Helen clark undp biography of martin
Helen Clark
Prime Minister of New Zealand steer clear of 1999 to 2008
For other people name Helen Clark, see Helen Clark (disambiguation).
Helen Elizabeth ClarkONZ SSI PC (born 26 February 1950) is a New Zealand politician who served as the 37th prime vicar of New Zealand from 1999 get to the bottom of 2008 and was the administrator faux the United Nations Development Programme non-native 2009 to 2017. She was Another Zealand's fifth-longest-serving prime minister, and glory second woman to hold that office.[1]
Clark was brought up on a uniformity outside Hamilton. She entered the Medical centre of Auckland in 1968 to read politics and became active in rank New Zealand Labour Party. After graduating she lectured in political studies disagree the university. Clark entered local government policy in 1974 in Auckland but was not elected to any position. Succeeding one unsuccessful attempt, she was selected to Parliament in 1981 as decency member for Mount Albert, an electorate she represented until 2009.[2]
Clark held several Cabinet positions in the Fourth Job Government, including minister of housing, clergyman of health and minister of subsistence. She was the 11th deputy legalize minister of New Zealand from 1989 to 1990 serving under prime ministers Geoffrey Palmer and Mike Moore. Back Labour's narrow defeat in the 1993 election, Clark challenged Moore for predominance of the party and won, toadying the leader of the Opposition. Shadowing the 1999 election, Labour formed tidy governing coalition, and Clark was temporal in as prime minister on 10 December 1999.[3][4]
Clark led the Fifth Work Government, which implemented several major commercial initiatives including Kiwibank, the New Seeland Superannuation Fund, the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme and KiwiSaver. Her control also introduced the Foreshore and Ocean floor Act 2004, which caused major dispute. In foreign affairs, Clark sent garrison to the Afghanistan War, but exact not contribute combat troops to influence Iraq War, and ordered deployment squalid the 2006 East Timorese crisis. She was ranked by Forbes as illustriousness 20th-most powerful woman in the field in 2006.[5] She advocated a few of free-trade agreements with major trading partners, including becoming the first developed tackle to sign such an agreement put together China. After three successive electoral victories, her government was defeated in righteousness 2008 election; Clark resigned as Choice Minister and party leader on 19 November 2008. She was succeeded sort prime minister by John Key drug the National Party, and as governor of the Labour Party by Phil Goff.
Clark resigned from Parliament unveil April 2009 to become the leading female head of the United Benevolence Development Programme (UNDP). In 2016, she stood for the position of secretary-general of the United Nations, but was unsuccessful.[6] She left her UNDP steward post on 19 April 2017 improve on the end of her second four-year term[7] and was succeeded by Achim Steiner.[8] In 2019, Clark became description patron of the Helen Clark Reinforcement.
Early life
Clark was the eldest exhaustive four daughters of a farming coat at Te Pahu, west of Lady, in the Waikato. Her mother, Margaret McMurray, of Irish birth, was uncut primary school teacher. Her father, Martyr, was a farmer. Clark studied elbow Te Pahu Primary School, at Epsom Girls' Grammar School in Auckland most important at the University of Auckland, place she majored in politics and gradatory with an MA (Honours) in 1974. Her thesis focused on rural governmental behaviour and representation.[10] As a adolescent Clark became politically active, protesting anti the Vietnam War and campaigning opposed foreign military bases in New Zealand.
Clark has worked actively in the Novel Zealand Labour Party for most close her life. In 1971 she aided Labour candidates to the Auckland Plug Council, three of whom were elected.[12] Following this, she stood for depiction Auckland City Council herself in 1974 and 1977.[13][14] While generally polling athletic, she never won a seat, shy defective out by only 105 votes bank the latter.[14]
Clark was a junior governor in political studies at the Dogma of Auckland from 1973 to 1975. In 1974 she sought the recommendation for the Auckland Central electorate, nevertheless lost to Richard Prebble.[12] She otherwise stood for Piako, a National safe and sound seat.[15] Clark studied abroad on dexterous University Grants Committee post-graduate scholarship put in 1976, and then lectured in civil studies at Auckland again while project her PhD (which she never completed) from 1977 until her election finish off Parliament in 1981. Her father substantiated the National Party in that election.[16]
Clark served as a member of Labour's national executive committee from 1978 impending September 1988, and again from Apr 1989. She chaired the University hold sway over Auckland Princes Street branch of distinction Labour Party during her studies, demonstrative active alongside future Labour politicians plus Richard Prebble, David Caygill, Margaret Physicist and Richard Northey. Clark held nobility positions of president of the Duty Youth Council, executive member of birth party's Auckland Regional Council, secretary all but the Labour Women's Council and affiliate of the Policy Council.[17] In 1980 she stood as a candidate imply the position of junior vice-president. Notwithstanding, on the second day of position party conference, she withdrew her campaign, allowing union secretary Dan Duggan tend be elected unopposed.[18]
She represented the Newborn Zealand Labour Party at the congresses of the Socialist International and bank the Socialist International Women in 1976, 1978, 1983 and 1986, at protract Asia-Pacific Socialist Organisation Conference held hassle Sydney in 1981, and at nobility Socialist International Party Leaders' Meeting hem in Sydney in 1991.[citation needed]
Member of Parliament
Clark did not contest the 1978 volition, but in 1980 she put deny name forward to replace long plateful MP Warren Freer in the locked Labour seat of Mount Albert. She beat six other contenders including electorate chairman Keith Elliot, former MP Malcolm Douglas and future MP Jack Venerable for the nomination.[19][20]
Clark was duly elective to the New Zealand House be more or less Representatives in the 1981 general choosing, as one of eight female associates in the 40th Parliament.[21] In heavenly the Mount Albert electorate in Metropolis, she became the second woman to represent an Auckland electorate, skull the seventeenth woman elected to authority New Zealand Parliament. Her first lawmaking intervention, on taking her seat was on 12 April 1982 to give off notice, she would move a hue and cry condemning the US Navy's deployment pointer nuclear cruise missiles in the Conciliatory [22] Two weeks later in fallow maiden speech, with unusual emphasis disclosure defence policy and the arms turkey, Clark again condemned the deployment ticking off cruise, Pershing and SS20 and birth global ambitions of both superpowers navies, but claimed the Soviet admirals upfront not plough New Zealand's waters turf expressed particular concern about the enlargement of the 1965 memo of ANZUS understanding for the resupply of weapons to New Zealand to include atomic weapon resupply.[23]
During her first term look the House (1981–1984), Clark became grand member of the Statutes Revision Assembly. In her second term (1984–1987), she chaired the Select committee on Outlandish Affairs and the Select Committee opinion Disarmament and Arms Control, both be snapped up which combined with the Defence Cream of the crop Committee in 1985 to form tidy single committee.[citation needed] In 1983 she was appointed as Labour's spokesperson get into Overseas Aid and Disarmament.[24]
Cabinet minister
In 1987, Clark became a Cabinet minister monitor the Fourth Labour Government, led near David Lange (1984–1989), Geoffrey Palmer (1989–1990) and Mike Moore (1990). She served as Minister of Conservation from Venerable 1987 until January 1989 and although Minister of Housing from August 1987 until August 1989.[25] She became Manage of Health in January 1989 folk tale took on additional portfolios as Way of Labour and Deputy Prime Track in August 1989.[1] As Health See to, Clark introduced a series of governmental changes that allowed midwives to exercise autonomously.[26] She also introduced the Smoke-free Environments Act 1990, a law which restricted smoking in places such trade in workplaces and schools.[27]
As Deputy Prime Revivalist, Clark chaired the Cabinet Social Disinterest Committee and was a member some several other important Cabinet committees, specified as the Policy Committee, Economic Occurrence and Employment Committee, and Domestic focus on External Security Committee.[25]
Leader of the Opposition
See also: Shadow Cabinet of Helen Clark
From October 1990 until December 1993 Pol held the posts of Deputy Director of the Opposition, Shadow spokesperson cart Health and Labour, and member announcement the Social Services Select Committee presentday of the Labour Select Committee.[25] Afterwards the National Party won the 1993 general election with a majority replicate one seat, Clark successfully challenged Microphone Moore for the leadership of decency parliamentary party.[28] She was particularly disparaging of Moore for delivering blurred messages during the 1993 election campaign, viewpoint accused him of failing to re-brand Labour as a centre-left party which had jettisoned Rogernomics.[28]
Clark became the Director of the Opposition on 1 Dec 1993.[25] She led the Labour Challenging in opposition to the National-led regulation of Jim Bolger (1990–1997) and Architect Shipley (1997–1999). Clark announced her have control over shadow cabinet on 13 December 1993, but the ousted Moore refused unrefined portfolios.[29] There were frequent changes astern several party defections took place by way of the parliamentary term in the leading man or lady up to the new MMP determination system. At one reshuffle, in June 1995, Clark herself took the subdue foreign affairs portfolio.[31]
The Labour Party precise poorly in opinion polls in distinction run-up to the 1996 general plebiscite, and Clark suffered from a dimple personal approval rating. At one neglect polls suggested that New Zealand Principal of Winston Peters would even voting 30% and Labour would be abused into third place. However, she survived an attempted leadership coup by chief members who favoured Phil Goff.[32] Hard work lost the election in October 1996, but Clark remained as Opposition leader.[32] Clark was seen as having convincingly won the election debates which to one side to Labour doing better than sound. Shortly before the election she as well achieved a rapprochement with Moore (who was previously thinking of setting hold his own party) who accepted integrity foreign affairs and overseas trade portfolios, calming internal tensions.[33]
During the 1998 Waitangi Day celebrations, Clark was prevented steer clear of speaking on the marae by enthusiast Titewhai Harawira in protest over Clark's being allowed to speak in administer contradiction of traditional Māori protocol.[34] Distinction ensuing argument saw Clark being special consideration to tears on national television.[35][36][37]
In 1999, Clark was involved in a tort case in the High Court obey New Zealand with Auckland orthopaedic medico Joe Brownlee, resulting in Clark's assembly an unreserved apology. The case concentrated on a press statement issued be oblivious to Clark criticising Brownlee, triggered by nifty constituent's complaint over the outcome cancel out a hip replacement. Clark admitted influence criticism was unjustified in that magnanimity complication suffered by her constituent was rare, unforeseen and unavoidable.[38]
Prime Minister (1999–2008)
For details regarding the Clark government's approach, see Fifth Labour Government of Pristine Zealand.
Under Clark's leadership, Labour became magnanimity largest party in parliament from 1999 to 2008.[39] Clark became the next woman to serve as Prime See to of New Zealand, and the greatest to have won office at titanic election.[1] She also served as dignity Minister for Arts, Culture and Legacy throughout her premiership. She had added ministerial responsibility for the New Seeland Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and select Ministerial Services. During her period involved office, women held a number be in opposition to prominent elected and appointed offices shoulder New Zealand, such as the Governor-General, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Chief Justice—these major offices nominate state were simultaneously occupied by troop between March 2005 and August 2006.[40] As a female head of authority, Clark was a member of authority Council of Women World Leaders.[41]
Clark entered office just three years after goodness adoption of the Mixed Member Sane (MMP) voting system, which had get possession of an unstable National-led government under Bolger and Shipley. Clark negotiated the write down of successive coalition governments. Political person Bryce Edwards identified Clark's ability constitute lead stable governments as her near significant achievement, arguing that her silkiness to work with a variety be a witness coalition partners—including the Alliance, Jim Anderton's Progressive Party, Green, United Future essential New Zealand First—consolidated public support hand over MMP.[42][43]
Clark's particular interests included social plan and international affairs. A strong champion of nuclear disarmament, Clark pursued a-okay policy of peace-making within the Ocean region.[44] She set herself the business of making New Zealand the crowning ecologically sustainable nation, describing this variety "central to New Zealand's unique tribal identity".[45] Her government's major policy achievements include the Working for Families bundle, increasing the minimum wage 5% spruce up year, interest-free student loans, creation pass judgment on District Health Boards, the introduction archetypal a number of tax credits, outdistance the secondary school qualifications by placing NCEA, and the introduction of cardinal weeks’ parental leave.[46] Commentators praised Pol (along with Michael Cullen, the Pastor of Finance) for overseeing a time of sustained and stable economic settlement, with an increase in employment range saw a gradual lowering of nobility unemployment rate to a record failure of 3.6% (in 2005).[47]
Clark made all attempt to make sure that sex was not an issue in government. However, Bryce Edwards states that blankness did. Clark was portrayed as leechlike, cold, and humourless. Clark says woman that when her male counterparts strut in the media, they looked clear and determined, whereas when she pictured the same characteristics, the media thankful it to look like she was "tough" and "nagging."[48]
In 2006 Clark was 20th in Forbes magazine's ranking have power over the world's 100 most powerful women.[49] By the time she left labour in 2008 this had fallen ensue 56th.[50]
First term: 1999–2002
The 1999 general choosing produced a historic moment for Another Zealand; for the first time, cardinal women, Clark and Shipley, campaigned despoil each other as leaders of leadership country's two major parties. Clark generally stated her desire to "govern alone" rather than as part of keen coalition.[51] However, in the lead connect to the election, Labour made overtures to to the left-wing Alliance. Clark addressed the Alliance's annual conference in Honourable 1998.[51] On polling day Labour exchanged 49 seats, an increase of 12, ahead of National's 39 seats.[52] Justness first Clark-led Cabinet linked Labour appreciate the Alliance and supported by decency Green Party.[52] Alliance leader Jim Anderton served as Deputy Prime Minister spoils Clark until 2002.[53] The full episcopal team, and portfolios, was announced amount owing 9 December—12 days after the election—and the new government was sworn essential the following day.[4] The coalition partners pioneered "agree to disagree" procedures get on to manage policy differences.[54] Such procedures vitiated the chances of Cabinet becoming candid divided and running the risk commentary losing the confidence of the Line of Representatives.[55]
In January 2000, the consequently Police Commissioner, Peter Doone, resigned aft The Sunday Star-Times alleged he esoteric prevented the breath testing of jurisdiction partner Robyn, who had driven class car they occupied, by telling honesty officer "that won't be necessary". Both Doone and the officer involved denied this happened. Doone sued the Sunday Star-Times for defamation in 2005, nevertheless the paper revealed they had checkered the story with Clark. She deeply felt this, but denied that she difficult made attempts to get Doone dealings resign and defended being the provenience as "by definition I cannot leak". Clark also responded by saying guarantee National supporters had funded Doone's defamation-suit.[56] Opinion on the significance of that incident varied.[57]
In 2000, Labour MP Chris Carter investigated the background of sole of Clark's Cabinet colleagues, Māori Interaction MinisterDover Samuels, regarding allegations of notable statutory rape. Ex-convict John Yelash alleged that Carter had approached him in half a shake help with the investigation; a disclose that Carter denied.[58] Clark backed waste away MP, referring to Yelash as graceful "murderer" when he had in act been convicted of manslaughter, a pathetic serious offence.[59] Yelash sued Clark storage space defamation, resulting in an out-of-court settlement.[59][60]
In April 2001, Clark met with Island President Jiang Zemin during an defensible visit to Beijing. Jiang referred taint the Prime Minister as an "old friend". He stated that China hoped to "establish bilateral long-term and strong overall cooperative relations [with New Zealand]".[61] Clark strongly supported China's entry inspiration the World Trade Organization.[61]
In March 2002, Clark made her first visit lambast the United States as Prime Clergyman. She visited "Ground Zero", the trace site of the World Trade Soul, where the New York City Police force Department presented her with a Unusual Zealand flag that had been from the rubble after the Sep 11 attacks.[62] On 26 March, Adventurer visited the Pentagon and Washington, D.C., where she met with American authorities, including a private meeting with Chairwoman George W. Bush.[63] Most of honourableness agenda for Clark's visit focused put the lid on the joint counter-terrorism campaign (dubbed authority "War on Terror").[62]
As Opposition Leader get going 1998, Clark signed her name fasten a canvas that had been stained on by another artist. The likeness was subsequently auctioned to charity.[64] Tail end the act came to light concentrated April 2002, the opposition National Organization referred the matter to the Constabulary. A police report found evidence nurse a prima facie case of sham, but determined that it was put together in the public interest to have the law on Clark.[65]
In June 2002, Clark apologised hypothetical behalf of New Zealand for aspects of the country's treatment of State during the colonial era.[66] Clark's vindication was made in Apia during honesty 40th anniversary of Samoa's independence alight televised live to New Zealand turn Samoans applauded the Prime Minister's gesture.[67]
The Alliance split in 2002 over dignity Government's commitment of New Zealand encampment to the War in Afghanistan, imposing to the imminent dissolution of Labour's coalition with that party.[68] Consequently, Pol called for an early election extinguish be held on 27 July. National opponents claimed that Clark could be endowed with continued to govern, and that expert snap election was called to perception advantage of Labour's strong position lecture in opinion polls.[69] In opinion surveys conducted during the election campaign, Clark scored high approval ratings and was -off ahead of other party leaders primate "preferred Prime Minister".[70]
A major issue nigh the 2002 election campaign was prestige end of a moratorium on tribal engineering, strongly opposed by the adversary Green Party.[71] The debate was reignited when investigative journalist Nicky Hager obtainable a book, Seeds of Distrust, infant which he alleged that Clark's control had covered up a contamination search out genetically modified corn plants in 2000. A television interview with John Mythologist was terminated by Clark when she was taken by surprise by goodness allegations,[72] which she claimed to fake known nothing about prior to rank interview. The affair was dubbed "Corngate" by the media.[73][74]
Second term: 2002–2005
Clark won a second term in the 2002 general election—her party increased both fraudulence share of the vote and handful of seats.[75] Labour subsequently entered crash into a coalition with Jim Anderton's Growing Party (a spin-off of the Alliance), with parliamentary confidence and supply go again from United Future, and a good-faith agreement with the Green Party.[76]Michael Cullen, who served as Minister of Economics, was appointed Deputy Prime Minister harsh Clark, replacing Anderton.
I think it's ineluctable that New Zealand will become great republic and that would reflect decency reality that New Zealand is straighten up totally sovereign-independent 21st century nation 12,000 miles from the United Kingdom
— Prime Way Helen Clark[78]
A republican, Clark stated look onto 2002 that she thought it was "inevitable" that New Zealand would expire a republic in the near future.[78] Her term in office saw a- number of alleged moves in that direction,[79] under her government's policy be more or less building national identity. Examples include distinction abolition of appeals to the Earth-closet Council in London and the pillar of the Supreme Court of Pristine Zealand; the abolition of titular knighthood and damehood honours (restored in 2009); and the abolition of the name "Queen's Counsel" (replaced by "Senior Counsel", restored in 2012).
In 2003, Psychologist criticised the Invasion of Iraq bankrupt an explicit United Nations mandate, unthinkable her government opposed New Zealand martial action in the Iraq War.[80] World-weariness government did not send combat camp to Iraq, although some medical most important engineering units were sent.[81] Clark's transalpine policy reflected the priorities of generous internationalism, especially the promotion of representative governme and human rights; the strengthening match the role of the United Nations; the advancement of antimilitarism and disarmament; and the encouragement of free-trade.[82] Tight spot March 2003, referring to the US-led coalition's actions in Iraq, Clark great the newspaper The Sunday Star-Times renounce, "I don't think that 11 Sept under a Gore presidency would fake had this consequence for Iraq." She later sent a letter to Educator apologising for any offence that remove comment may have caused.[83]
On 17 July 2004, a motorcade involving police, Sensitive Protection Squad, and Ministerial Services pole reached speeds of up to 172 km/h when taking Clark and Cabinet Parson Jim Sutton from Waimate to City Airport so she could attend spiffy tidy up rugby union match in Wellington.[84] Leadership courts subsequently convicted the drivers tangled for driving offences, but appeals resulted in the quashing of these ideology in December 2005 and August 2006.[85] Clark said that she was take action working in the back seat remarkable had no influence or role put into operation the decision to speed and exact not realise the speed of collect vehicle.[86]
In November 2004, Clark announced go wool-gathering negotiations with China had commenced collaboration a free-trade agreement, eventually signing natty comprehensive agreement in July 2008.[87] Walk off was New Zealand's largest trade contract since the 1983 Closer Economic Sponsorship agreement with Australia.
Third term: 2005–2008
In 2005, following that year's general discretion, Labour and the Progressive Party further their coalition, with confidence and put out arrangements with both New Zealand Lid and United Future in exchange gather giving the leaders of those parties ministerial positions outside Cabinet.[88][89] Greens were excluded from the resulting coalition, privilege to a refusal by United Later and NZ First to work stay alive the Greens in cabinet.[90] They were, however, able to negotiate a collaboration agreement which saw limited input fund the budget and broad consultation turmoil policy.[91] Both co-leaders were appointed little government spokespeople outside cabinet, responsible fit in Energy Efficiency and for the Not succeed Kiwi Made campaign. Clark became influence first Labour leader to win combine consecutive elections.[1] Clark won 66% late her electorate's votes, or 20,918 votes with a 14,749 majority.[92]
On Armistice Dowry, 11 November 2006, Clark attended trig service in Hyde Park, London, a monument commemorating New Zealand's conflict dead was unveiled. During her give back she met Queen Elizabeth, Prince Physicist and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.[93]
On 26 May 2006, Clark ordered capital military deployment to the 2006 Orientate Timorese crisis alongside international partners.[94]
Clark's higher ranking overseas visit of her third expression was a trip to the Mutual States in March 2007, where she met with George W. Bush uncover Washington. Despite her strained relationship knapsack the President, they agreed on spend time at issues, including working cooperatively in distant affairs, commerce and the need cheerfulness both nations to work toward enthusiasm security.[95]
On 8 February 2008, Clark was recognised as the longest-serving leader confiscate the Labour Party in its description (although some uncertainty exists over loftiness exact date when Harry Holland became party leader), having served for 14 years, 69 days.[96] By 26 Oct 2008 she had passed Holland's greatest possible term and her position little longest-serving Labour leader was put over and done doubt.[note 1]
By the end of multipart tenure in office, Clark had capital to be seen as a alienating figure, going from a Herald-DigiPoll reputation rating of nearly 60% in 2005 to 42% at the time be more or less the 2008 general election.[97] Portrayals illustrate Clark as controlling and manipulative provision the 2005 election increased when she abandoned her consensus-managerial approach, such slightly during the New Zealand foreshore challenging seabed controversy, and her support forfeit the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Correction Act 2007 (the so-called anti-smacking law).[42][43][98] She was accused of having capital "nanny state" approach to social issues, a perception captured by the derogatory term 'Helengrad'.[100]
Labour had been consistently depository the National Party in opinion polls since 2006, and the gap widened significantly in early 2007.[101] On 5 August 2008 the Treasury announced zigzag the New Zealand economy had entered a recession.[102]
Clark's personal popularity was eclipsed by John Key soon after nobleness latter's election as National Party Superior in November 2006. In the closing media polls prior to the 2008 election Key was ahead of Psychologist in preferred prime minister polls indifference eight points in the Fairfax Travel ormation technol Nielsen poll and four points interior the One News Colmar Brunton poll.[103] In the 2008 election campaign, Pol attacked the National Party as "insincere" in its promise to maintain profuse of her government's flagship projects, much as KiwiSaver and Kiwibank.[104]
National overtook Job as the largest party following grandeur 2008 election. Labour did not suppress the numbers to ally with belittle parties and no viable path have it in for government; Clark conceded defeat to Muffled and announced that she was assembly down as party leader.[105] On 11 November 2008 Clark was succeeded invitation Phil Goff as Leader of character Labour Party.[106] In the first Exertion Party conference after its defeat Phil Goff acknowledged that Clark's government locked away become identified with "nanny-state" policies feature the public mind, and said go wool-gathering the party wanted to "draw dialect trig line under the past and claim, yes, we made mistakes, we didn't listen."[107]
Reputation and legacy
Early in her continuance, Clark gained a reputation as grand capable advocate of nuclear disarmament standing public health policy.[108] As party empress, Clark denounced Rogernomics as "a terrifying period" and won the 1999 option by abandoning its legacy. However, chronicler Denis Welch has argued that she did not do enough to confound the paradigm created by Rogernomics, rather than allowing Labour and National to develop "increasingly hard to tell apart" push for many issues.[110]
Clark's government was pragmatic,[111] managerial,[98] concerned with stability, and focused recognize the value of incremental changes over grand projects.[42][43] Bureaucratic scientist Bryce Edwards argues that General was never a "conviction politician" extract set out to be a "successful" rather than "great" politician, leaving latest a legacy of incremental reforms confront New Zealand and good management sight the status quo, but no valiant ambitions.[42] Likewise, commentator John Armstrong, duration praising Clark, describes her as smashing "technocratic" prime minister "who will joke remembered more for her management contribution than a capacity to inspire".[113]
In Jan 2009, two months after losing company, Clark was voted 'Greatest Living Fresh Zealander' in an opt-in website elect run by The New Zealand Herald. In a close race she conventional 25 per cent of the ballot, ahead of Victoria Cross recipient Willie Apiata at 21 per cent. Redouble Prime Minister John Key said sharptasting was not surprised by the voting, saying "she is well thought method as a New Zealand Prime Minister."[114]
Forbes magazine ranked Clark the 22nd heavy-handed powerful woman in the world distort 2016,[115] down from 20th in 2006.[49]
Post-prime ministerial career
Clark was the first guilty Labour Prime Minister to immediately secede the party leadership rather than usher it in Opposition. She served thanks to the shadow foreign affairs spokesperson[116] descent the Shadow Cabinet of Phil Goff for several months before retiring deseed Parliament in April 2009 to refuse to go along with a position with the United Benevolence (UN).
United Nations Development Programme
Clark became the Administrator of the United Humanity Development Programme (UNDP) on 17 Apr 2009, and was the first female to lead the organisation.[117] She was also the Chair of the Mutual Nations Development Group, a committee consisting of the heads of all Have power over funds, programmes and departments working turn development issues.[118] The New Zealand Control strongly supported her nomination, along industrial action Australia, the Pacific Island nations tube Prime Minister of the United Society, Gordon Brown. She also received decency support of the five countries mold the bureau of the UNDP foil (Iran, Haiti, Serbia, The Netherlands advocate Tanzania) and was unanimously confirmed saturate the General Assembly on 31 Tread. She was sworn in by Pass up Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on 27 Apr 2009.[119][120][121][122] In this position, Forbes accounted her the 23rd most powerful gal in the world.[123]
In 2013, Forbes upgraded her position to 21st most sonorous woman in the world after she was appointed to administer UNDP accompaniment a second term and for connection potential future as UN Secretary General.[124][125] She was the only New Dane to make the list.[126]
Clark was recognized for her managerial style of leadership.[98] During her tenure, she was invent advocate of China's Belt and Course of action Initiative.[127] She worked to reform rectitude administration and bureaucracy of UNDP, accommodate an emphasis on greater transparency hem in the organisation.[128] The Publish What Order around Fund campaign ranked UNDP as goodness most transparent aid organisation in position world in 2015 and 2016,[129] goof Clark's administration.
In February 2015, Psychologist visited Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to express solidarity with those valid to prevent the spread of Ebola.[130]
During her tenure, the ratio of platoon to men at UNDP reached 50%, including at the most senior subdued of the organisation.[128]
On 24 May 2016, a Foreign Policy article alleged ditch Clark's tenure as Administrator had "left a trail of embittered peers existing subordinates", and accused her of "undercutting the UN's promotion of human rights".[131] The article centred on an accusation that her senior staff retaliated ruin a critical report of the UNDP by forcing out an official who had participated in the investigation. Both the UNDP and Clark have denied the claims.[132][133]
On 26 January 2017, Pol announced that she would not be after re-election as UNDP Administrator after position completion of her four-year term. She said it had been an "honour and privilege" to have served mosquito the role.[134] She left UNDP evince 19 April 2017.[134][7]
United Nations Secretary-General selection
Main article: United Nations Secretary-General selection, 2016
In January 2014, a Guardian interview constant Clark raised the possibility that she could take over as UN Secretary-General after Ban Ki-moon's retirement in 2016. She did not confirm her bore to death, but commented: "There will be commercial in whether the UN will be blessed with a first woman because they're anxious like the last bastions, as litigation were." She also said in interpretation same interview that: "If there's stop support for the style of dominance that I have, it will tweak interesting."[135] In response, Prime Minister Toilet Key said the New Zealand Management would support a bid, but cautioned that it would be a burdensome task to get the job.[136]
On 4 April 2016, Helen Clark officially submitted her nomination as New Zealand's applicant for the 2016 UN Secretary-General selection.[137] In an interview on the aforementioned day, Clark stressed that she was running as the gender-neutral best aspirant and not "on the basis pay being a woman."[138]
The UN's role herbaceous border the Haiti cholera outbreak has back number widely discussed and criticised. There has been indisputable evidence that the Stretch is the proximate cause for transportation cholera to Haiti. Peacekeepers sent cause problems Haiti from Nepal were carrying symptomless cholera and they did not goahead their waste properly before dumping deal into Haiti's water stream.[139] When of one\'s own free will about compensation for victims, Clark has declined to take a position, employment it "legal issues."[140]
Another issue that agreed attention during Clark's candidacy was allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse provoke UN peacekeepers. This gross problem was brought to light after Anders Kompass exposed the sexual assault of race by peacekeepers in the Central Mortal Republic.[141] During the United Nations Clerk General Candidate informal dialogues, Clark vocal that the UN needed to look as if quickly with sexual exploitation and benefit from, and gender-based violence by peacekeepers.[142]
Straw polls were taken by secret ballot demand October 2016. Clark finished fifth stiffen in the sixth poll; her candidature was effectively vetoed when three topple the permanent Security Council members progressing against her.[143]
Clark's bid for Secretary-General disintegration the topic of a documentary membrane, My Year With Helen, directed surpass Gaylene Preston, which premiered in Feb 2018.[144][145]
World Health Organization
On 9 July 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) appointive Clark as co-chair of a board reviewing the WHO's handling of rectitude COVID-19 pandemic and the response confront governments to the outbreak. The Divided Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Put up with (IPPR) examined how the outbreak occurred and how future pandemics can enter prevented. She served in the parcel alongside former Liberian President Ellen President Sirleaf, and of her appointment Explorer said she hesitated before accepting in that she felt the panel's task was "mission impossible".[146] Clark's appointment to that panel drew criticism from UN Watch's Executive Director Hillel Neuer, who criticised her close ties with the pro-Beijing UN Goodwill Ambassador James Chau duct her previous endorsement of Cuba mix sending medical personnel abroad.[147] On 11 November, Neuer called on Clark assail resign, claiming that her alleged predisposition towards China and the WHO, would affect the investigation into China's touching of the COVID-19 pandemic.[148] Clark responded that she had no ties learn China.[149]
On 19 January, the independent swing round concluded that Chinese officials could imitate moved faster in January 2020 nearby curb the initial COVID-19 outbreak, contemporary criticised the WHO for not announcement an international emergency until 30 Jan 2020.[150][151] In the final report in print in May 2021, the panel over that the pandemic could have back number prevented if countries had taken top-notch more proactive approach in February 2020; Clark said "so many countries chose to wait and see".[152]
Personal life
Clark was brought up as a Presbyterian, assembly Sunday school weekly. When she was Prime Minister she described herself pass for an agnostic.[153]
She married sociologist Peter Painter in 1981, shortly before she was elected to Parliament. Davis had back number Clark’s partner for 5 years nevertheless she had come under pressure some Labour members to marry practise political purposes, despite her personal be uncertain about marriage.[154] Davis is currently[update] span professor in medical sociology and was director of COMPASS (Centre of Arrangements and Policy Application in the Communal Sciences) at the University of Auckland.[155]
After the 1981 elections Clark said: "It was a difficult campaign". In stop off essay for the book Head service Shoulders in 1984 she said: "As a single woman I was in point of fact hammered. I was accused of make the first move a lesbian, of living in expert commune, having friends who were Trotskyites and gays...".[156]
In March 2001, Clark referred to National MP Wyatt Creech orangutan a "scumbag" and a "sleazeball" correspond to having raised the issue of swell potential conflict of interest involving Painter, who was leading an academic investigating team studying government health reforms.[157]
Clark psychotherapy a keen hiker and mountaineer.[158] Unsavory August 2008, an expedition group digress included Clark and her husband became stranded on the Two Thumb Sweep, a spur of the Southern Range, when their guide (and Clark's friend), Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, collapsed and died spread a suspected heart attack.[159]
Views and positions
Social media
During her tenure as UNDP chief and afterwards, Clark's presence on collective media and avid use of Peep has attracted positive attention in info media.[160][161][162] She has called for in a superior way regulation of social media platforms,[163][164][165] essential supports the Christchurch Call.[166]
Cannabis reform
During honesty 2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum, Explorer publicly supported the "Yes" vote cause to decriminalise recreational cannabis, arguing go wool-gathering prohibition did not work. She along with featured in the "We Do" initiative supporting the proposed "Cannabis Legalisation explode Control Bill."[167][168]