Helen Clark
Name: Helen Clark
Date of Birth: 26 February 1950
Date of Death: N/A
Summary
I, Helen Elizabeth Clark, was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand, serving three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008. I was the first woman elected, at a general election, as the Prime Minister, and was the fifth longest serving person to hold that office. I have been Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the third-highest UN position, since 2009.
Work Experience
Prior to entering the New Zealand Parliament, I taught in the Political Studies Department of the University of Auckland. I graduated with a BA in 1971 and an MA with First Class Honours in 1974.
I came to the role of Prime Minister after an extensive parliamentary and ministerial career. First elected to Parliament in 1981, I was re-elected to my multicultural Auckland constituency for the tenth time in November 2008. Earlier in my career, I chaired Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Between 1987 and 1990, I was a Minister responsible for first, the portfolios of Conservation and Housing, and then Health and Labour. I was Deputy Prime Minister between August 1989 and November 1990. From that date until December 1993 I served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and then as Leader of the Opposition until winning the election in November 1999.
I served for nine years as Prime Minister of New Zealand, serving three successive terms from 1999 - 2008.
Volunteer Experience
Education
Epsom Girls’ Grammar School
1968-1971: University of Auckland
1974: University of Auckland
Honours and Awards
The government of the Solomon Islands awarded me (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. This award allows me to use the post-nominal letters "SSI”. In January 2008 I won the United Nations Environment Programme Champions of the Earth award in recognition of the government’s promotion of sustainability initiatives.
I am an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.
I was the patron of New Zealand Rugby League between 2002 and 2011 and I have served as the patron of the Mt Albert Lions rugby league club for over 20 years.
In January 2009, two months after losing office, I was voted Greatest Living New Zealander in an opt-in website poll run by the New Zealand Herald.
In April 2009, I was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by University of Auckland.
In the New Year Honours 2010 I was appointed to the Order of New Zealand for services to New Zealand.
Personal Interests
Outdoors: Hiking, tramping, mountain climbing
Personal Life
I was the eldest of four daughters of a farming family at Te Pahu in the Waikato Region. my mother, Margaret McMurray, of Irish birth, was a primary school teacher. My father, George, was a farmer. I studied at Te Pahu Primary School, at Epsom Girls' Grammar School in Auckland and at the University of Auckland, where I majored in politics and graduated with an MA (Honours) in 1974. My thesis focused on rural political behaviour and representation.
As a teenager I became politically active, protesting against the Vietnam War and campaigning against foreign military bases in New Zealand. I was brought up as a Presbyterian, attending Sunday school weekly. I am an agnostic.
In 1971 I assisted Labour candidates to the Auckland City Council. I was a junior lecturer in political studies at the University of Auckland from 1973 to 1975. I 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 I never completed) from 1977 until her election to Parliament in 1981 (my father supported the National Party that election).
I married sociologist Peter Davis, my partner of five years at that time, shortly before that election. We live apart but remain married. My husband currently is a professor in medical sociology and heads the Sociology Department at the University of Auckland.
I have worked actively in the New Zealand Labour Party for most of my life. I served as a member of the Party's New Zealand executive from 1978 until September 1988 and again from April 1989. I chaired the University of Auckland Princes Street branch of the Labour Party during my studies, becoming active alongside future Labour Party politicians including Richard Prebble, David Caygill, Margaret Wilson, and Richard Northey. I 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.
I 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.
In 1996, I guest starred as myself in Shortland Street. I have also guest-starred on bro'Town.
References
Peter Aimer. 'Labour Party', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 14-Dec-12. URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/labour-party
Helen Clark. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved 11 June 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Clark
McLean, Gavin (31 January 2014). "Helen Clark”. NZHistory.URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/helen-clark
Date of Birth: 26 February 1950
Date of Death: N/A
Summary
I, Helen Elizabeth Clark, was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand, serving three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008. I was the first woman elected, at a general election, as the Prime Minister, and was the fifth longest serving person to hold that office. I have been Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the third-highest UN position, since 2009.
Work Experience
Prior to entering the New Zealand Parliament, I taught in the Political Studies Department of the University of Auckland. I graduated with a BA in 1971 and an MA with First Class Honours in 1974.
I came to the role of Prime Minister after an extensive parliamentary and ministerial career. First elected to Parliament in 1981, I was re-elected to my multicultural Auckland constituency for the tenth time in November 2008. Earlier in my career, I chaired Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.
Between 1987 and 1990, I was a Minister responsible for first, the portfolios of Conservation and Housing, and then Health and Labour. I was Deputy Prime Minister between August 1989 and November 1990. From that date until December 1993 I served as Deputy Leader of the Opposition, and then as Leader of the Opposition until winning the election in November 1999.
I served for nine years as Prime Minister of New Zealand, serving three successive terms from 1999 - 2008.
Volunteer Experience
Education
Epsom Girls’ Grammar School
1968-1971: University of Auckland
1974: University of Auckland
Honours and Awards
The government of the Solomon Islands awarded me (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. This award allows me to use the post-nominal letters "SSI”. In January 2008 I won the United Nations Environment Programme Champions of the Earth award in recognition of the government’s promotion of sustainability initiatives.
I am an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.
I was the patron of New Zealand Rugby League between 2002 and 2011 and I have served as the patron of the Mt Albert Lions rugby league club for over 20 years.
In January 2009, two months after losing office, I was voted Greatest Living New Zealander in an opt-in website poll run by the New Zealand Herald.
In April 2009, I was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by University of Auckland.
In the New Year Honours 2010 I was appointed to the Order of New Zealand for services to New Zealand.
Personal Interests
Outdoors: Hiking, tramping, mountain climbing
Personal Life
I was the eldest of four daughters of a farming family at Te Pahu in the Waikato Region. my mother, Margaret McMurray, of Irish birth, was a primary school teacher. My father, George, was a farmer. I studied at Te Pahu Primary School, at Epsom Girls' Grammar School in Auckland and at the University of Auckland, where I majored in politics and graduated with an MA (Honours) in 1974. My thesis focused on rural political behaviour and representation.
As a teenager I became politically active, protesting against the Vietnam War and campaigning against foreign military bases in New Zealand. I was brought up as a Presbyterian, attending Sunday school weekly. I am an agnostic.
In 1971 I assisted Labour candidates to the Auckland City Council. I was a junior lecturer in political studies at the University of Auckland from 1973 to 1975. I 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 I never completed) from 1977 until her election to Parliament in 1981 (my father supported the National Party that election).
I married sociologist Peter Davis, my partner of five years at that time, shortly before that election. We live apart but remain married. My husband currently is a professor in medical sociology and heads the Sociology Department at the University of Auckland.
I have worked actively in the New Zealand Labour Party for most of my life. I served as a member of the Party's New Zealand executive from 1978 until September 1988 and again from April 1989. I chaired the University of Auckland Princes Street branch of the Labour Party during my studies, becoming active alongside future Labour Party politicians including Richard Prebble, David Caygill, Margaret Wilson, and Richard Northey. I 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.
I 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.
In 1996, I guest starred as myself in Shortland Street. I have also guest-starred on bro'Town.
References
Peter Aimer. 'Labour Party', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 14-Dec-12. URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/labour-party
Helen Clark. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved 11 June 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Clark
McLean, Gavin (31 January 2014). "Helen Clark”. NZHistory.URL: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/helen-clark