Ex prime ministerEx prime minister

Early lifeEarly life

Helen Elizabeth Clark, (born 26 Helen Elizabeth Clark, (born 26 February 1950), was the eldest February 1950), was the eldest out of four daughters from a out of four daughters from a family at Te Pahu in the Waikato family at Te Pahu in the Waikato region. Her mother Margaret region. Her mother Margaret McMurray was a primary teacher. McMurray was a primary teacher. Her dad was a farmer. Helen Her dad was a farmer. Helen studied at Epsom Girls Grammar studied at Epsom Girls Grammar School in Auckland and at the School in Auckland and at the University of Auckland. Where University of Auckland. Where she majored in politics and she majored in politics and graduated with an AM (Honours) graduated with an AM (Honours) in 1974. she focused on political in 1974. she focused on political behavior and As a teenager Helen behavior and As a teenager Helen Clark became politically active Clark became politically active protesting against the Vietnam protesting against the Vietnam war. Helen was brought up as a war. Helen was brought up as a attending Sunday school weekly.attending Sunday school weekly.

She has described herself as agnostic. In She has described herself as agnostic. In 1974 Clark assisted Labour 1974 Clark assisted Labour candidates to the Auckland City candidates to the Auckland City Council. Clark was a junior in Council. Clark was a junior in political studies at the University of political studies at the University of Auckland. Clark was elected to Auckland. Clark was elected to Parliament in 1981. She married Parliament in 1981. She married sociologist Peter Davis, her partner of sociologist Peter Davis, her partner of five years at that time, shortly before five years at that time, shortly before that election (put under pressure from that election (put under pressure from some Labour members of the New some Labour members of the New Zealand Labour party to marry Zealand Labour party to marry despite her own feelings about despite her own feelings about marriage. marriage.

ParliamentParliament Helen Cark first gained election to Helen Cark first gained election to

New Zealand house in the 1981 New Zealand house in the 1981 general election as one of four women general election as one of four women who entered Parliament on that who entered Parliament on that occasion. She became the second occasion. She became the second woman elected to represent an woman elected to represent an Auckland and the seventeenth woman Auckland and the seventeenth woman elected to the New Zealand elected to the New Zealand Parliament. but Helen Clark was the Parliament. but Helen Clark was the first elected one. In 2008 she became first elected one. In 2008 she became our fifth longest-serving PM and the our fifth longest-serving PM and the first Labour Leader to win three first Labour Leader to win three consecutive elections. She won the consecutive elections. She won the Mount Albert seat in 1981. Clark Mount Albert seat in 1981. Clark served as a minister during Labour’s served as a minister during Labour’s second term from 1987 and became second term from 1987 and became deputy Pm two years later, but she deputy Pm two years later, but she also benefited from working smoothly also benefited from working smoothly with the party machinery. with the party machinery.

She even modeled a costume in She even modeled a costume in the Wearable Arts Awards. the Wearable Arts Awards. Although ClarkAlthough Clark still rated highlystill rated highly. . She resigned as leader on election She resigned as leader on election night 2008 and early in 2009 left night 2008 and early in 2009 left for New York to head the United for New York to head the United Nations Development Programme. Nations Development Programme. she increased arts funding and she increased arts funding and raised the profile of our military raised the profile of our military heritage.heritage.

Helen Clark is currently the Helen Clark is currently the Administrator of the United Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme Nations Development Programme and was the 37and was the 37thth Prime Minister of Prime Minister of New Zealand. As Prime Minister New Zealand. As Prime Minister she served three terms from 1999 she served three terms from 1999 to 2008 and was the first woman to 2008 and was the first woman elected at a general election as elected at a general election as the Prime Minister, and was the the Prime Minister, and was the fifth longest serving person to fifth longest serving person to hold that office.hold that office.

PICTURES !!!PICTURES !!!

Prime-ministerPrime-ministerHelen Clark was Prime Minister and Minister Helen Clark was Prime Minister and Minister

for Arts, Culture and Heritage from 1999 for Arts, Culture and Heritage from 1999 until 2008. She also had responsibility for until 2008. She also had responsibility for NZ Security Intelligence Service and for NZ Security Intelligence Service and for Ministerial Services. Her particular Ministerial Services. Her particular interests included, social policy and interests included, social policy and internal affairs.internal affairs.

As Prime Minister, Helen Clark was a As Prime Minister, Helen Clark was a member of the Council of Women World member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international network of Leaders, an international network of current and former women presidents and current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to prime ministers whose mission is to mobilise the highest-level women leaders mobilise the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and critical importance to women and development.development.

Even though some commentators Even though some commentators saw a stable government with the saw a stable government with the new MMP electoral system as new MMP electoral system as unlikely Helen’s supporters credit unlikely Helen’s supporters credit her with maintaining three terms her with maintaining three terms of stable MMP government. of stable MMP government.

Children : None

Political party : Labour party

University : University of Auckland

Born : 26th February 1950 (Age 65)

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