- Born:
- February 26, 1950, Hamilton, New Zealand (age 76)
- Title / Office:
- prime minister (1999-2008), New Zealand
- Political Affiliation:
- New Zealand Labour Party
Helen Clark
-
Who is Helen Clark?
Helen Clark (born February 26, 1950) is a New Zealand politician who served as prime minister from 1999 to 2008, the first woman in New Zealand to hold that office immediately following an election.
Clark joined the Labour Party in 1971 and was elected to Parliament in 1981. She became a member of the cabinet in 1987, holding various portfolios, and in 1989–90, she served as deputy prime minister, the first woman in New Zealand to hold that office. In 1993, she was elected head of the Labour Party, also a first for a woman in New Zealand.
In 1999, the Labour Party was able to form a governing coalition, and Clark was elected prime minister. After an economic downturn, Clark’s Labour Party was defeated in 2008, and Clark stepped down as Labour leader. From 2009 to 2017, she served as administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.
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What country did Helen Clark lead as prime minister?
Helen Clark served as prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, making her the first woman in New Zealand to hold that office immediately following an election. As prime minister, Clark addressed controversial issues such as Maori rights and same-sex civil unions. In 2003, her government legalized prostitution and opposed the U.S. and British invasion of Iraq. Clark was reelected in 2002 and 2005, becoming the first New Zealand prime minister to secure three consecutive terms. In 2008, amid an economic downturn, Clark's Labour Party was defeated by the National Party.
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When was Helen Clark the prime minister of New Zealand?
Helen Clark served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, making her the first woman in New Zealand to hold the office of prime minister immediately following an election. During her time as prime minister, Clark addressed controversial issues, such as same-sex civil unions, Maori rights, and prostitution, which was legalized in 2003. In the 2008 election, the Labour Party was defeated by John Key and the National Party amidst an economic downturn.
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What political party did Helen Clark belong to?
Helen Clark belonged to the New Zealand Labour Party. She joined the party in 1971 and held various positions within it throughout the 1970s. In 1993, Clark was elected head of the Labour Party, becoming the first woman in New Zealand to head a major party.
Clark served as prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, leading a coalition government. After the Labour Party's defeat in the 2008 election, Clark stepped down as Labour leader.
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What were some important achievements during Helen Clark's time as prime minister?
Helen Clark, New Zealand's prime minister from 1999 to 2008, was the first woman in New Zealand to hold the office of prime minister immediately following an election. During her time as prime minister, Clark addressed many controversial issues, including Maori rights and same-sex civil unions. In 2003, her government legalized prostitution and opposed the U.S. and British invasion of Iraq. In 2002 and 2005, she was reelected, becoming the first New Zealand prime minister to secure three consecutive terms in office. Throughout her career, Clark was known as a skillful politician and advocate of nuclear disarmament and public health policy.
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What did Helen Clark do after being prime minister?
Following her tenure as prime minister of New Zealand (1999–2008), Helen Clark stepped down as Labour leader. From 2009 to 2017, she served as administrator of the United Nations Development Programme. In 2009, Clark was also made a member of the Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest honor. In 2019, the Helen Clark Foundation, a public-policy think tank, was established.
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Helen Clark (born February 26, 1950, Hamilton, New Zealand) is a New Zealand politician who was prime minister (1999–2008). She was the first woman in New Zealand to hold the office of prime minister immediately following an election.
Clark, the oldest of four children of George and Margaret Clark, grew up on a sheep and cattle farm in Te Pahu, west of Hamilton. She left home at age 12 to attend Epsom Girls Grammar School in Auckland. After graduation, she enrolled in the University of Auckland, where she received bachelor’s (1971) and master’s (1974) degrees in political science and taught from 1973 to 1981.
Clark joined the Labour Party in 1971 and during the following decade held a variety of positions within the party. In parliamentary elections in 1975, she was selected as the Labour candidate for a seat that was considered safe for the conservative National Party. Although she lost that election, she was elected to Parliament from a different constituency in 1981. As chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee (1984–87), she played a major role in the country’s adoption of an antinuclear policy, which effectively ended the ANZUS Pact and led to reduced military ties between New Zealand and the United States. In 1987 Clark became a member of the cabinet, holding at various times the portfolios of housing, conservation, labour, and health. In 1989–90 she served as deputy prime minister, and in 1990 she was appointed to the Privy Council, becoming the first woman in New Zealand to hold those offices.
After the National Party’s return to power in 1990, Clark became deputy leader of the opposition in Parliament. In 1993 she was elected head of the Labour Party—becoming the first woman in New Zealand to head a major party—and thus served as leader of the opposition. In 1999, when the Labour Party was able to form a governing coalition, Clark was elected prime minister. Holding the portfolio of arts and culture herself, she appointed an extraordinarily diverse cabinet, including 11 women and 4 Maori. As prime minister, Clark addressed many controversial issues, including Maori rights, same-sex civil unions, and prostitution, which was legalized in 2003. Her government also opposed the U.S. and British invasion of Iraq (see Iraq War). She was reelected prime minister in both 2002 and 2005, the first New Zealand prime minister to secure three consecutive terms in office. Amid an economic downturn, Clark’s Labour Party was defeated by John Key and the National Party in the 2008 election. Clark subsequently stepped down as Labour leader. From 2009 to 2017 she served as administrator of the United Nations Development Programme.
Throughout her career, Clark enjoyed a reputation as a skillful politician and a capable advocate of nuclear disarmament and public health policy. For her work on peace and disarmament, she was awarded the Peace Prize from the Danish Peace Foundation in 1986. In 2009 she was made a member of the Order of New Zealand, the country’s highest honour. The Helen Clark Foundation, a public-policy think tank, was established in 2019.