage that employers may legally pay to employees or workers Changes have also occurred in tertiary-education financing, with the abolition of interest on student-loans — firstly for those currently studying, then extended to all borrowers living in New Zealand. Other changes introduced during Clark's term in office include legal provision for civil unions, the introduction of 14 weeks' paid parental leave, and the Property (Relationships) Act, which treats property division after the breakup of de facto relationships the same as after the breakup of legal marriages. A civil union is a legally recognized union similar to Marriage. ^[10] Some of these measures, though initiated by other members of parliament or political parties, nevertheless gained the government support.

Economic growth

Some commentators have praised Helen Clark (along with the Minister of Finance Michael Cullen) for overseeing a period of sustained and stable economic growth, with an increase in employment that has seen a gradual lowering of the unemployment rate to 3. for the Australian ornithologist see John Michael Cullen Michael John Cullen (born 5 February 1945, London) is a 6%. Although her critics acknowledge these factors, many such critics maintain that the growth has come about as the result of wider economic factors, and that increases in the sickness benefit have caused (at least in part) the decrease in unemployment. On the other hand, total beneficiary numbers (a measurement that includes both unemployment- and sickness- beneficiaries) have shrunk during Helen Clark's time in office. Other economic concerns for Clark's government include a persistently high current-account deficit and an unofficial poverty-rate of about twenty percent. In Economics, the current account is one of the two primary components of the Balance of payments, the other being the Capital account.

Stable government

“	Our prime minister has been rather unique in being a great lover of the out of doors and she's always off climbing something, doing something exciting and I think that New Zealanders admire that. That is sort of the way of life that they have come to accept in our little old island in the south seas. But Helen as been particularly strong in this respect. So long may she reign.	”
—- Sir Edmund Hillary[11]

Even though some commentators saw stable government within the relatively new MMP electoral system as unlikely, Clark's supporters credit her with maintaining two terms of stable MMP government, as well as with forming the current government given the relatively close election-result. Sir Edmund Percival Hillary, KG, ONZ, KBE (20 July 1919 &ndash 11 January 2008 was a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer Electoral Reform in New Zealand has in recent years become a political issue as major changes have been made to both Parliamentary and local government elections In 1993 New Zealand adopted Mixed member proportional as its electoral system for the House of Representatives after many years of First-past-the-post The 2005 New Zealand general election took place on 17 September 2005 and determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. In 2005, Forbes ranked Clark as number 24 of "The 100 Most Powerful Women" in the world,^[12] and then higher at number 20 in 2006^[3]. Forbes is an American Publishing and media company Its flagship publication Forbes magazine is published bi-weekly

Crime-rate

New Zealand Police statistics report a drop in the rate of recorded offences by population over the period of Clark's premiership, which continued the trend shown in years prior to her becoming Prime Minister. The New Zealand Police ( Ngā Pirihimana o Aotearoa) is the national Police force of New Zealand, responsible for enforcing criminal and ^[13] This corresponds with a survey of victims of crime, which reported very little change in the number of victims of crime between 1995 and 2000, despite a slight increase in population. A victim study ( or victimisation survey) (or victimization study is a survey such as the British Crime Survey, that asks a sample of people which crimes have been ^[14] New Zealand crime-figures for 2005/2006 showed an increase in a recorded crime over the previous financial year, but rates remained lower than in 1999. ^[15]

Foreign policy

Main article: Foreign relations of New Zealand

New Zealand has, during Clark's terms of office, pursued what she and her supporters call an independent foreign policy. New Zealand retains a nuclear-free zone status, a stance also taken by the opposition National Party, (possibly at the cost of a free-trade agreement with the United States of America), and refused to participate in the Iraq invasion without UN sanction. In 1984, Prime Minister David Lange barred nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed ships from using New Zealand ports or entering New Zealand waters Free trade is a system in which the trade of goods and services between or within countries flows unhindered by government-imposed restrictions The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia In March 2003 the US government announced that " Diplomacy has failed" and that it would proceed with a "coalition of the willing" to rid Iraq of

In March 2003, referring to the U. S. led coalition's actions in the Iraq War, Clark told the newspaper Sunday Star Times that, "I don't think that September 11 under a Gore presidency would have had this consequence for Iraq. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign The Sunday Star-Times is a New Zealand newspaper published each weekend by the Fairfax group in Auckland. Albert Arnold Gore Jr (born March 31 1948 is an American environmental Activist, author Businessperson, former Politician, and former For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iraq topics. " She later sent a letter to Washington apologising for any offence that her comment may have caused. ^[16]

In a report in the People's Daily, Chinese President Jiang Zemin referred to Clark as an "old friend". The People's Daily ( a daily Newspaper, is the organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, published worldwide with a circulation Jiang Zemin ( born 17 August 1926 was the "core of the third generation " of Communist Party of China leaders serving as General Secretary of He hoped to "establish bilateral long-term and stable overall cooperative relations with a healthy development geared to the 21st century", and "broad prospects for bilateral economic cooperation". Clark had strongly supported China's entry into the WTO. ^[17]

Controversies

In 2000, Labour MP Chris Carter investigated the background of one of Clark's Cabinet colleagues, Māori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels. Christopher Joseph Carter (born 1952 is a New Zealand politician and a member of Cabinet. During the investigation, Clark referred to John Yelash as a murderer. However, the court system had convicted Yelash of manslaughter. Yelash sued Clark for defamation, resulting in an out-of-court settlement.

Clark signed a painting for a charity-auction that someone else had painted. A political controversy arose about it, and after it emerged that she had not painted it, Opposition politicians referred the matter to the New Zealand Police. The Police found evidence for a prima facie case of forgery, but determined that it was not in the public interest to prosecute. Prima facie is a Latin expression meaning "on its first appearance" or "by first instance" ^[18] A staff member bought the painting back and destroyed it.

In 2000, the then Police Commissioner, Peter Doone, resigned after the Sunday Star-Times alleged he had prevented the breath testing of his partner Robyn, who had driven the car they occupied, by telling the officer "that won't be necessary". The Sunday Star-Times is a New Zealand newspaper published each weekend by the Fairfax group in Auckland. Driving under the influence of alcohol ( driving while intoxicated, drunk driving, drinking and driving, drink-driving) or other drugs Both Doone and the officer involved denied this happened. Doone sued the Sunday Star-Times for defamation in 2005 but the paper revealed they had checked the story with Clark. She confirmed this, but denied that she had made attempts to get Doone to resign and defended being the source as "by definition I cannot leak". Helen Clark also responded by saying that National's friends had funded Mr Doone's defamation-suit. The New Zealand National Party ("National" or "the Nats" currently forms the second-largest (in terms of parliamentary seats Political party ^[19] Opinion on the significance of this incident varied. ^[20]

In 2005, a motorcade involving police, Diplomatic Protection Squad, and Ministerial Services staff reached speeds of up to 172 km/h when taking Clark and Cabinet Minister Jim Sutton from Waimate to Christchurch Airport so she could attend a rugby union match in Wellington. James Robert Sutton, CNZM (born 7 November 1941) generally known as Jim Sutton, was a New Zealand politician from 1984 - 1990 The article is about the town in the South Island New Zealand Christchurch International Airport is the main Airport that serves Christchurch, New Zealand. Overview See also Playing rugby union A rugby union match lasts for 80 minutes (plus stoppage time with a short Wellington (ˈwælɪŋtən is the Capital of New Zealand, the country's second largest urban area, the The courts subsequently convicted the drivers involved for driving offences, but appeals resulted in the quashing of these convictions in December 2005 and August 2006. ^[21] Clark said that she was busy working in the back seat and had no influence or role in the decision to speed and did not realise the speed of her vehicle. ^[22]

Some observers criticised Clark for some of Labour's election-campaign spending during the 2005 election campaign. The 2005 New Zealand general election took place on 17 September 2005 and determined the composition of the 48th New Zealand Parliament. Investigations found that the Labour Party, like all parties represented in Parliament except for Jim Anderton's Progressives, had illegally spent parliamentary funds on its election campaign. The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party James Patrick Anderton, usually known as Jim Anderton (born 21 January 1938) is leader of the Progressive Party, a Political party The Progressive Party is a Political party in New Zealand. It is presently the junior partner in the governing coalition being somewhat to the left of Labour had spent $768,000 illegally, and this meant Labour also exceeded the legal limits for campaign-spending, the only party to have done so. Despite disagreeing with the Auditor-General's conclusion, Clark announced Labour would refund the public purse and it did so in 2007. See 2005 New Zealand election funding controversy. The 2005 New Zealand election funding controversy occurred in the aftermath of the 2005 New Zealand general election.

In 2007, Clark's Government introduced the Electoral Finance Act, which placed restrictions on the spending of lobby-groups, who must now register with a government agency if they are spending over a certain amount^[23]. The Electoral Finance Act 2007 is a controversial enactment regarding electoral finance law in New Zealand. An interest group (also advocacy group, lobby group, pressure group or special interest group) is an organized collection of people who seek So far, the Act has been highly controversial and has attracted severe criticism from organizations such as the New Zealand Herald for its alleged attack on freedom of speech. The New Zealand Herald is a daily Broadsheet Newspaper published in Auckland, New Zealand. ^[24]

Honours

The government of the Solomon Islands awarded Clark (together with John Howard) the Star of the Solomon Islands in 2005 in recognition of New Zealand's role in restoring law and order in the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands is a country in Melanesia, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands See also Howard Government John Winston Howard AC (born 26 July 1939 was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia from 11 March Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ^[25] This award allows her to use the post-nominal letters "SSI". ^[26]

In January 2008 Clark won the United Nations Environment Programme Champions of the Earth award in recognition of the government’s promotion of sustainability initiatives. PortalCurrent events International holidays January 1 - New Year's Day January 1 - Independence The UN Environment Programme (or UNEP) coordinates United Nations environmental activities assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies The United Nations Environment Programme established Champions of the Earth in 2005 as an annual awards programme to recognize outstanding environmental leaders at a policy ^[27]

Helen Clark is an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation. ^[28]

Biography

• Edwards, Brian (2001), Helen: Portrait of A Prime Minister, Auckland, [N. Z. ]: Exisle Publishing, ISBN 0-908988-20-6 

References

See also

• Politics of New Zealand
• New Zealand
• List of Nuclear-Free Future Award recipients

Further reading

• Kerr, Allan R. The politics of New Zealand takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic Monarchy. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island The Nuclear-Free Future Award annually honours the architects of a nuclear-free planet (c. 2006), Helen Clark: Prime Minister of New Zealand (3rd ed. ), Masterton, [N. Z. ]: Capital Letters Pub. , ISBN 1-877-17757-1 

This is a book intended for children.

• Miller, Raymond & Mintrom, Michael (eds. ) (c. 2006), Political leadership in New Zealand, Auckland, [N. Z. ]: Auckland University Press, ISBN 1-869-40358-4 

A paper by John Henderson and Seishi Gomibuchi is entitled: "The leadership styles of Helen Clark and Don Brash. Dr Donald Thomas Brash (born 24 September 1940) a former New Zealand politician served as the Leader of the Opposition and parliamentary leader "

• Williams, Tony (2006), 101 ingenious Kiwis: how New Zealanders changed the world, Auckland, [N. Z. ]: Reed, ISBN 9780790011103 

Helen Clark is profiled in a chapter entitled: " Helen Clark: first elected woman prime minister. The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's Head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in "

External links

• Prime Minister of New Zealand
• New Zealand Labour Party page for Helen Clark
• Helen Clark at the Internet Movie Database

Political offices

Assembly seats
Preceded by Warren Freer	Member of Parliament for Mt Albert 1981 – present	Incumbent
Political offices
Preceded by Mike Moore	Leader of the Opposition 1993 – 1999	Succeeded by Jenny Shipley
	Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party 1993 – present	Incumbent
Preceded by Jenny Shipley	Prime Minister of New Zealand 1999 – present

 

Prime Minister of New Zealand v • d • e
Preceded by: Jenny Shipley	(1999 –)	Succeeded by: (Incumbent)
Sewell | Fox | Stafford | Domett | Whitaker | Weld | Waterhouse | Vogel | Pollen | Atkinson | Grey | Hall | Stout | Ballance | Seddon | Hall-Jones | Ward | Mackenzie | Massey | Bell | Coates | Forbes | Savage | Fraser | Holland | Nash | Holyoake | Marshall | Kirk | Rowling | Muldoon | Lange | Palmer | Moore | Bolger | Shipley | Clark

Persondata
NAME	Clark, Helen Elizabeth
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION	Prime Minister of New Zealand, politician, academic
DATE OF BIRTH	February 26, 1950
PLACE OF BIRTH	Hamilton, New Zealand
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH

Warren Wilfred Freer (born 1921 was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. Mount Albert is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. Michael Kenneth Moore ONZ (known as Mike Moore, born 28 January 1949) is a Politician from New Zealand who has served both The Leader of the Opposition in New Zealand is the politician who at least in theory commands the support of the non-government bloc of members in the New Zealand Jennifer Mary Shipley, DCNZM, (born 4 February 1952, Gore New Zealand) was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party Jennifer Mary Shipley, DCNZM, (born 4 February 1952, Gore New Zealand) was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's Head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's Head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in Jennifer Mary Shipley, DCNZM, (born 4 February 1952, Gore New Zealand) was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December Henry Sewell (1807 - 1879 was a prominent 19th century New Zealand politician Sir William Fox, KCMG (1812 &ndash 23 June 1893) served as Premier of New Zealand on four occasions in the 19th century while New Sir Edward William Stafford, GCMG ( 23 April 1819 - 2 February 1901) served as Premier of New Zealand on Alfred Domett, CMG ( 20 May, 1811 &ndash 2 November, 1887) was an English colonial statesman and Poet. Sir Frederick Whitaker, KCMG (1812 - 1891 was an English-born New Zealand politician who served twice as Premier of New Zealand and six times as Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld, GCMG (1823 &ndash 1891 was a New Zealand politician and a governor of various British colonies George Marsden Waterhouse ( April 6 1824 &ndash August 6 1906) was a Premier of South Australia from October 8 Sir Julius Vogel, KCMG ( February 24, 1835 - March 12, 1899) was New Zealand 's only practicing Jewish Daniel Pollen ( June 2, 1813 - February 15, 1876) was the son of Hugh Pollen and Elizabeth née O'Neill, and became Henry Albert Atkinson (Known as Harry 1 November 1831 - 28 June 1892) served as Premier of New Zealand on four separate For other men with a similar name see George Grey (disambiguation or George Gray Sir George Grey, KCB ( 14 April Sir John Hall (c December 18, 1824  &ndash June 25, 1907) was born in Kingston upon Hull, England, and later Sir Robert Stout KCMG ( 28 September 1844 &ndash 19 July 1930) was Premier of New Zealand on two occasions in John Ballance ( March 27, 1839 – 27 April, 1893) served as Premier of New Zealand at the end of the 19th century and Richard John Seddon ( 27 April 1845 - 10 June 1906) sometimes known as King Dick, was the longest serving Prime Minister Sir William Hall-Jones, KCMG ( 16 January 1851 - 19 June 1936) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from June Sir Joseph George Ward 1st Baronet, GCMG (1856 - 1930 was Prime Minister of New Zealand on two occasions in the early 20th century Sir Thomas Mackenzie GCMG ( 10 March 1854 &ndash 14 February 1930) was a Scottish -born New Zealand politician William Ferguson Massey (often known simply as Bill Massey or " Farmer Bill " served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1912 Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell, GCMG, KC ( March 31, 1851, Nelson New Zealand – 13 March, 1936, Wellington Joseph Gordon Coates (1878-1943 served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1925 to 1928 George William Forbes (12 March 1869 - 17 May 1947 served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935 The New Zealand politician Michael Joseph Savage ( March 23, 1872 – March 27, 1940) became the first Labour Peter Fraser (1884 - 1950 served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 27 March 1940 until 13 December 1949. Sir Sidney George Holland, GCMG, CH, ( October 18 1893 - August 5 1961) was Prime Minister of New Zealand Sir Walter Nash, GCMG, CH ( 12 February 1882 &ndash 4 June 1968) served as Prime Minister of the Second Sir Keith Jacka Holyoake, KG, GCMG, CH, QSO, KStJ ( 11 February 1904 - 8 December 1983 Sir John Ross Marshall, GBE, CH, ( March 5, 1912 &ndash August 30, 1988) generally known as Jack Marshall Norman Eric Kirk ( 6 January 1923 &ndash 31 August 1974) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1972 until his sudden death in Sir Wallace Edward Rowling KCMG, ( 15 November 1927 - 31 October 1995) often known as Bill Rowling, was a Prime Sir Robert David ("Rob" Muldoon, GCMG, CH ( 25 September 1921 &ndash 5 August 1992) served as Prime Minister David Russell Lange, ONZ, CH (who pronounced his name ˈlɒŋi long-ee) (4 August 1942 – 13 August 2005 served as Prime Minister of New Zealand Sir Geoffrey Winston Russell Palmer, KCMG, AC (born 21 April 1942) served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from August Michael Kenneth Moore ONZ (known as Mike Moore, born 28 January 1949) is a Politician from New Zealand who has served both Rt Hon James Brendan "Jim" Bolger, ONZ (born 31 May 1935) was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1990 to 1997 Jennifer Mary Shipley, DCNZM, (born 4 February 1952, Gore New Zealand) was the Prime Minister of New Zealand from December The Prime Minister of New Zealand is New Zealand's Head of government consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in Events 747 BC - Epoch (origin of Ptolemy 's Nabonassar Era 364 - Valentinian I is proclaimed Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Hamilton ( Kirikiriroa in Māori) is the centre of New Zealand 's fourth largest Urban area, and is the country's seventh largest City New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island

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