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{{Английская Википедия/Панель перехода}}
{{short description|Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008}}
{{Other people|Helen Clark}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix  = [[The Right Honourable]]
|name              = Helen Clark
|honorific-suffix  = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=100%|ONZ|SSI|PC}}
|image             = Helen Clark official photo (cropped).jpg
|caption           = Clark in 2016
|office            = 37th [[Prime Minister of New Zealand]]
|monarch           = [[Elizabeth II]]
|governor-general  = [[Michael Hardie Boys]]<br />[[Silvia Cartwright]]<br />[[Anand Satyanand]]
|deputy            = [[Jim Anderton]]<br />[[Michael Cullen (politician)|Michael Cullen]]
|term_start        = 10 December 1999
|term_end          = 19 November 2008
|predecessor       = [[Jenny Shipley]]
|successor         = [[John Key]]
|office1           = 8th Administrator of the <br /> [[United Nations Development Programme]]
|1blankname1       = {{nowrap|Secretary-General}}
|1namedata1        = [[Ban Ki-moon]]<br />[[António Guterres]]
|term_start1       = 17 April 2009
|term_end1         = 19 April 2017
|predecessor1      = [[Kemal Derviş]]
|successor1        = [[Achim Steiner]] 
|office2           = [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (New Zealand)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
|status2           = Acting
|term_start2       = 29 August 2008
|term_end2         = 19 November 2008
|predecessor2      = [[Winston Peters]]
|successor2        = [[Murray McCully]]
|office3           = 27th [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]]
|primeminister3    = [[Jim Bolger]]<br>[[Jenny Shipley]]
|deputy3           = [[David Caygill]]<br />[[Michael Cullen (politician)|Michael Cullen]]
|term_start3       = 1 December 1993
|term_end3         = 10 December 1999
|predecessor3      = [[Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)|Mike Moore]]
|successor3        = [[Jenny Shipley]]
|office4           = 12th [[Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party|Leader of the Labour Party]]
|deputy4           = David Caygill<br>Michael Cullen
|term_start4       = 1 December 1993
|term_end4         = 11 November 2008
|predecessor4      = Mike Moore
|successor4        = [[Phil Goff]]
|office5           = 11th [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand]]
|primeminister5    = [[Geoffrey Palmer (politician)|Geoffrey Palmer]]<br />Mike Moore
|term_start5       = 8 August 1989
|term_end5         = 2 November 1990
|predecessor5      = Geoffrey Palmer
|successor5        = [[Don McKinnon]]
|office6           = 11th [[Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party|Deputy Leader of the Labour Party]]
|leader6           = Geoffrey Palmer<br />Mike Moore
|term_start6       = 8 August 1989
|term_end6         = 1 December 1993
|predecessor6      = Geoffrey Palmer
|successor6        = [[David Caygill]]
|office7           = 29th [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|Minister of Health]]
|primeminister7    = [[David Lange]]<br />Geoffrey Palmer<br />Mike Moore
|term_start7       = 30 January 1989
|term_end7         = 2 November 1990
|predecessor7      = David Caygill
|successor7        = [[Simon Upton]]
|constituency_MP8  = [[Mount Albert (New Zealand electorate)|Mount Albert]]<br>{{small| {{NZ electorate link|Owairaka}} (1996–1999)}}
|parliament8       = New Zealand
|term_start8       = 28 November 1981
|term_end8         = 17 April 2009
|predecessor8      = [[Warren Freer]]
|successor8        = [[David Shearer]]
|birth_name        = Helen Elizabeth Clark
|birth_date        = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1950|2|26|df=y}}}}
|birth_place       = [[Te Pahu]], New Zealand
|death_date        = 
|death_place       = 
|party             = [[New Zealand Labour Party|Labour]]
|spouse            = {{marriage|[[Peter Davis (sociologist)|Peter Davis]]|1981}}
|parents           = George Clark<br />Margaret McMurray
|alma_mater        = [[University of Auckland]]
|signature         = Signature Helen Clark.svg
}}

'''Helen Elizabeth Clark''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|size=small|ONZ|SSI|PC}} (born 26 February 1950) is a New Zealand politician who served as the 37th [[prime minister of New Zealand]] from 1999 to 2008, and was the administrator of the [[United Nations Development Programme]] from 2009 to 2017. She was New Zealand's [[List of Prime Ministers of New Zealand by time in office|fifth-longest-serving]] prime minister, and the second woman to hold that office.<!--Do NOT insert "first elected woman prime minister" or similar. The prime minister is not directly elected.--><ref name="NZ History">{{cite web |url=http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/helen-clark |title=Helen Clark |work=New Zealand history online |date=20 November 2010 |access-date=23 May 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310055610/http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/helen-clark |archive-date=10 March 2012}}</ref>

Clark was brought up on a farm outside [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]]. She entered the [[University of Auckland]] in 1968 to study politics, and became active in the [[New Zealand Labour Party]]. After graduating she lectured in political studies at the university. Clark entered local politics in 1974 in [[Auckland]] but was not elected to any position. Following one unsuccessful attempt, she was elected to [[New Zealand Parliament|Parliament]] in {{NZ election link year|1981}} as the member for [[Mount Albert (New Zealand electorate)|Mount Albert]], an [[New Zealand electorates|electorate]] she represented until 2009.<ref name="resign date">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10567284 |title=Haere ra Helen and Heather |date=18 April 2009 |first=Audrey |last=Young |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=10 August 2010 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330233213/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10567284 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clark held numerous [[Cabinet of New Zealand|Cabinet]] positions in the [[Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand|Fourth Labour Government]], including [[Minister of Housing (New Zealand)|minister of housing]], [[Minister of Health (New Zealand)|minister of health]] and [[Minister of Conservation (New Zealand)|minister of conservation]]. She was the 11th [[deputy prime minister of New Zealand]] from 1989 to 1990 serving under prime ministers [[Geoffrey Palmer (politician)|Geoffrey Palmer]] and [[Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)|Mike Moore]]. After Labour's narrow defeat in the {{NZ election link|1993}}, Clark challenged Moore for [[Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party|leadership of the party]] and won, becoming the [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|leader of the Opposition]]. Following the {{NZ election link|1999}}, Labour formed a governing coalition, and Clark was sworn in as prime minister on 10 December 1999.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Muller |first1=Tom |title=Political Handbook of the World 2012 |date=2012 |publisher=SAGE |isbn=9781608719952 |page=1037 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d33MfEFXvW8C&pg=PA1037 |language=en |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033726/https://books.google.com/books?id=d33MfEFXvW8C&pg=PA1037 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Boston">{{cite book |last1=Boston |first1=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Boston |title=Left Turn: The New Zealand General Election of 1999 |date=2000 |publisher=Victoria University Press |isbn=9780864734044 |page=248 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YUYU8uVXgJgC&pg=PA248 |language=en |access-date=3 June 2020 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033726/https://books.google.com/books?id=YUYU8uVXgJgC&pg=PA248 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Clark led the [[Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand|Fifth Labour Government]], which implemented several major economic initiatives including [[Kiwibank]], the [[New Zealand Superannuation Fund]], the [[New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme]] and [[KiwiSaver]]. Her government also introduced the [[Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004]], which caused [[New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy|major controversy]]. In foreign affairs, Clark sent troops to the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|Afghanistan War]], but did not contribute combat troops to the [[Iraq War]], and ordered a deployment to the [[2006 East Timorese crisis]]. She was ranked by ''[[Forbes]]'' as the 20th-most powerful woman in the world in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Forbes List Directory |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/list-directory/ |access-date=16 July 2022 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref> She advocated a number of [[New Zealand free-trade agreements|free-trade&nbsp;agreements]] with major trading partners, including becoming the first developed nation to sign such an agreement with [[China]]. After three successive electoral victories, her government was defeated in the {{NZ election link|2008}}; Clark resigned as Prime Minister and party leader on 19 November 2008. She was succeeded as prime minister by [[John Key]] of the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]], and as leader of the Labour Party by [[Phil Goff]].

Clark resigned from Parliament in April 2009 to become the first female head of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In 2016, she [[United Nations Secretary-General selection, 2016|stood for]] the position of [[secretary-general of the United Nations]], but was unsuccessful.<ref name="Candidate_SecGen_Guardian">{{cite news|last1=Pilkington|first1=Ed|title=Helen Clark, former New Zealand PM, enters race for UN secretary general|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/05/helen-clark-former-new-zealand-prime-minister-confirms-bid-for-united-nations-top-job|access-date=5 April 2016|date=4 April 2016|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404224005/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/05/helen-clark-former-new-zealand-prime-minister-confirms-bid-for-united-nations-top-job|archive-date=4 April 2016}}</ref> She left her UNDP administrator post on 19 April 2017 at the end of her second four-year term<ref name="Signoff">{{cite news |title=Clark signs off from UN <!-- Print title shown; online title was: "Helen Clark marks last day at United Nations with tributes to her work" --> |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/91731473/helen-clark-marks-last-day-at-united-nations-with-tributes-to-her-work |access-date=21 April 2017 |work=[[The Press]] |date=21 April 2017 |page=A2 |archive-date=9 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709062316/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/91731473/helen-clark-marks-last-day-at-united-nations-with-tributes-to-her-work |url-status=live }}</ref> and was succeeded by [[Achim Steiner]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2017/04/19/undp-executive-board-welcomes-appointment-of-achim-steiner-as-new-administrator.html|title=UNDP Executive Board welcomes appointment of Achim Steiner as new Administrator|date=19 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170424181516/http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2017/04/19/undp-executive-board-welcomes-appointment-of-achim-steiner-as-new-administrator.html|archive-date=24 April 2017}}</ref> In 2019, Clark became the patron of the [[Helen Clark Foundation]].

==Early life==
Clark was the eldest of four daughters of a farming family at [[Te Pahu]], west of Hamilton, in the [[Waikato]].{{sfn|Eyley|Salmon|2015|p=300}} Her mother, Margaret McMurray, of Irish birth, was a primary school teacher. Her father, George, was a farmer. 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. Her thesis focused on rural political behaviour and representation.<ref name=thesis>{{cite web|url=http://www.executive.govt.nz/minister/clark/|title=New Zealand Executive – Helen Clark|access-date=30 June 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060618121327/http://www.executive.govt.nz/minister/clark/|archive-date=18 June 2006}}</ref>{{sfn|East|Thomas|2003|p=382}} As a teenager Clark became politically active, protesting against the [[Vietnam War]] and campaigning against foreign military bases in New Zealand.{{sfn|East|Thomas|2003|p=382}}

Clark has worked actively in the New Zealand Labour Party for most of her life. In [[1971 Auckland City mayoral election|1971]] she assisted Labour candidates to the [[Auckland City Council]], three of whom were elected.<ref name="wolfe">{{citation|title=Battlers Bluffers & Bully Boys|author=Richard Wolfe|publisher=Random House New Zealand|isbn=978-1-86941-715-4|year=2005}}</ref> Following this, she stood for the Auckland City Council herself in [[1974 Auckland City mayoral election|1974]] and [[1977 Auckland City mayoral election|1977]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Declaration of Result of Election | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=23 October 1974 |page=16 }}</ref><ref name="Declaration of Result of Election">{{cite news |title=Declaration of Result of Election | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=24 October 1977 |page=11 }}</ref> While generally polling well, she never won a seat, missing out by only 105 votes in the latter.<ref name="Declaration of Result of Election"/>

Clark was a junior lecturer in political studies at the University of Auckland from 1973 to 1975.{{sfn|East|Thomas|2003|p=382}} In 1974 she sought the nomination for the [[Auckland Central (New Zealand electorate)|Auckland Central]] electorate, but lost to [[Richard Prebble]].<ref name="wolfe" /> She instead stood for {{NZ electorate link|Piako}}, a National safe seat.<ref name="valedictory">{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/b/4/2/49HansD_20090408_00001084-Valedictory-Statement.htm|date=8 April 2009|access-date=6 January 2010|title=Helen Clark's Valedictory Speech|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806141607/http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/b/4/2/49HansD_20090408_00001084-Valedictory-Statement.htm|archive-date=6 August 2012}}</ref> Clark studied abroad on a University Grants Committee post-graduate scholarship in 1976, and then lectured in political studies at [[University of Auckland|Auckland]] again while undertaking her [[PhD]] (which she never completed) from 1977 until her [[1981 New Zealand general election|election to Parliament in 1981]]. Her father supported National that election.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helen Clark|url=http://wahinehonoa.weebly.com/helen-clark.html|website=WahineHonoa|access-date=8 June 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131548/https://wahinehonoa.weebly.com/helen-clark.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Clark served as a member of Labour's national executive committee from 1978 until September 1988, and again from April 1989. She chaired the University of Auckland [[Princes Street Labour|Princes Street branch]] of the Labour Party during her studies, becoming active alongside future Labour politicians including Richard Prebble, [[David Caygill]], [[Margaret Wilson]] and [[Richard Northey]]. 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.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Right Honourable Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ|date=31 December 2009 |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/honours/recipients/clark-right-honourable-helen-elizabeth-onz|access-date=24 March 2021}}</ref> In 1980 she stood as a candidate for the position of junior vice-president. However on the second day of the party conference she withdrew her candidacy, allowing union secretary Dan Duggan to be elected unopposed.<ref>{{cite news |title=Withdrew to avoid a split |first=Karen |last=Brown |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] |date=13 May 1980 |page=4 }}</ref>

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,{{sfn|East|Thomas|2003|p=382}} at an Asia-Pacific Socialist Organisation Conference held in [[Sydney]] in 1981, and at the Socialist International Party Leaders' Meeting in Sydney in 1991.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}}

==Member of Parliament==
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{{Helen Clark sidebar}}

Clark did not contest the {{NZ election link|1978}}, but in 1980 she put her name forward to replace long serving MP [[Warren Freer]] in the safe Labour seat of [[Mount Albert (New Zealand electorate)|Mount Albert]]. She beat six other contenders including electorate chairman Keith Elliot, former MP [[Malcolm Douglas (politician)|Malcolm Douglas]] and future MP [[Jack Elder (politician)|Jack Elder]] for the nomination.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Party Hopefuls Queue For A Safe Seat |date=14 April 1980 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |page=2 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Labour Choice For Seat |date=15 April 1980 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |page=1 }}</ref>

Clark was duly elected to the [[New Zealand House of Representatives]] in the [[1981 New Zealand general election|1981 general election]], as one of eight female members in the [[40th New Zealand Parliament|40th Parliament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/research-papers/document/00PLLaw2012021/final-results-for-the-2011-new-zealand-general-election|title=Final Results for the 2011 New Zealand General Election and Referendum [see Figure 4: Number and Share (%) of Women in Parliament 1981–2011]|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]|date=29 March 2012|access-date=15 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801082458/https://www.parliament.nz/en/pb/research-papers/document/00PLLaw2012021/final-results-for-the-2011-new-zealand-general-election|archive-date=1 August 2017}}</ref> 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. Her first parliamentary intervention, on taking her seat was on 12 April 1982 to give notice, she would move a motion condemning the US Navy's deployment of nuclear [[cruise missile]]s in the Pacific <ref>''New Zealand Parliamentary Debates'' (NZPD) 12-4-82, p. 443</ref> Two weeks later in her maiden speech, with unusual emphasis on defence policy and the arms race, Clark again condemned the deployment of cruise, Pershing and SS20 and the global ambitions of both superpowers navies, but claimed the Soviet admirals did not plough New Zealand's waters and expressed particular concern about the expansion of the 1965 memo of [[ANZUS]] understanding for the resupply of weapons to New Zealand to include [[nuclear weapon]] resupply.<ref>''New Zealand Parliamentary Debates'' 27-4-82, pp. 560–564.</ref>

During her first term in the House (1981–1984), Clark became a member of the Statutes Revision Committee. In her second term (1984–1987), she chaired the [[Select committee (United Kingdom)|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.{{citation needed|date=November 2019}} In 1983 she was appointed as Labour's spokesperson for Overseas Aid and Disarmament.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Labour leader allocates responsibilities |date=17 March 1983 | work=[[The Press]] |page=3 }}</ref>

===Cabinet minister===
In 1987, Clark became a Cabinet [[Ministers in the New Zealand Government|minister]] in the [[Fourth Labour Government of New Zealand|Fourth Labour Government]], led by [[David Lange]] (1984–1989), [[Geoffrey Palmer (politician)|Geoffrey Palmer]] (1989–1990) and [[Mike Moore (New Zealand politician)|Mike Moore]] (1990). She served as Minister of Conservation from August 1987 until January 1989 and as Minister of Housing from August 1987 until August 1989.<ref name="Cabinet Minister">{{cite web|title=Clark, Helen Elizabeth|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/clark-helen-elizabeth|publisher=Encyclopedia of World Biography|access-date=14 June 2017|date=2004|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042911/http://www.encyclopedia.com/history/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/clark-helen-elizabeth|url-status=live}}</ref>   She became Minister of Health in January 1989, and took on additional portfolios as Minister of Labour and [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|Deputy Prime Minister]] in August 1989.<ref name="NZ History"/> As Health Minister, Clark introduced a series of legislative changes that allowed [[midwives]] to practice autonomously.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bryar|first1=Rosamund|title=Theory for Midwifery Practice|date=2011|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-0230345638|page=307|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cq8cBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA307|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125223030/https://books.google.com/books?id=cq8cBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA307|archive-date=25 November 2017}}</ref> She also introduced the [[Smoke-free Environments Act 1990]], a law which restricted smoking in places such as workplaces and schools.<ref>{{cite web|title=Smoke-free Environments Act 1990 No 108 (as at 04 April 2016), Public Act Contents|url=http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0108/latest/DLM223191.html|website=www.legislation.govt.nz|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]|access-date=14 June 2017|language=en-NZ|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708165138/http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0108/latest/DLM223191.html|archive-date=8 July 2017}}</ref>

As Deputy Prime Minister, Clark chaired the Cabinet Social Equity Committee, and was a member of several other important [[Cabinet of New Zealand#Committees|Cabinet committees]], such as the Policy Committee, Economic Development and Employment Committee, and Domestic and External Security Committee.<ref name="Cabinet Minister"/>

===Leader of the Opposition===
{{see also|Shadow Cabinet of Helen Clark}}
From October 1990 until December 1993 Clark held the posts of Deputy Leader of the Opposition, [[party spokesperson|Shadow spokesperson]] for Health and Labour, and member of the Social Services Select Committee and of the Labour Select Committee.<ref name="Cabinet Minister"/> After the [[New Zealand National Party|National Party]] won the [[1993 New Zealand general election|1993 general election]] with a majority of one seat, Clark [[1993 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election|successfully challenged]] Mike Moore for the leadership of the parliamentary party.<ref name="Franks-McAloon">{{cite book |last1 = Franks |first1 = Peter |last2 = McAloon |first2 = Jim |title = Labour: The New Zealand Labour Party 1916–2016 |year = 2016 |publisher = Victoria University Press |location = Wellington| page = 229|isbn = 978-1-77656-074-5}}</ref> She was particularly critical of Moore for delivering blurred messages during the 1993 election campaign, and accused him of failing to re-brand Labour as a centre-left party which had jettisoned [[Rogernomics]].<ref name="Franks-McAloon"/>

Clark became the [[Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)|Leader of the Opposition]] on 1 December 1993.<ref name="Cabinet Minister"/> She led the Labour Party in opposition to the [[Fourth National Government of New Zealand|National-led government]] of [[Jim Bolger]] (1990–1997) and [[Jenny Shipley]] (1997–1999). Clark announced her first shadow cabinet on 13 December 1993, but the ousted Moore refused any portfolios.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[The Dominion (Wellington)|The Dominion]] |title=The Labour Shadow Cabinet |date=14 December 1993 |page=2 }}</ref> There were frequent changes after several party defections took place during the parliamentary term in the lead up to the new [[Mixed-member proportional representation|MMP]] voting system.{{sfn|Russell|1996|p=243}} At one reshuffle, in June 1995, Clark herself took the shadow foreign affairs portfolio.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Party launch elevates King |date=29 June 1995 |work=[[The Evening Post (New Zealand)|The Evening Post]] |page=1 }}</ref>

The Labour Party rated poorly in opinion polls in the run-up to the [[1996 New Zealand general election|1996 general election]], and Clark suffered from a low personal approval rating. At one point polls suggested that [[New Zealand First]] of [[Winston Peters]] would even poll 30% and Labour would be beaten into third place. However, she survived [[1996 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election|an attempted leadership coup]] by senior members who favoured [[Phil Goff]].<ref name="Satherley">{{cite news|last1=Satherley|first1=Dan|title=Goff: Failed coup set Helen Clark on course for success|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2016/04/goff-failed-coup-set-helen-clark-on-course-for-success.html|access-date=14 June 2017|work=Newshub|date=4 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125223030/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2016/04/goff-failed-coup-set-helen-clark-on-course-for-success.html|archive-date=25 November 2017}}</ref> Labour lost the election in October 1996, but Clark remained as Opposition leader.<ref name="Satherley"/> Clark was seen as having convincingly won the election debates which led to Labour doing better than predicted. Shortly before the election she also achieved a rapprochement with Moore (who was previously thinking of setting up his [[New Zealand Democratic Coalition|own party]]) who accepted the foreign affairs and overseas trade portfolios, calming internal tensions.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Speden, Graeme |title=Moore returns to Labour's top ranks |date=19 September 1996 |work=[[The Dominion (Wellington)|The Dominion]] |page=1 }}</ref>

During the 1998 [[Waitangi Day]] celebrations, Clark was prevented from speaking on the [[marae]] by activist [[Titewhai Harawira]] in protest over Clark's being allowed to speak in direct contradiction of traditional Māori protocol.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=112121|title=Women on the marae: seen but not heard?|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=30 June 2000|last1=Bidois|first1=Vanessa|access-date=14 May 2015|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330233051/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=112121|url-status=live}}</ref> The ensuing argument saw Clark being reduced to tears on national television.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/nga-ropu-tautohetohe-maori-protest-movements/page-2|title=2. – Ngā rōpū tautohetohe – Māori protest movements – Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand|work=teara.govt.nz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622064423/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/nga-ropu-tautohetohe-maori-protest-movements/page-2|archive-date=22 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/back-in-day-tears-helen-clark-barred-speaking-waitangi-video-6229227|title=Back in the Day: Tears as Helen Clark barred from speaking at Waitangi|work=TVNZ|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150516202626/http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/back-in-day-tears-helen-clark-barred-speaking-waitangi-video-6229227|archive-date=16 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00045.htm|title=Scoop Opinion: Titewhai Harawira Educates A Nation|work=scoop.co.nz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622074208/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0001/S00045.htm|archive-date=22 June 2015}}</ref>

In 1999, Clark was involved in a defamation case in the [[High Court of New Zealand]] with Auckland orthopaedic surgeon Joe Brownlee, resulting in Clark's making an unreserved apology. The case centred on a press statement issued by Clark criticising Brownlee, triggered by a constituent's complaint over the outcome of a hip replacement. Clark admitted the criticism was unjustified in that the complication suffered by her constituent was rare, unforeseen and unavoidable.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://wysiwygnews.com/1999_News/1999October25.html|title=Clark says "sorry" to surgeon|date=26 October 1999|access-date=14 November 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116055135/http://wysiwygnews.com/1999_News/1999October25.html|archive-date=16 January 2009}}</ref>

==Prime Minister (1999–2008)==
{{anchor|Prime Minister}}
{{For|details regarding the Clark government's policy|Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand}}
{{Infobox administration
| image = Helen Clark 2.jpg
| image_size = 
| name = Premiership of Helen Clark
| term_start = 10 December 1999
| term_end = 18 November 2008
| monarch = [[Elizabeth II]]
| cabinet = [[Fifth Labour Government of New Zealand]]
| party = [[New Zealand Labour Party]]
| election = [[1999 New Zealand general election|1999]], [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002]], [[2005 New Zealand general election|2005]]
| appointer = [[Michael Hardie Boys]]
| seat = [[Premier House]]
| predecessor = [[Jenny Shipley#Prime Minister (1997–1999)|Jenny Shipley]]
| successor = [[John Key#Prime Minister (2008–2016)|John Key]]
| seal =
| seal_size = 
| seal_caption =
| official_url =
}}

Under Clark's leadership, Labour became the largest party in parliament from [[1999 New Zealand general election|1999]] to [[2008 New Zealand general election|2008]].<ref>{{cite web|title=General elections 1996–2005 – seats won by party|url=http://www.elections.org.nz/events/past-events/general-elections-1996-2005|publisher=Electoral Commission New Zealand|access-date=22 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160121214257/http://www.elections.org.nz/events/past-events/general-elections-1996-2005|archive-date=21 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Clark became the second woman to serve as Prime Minister of New Zealand, and the first to have won office at an election.<ref name="NZ History" /> She also served as the [[Ministry for Culture and Heritage|Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage]] throughout her premiership. She had additional ministerial responsibility for the [[New Zealand Security Intelligence Service]] (NZSIS) and for Ministerial Services. During her period in office, women held a number of prominent elected and appointed offices in New Zealand, such as the [[Governor-General of New Zealand|Governor-General]], [[Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives|Speaker of the House of Representatives]] and [[Chief Justice of New Zealand|Chief Justice]]—these major offices of state were simultaneously occupied by women between March 2005 and August 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=Women run the country but it doesn't show in pay packets|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10127960|access-date=9 June 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=27 May 2005|archive-date=30 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630042906/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10127960|url-status=live}}</ref> As a [[female head of government]], Clark was a member of the [[Council of Women World Leaders]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Members|url=http://www.lrp.lt/cwwl/en/the-council/members/21472|publisher=United Nations Foundation – Council of Women World Leaders|access-date=9 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801082618/http://www.lrp.lt/cwwl/en/the-council/members/21472|archive-date=1 August 2017}}</ref>

Clark entered office just three years after the adoption of the [[Mixed Member Proportional]] (MMP) [[Electoral system of New Zealand|voting system]], which had produced an unstable National-led government under Bolger and Shipley. Clark negotiated the formation of successive [[coalition government]]s. Political scientist [[Bryce Edwards]] identified Clark's ability to lead stable governments as her most significant achievement, arguing that her ability to work with a variety of coalition partners—including the [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance]], [[Jim Anderton's Progressive Party]], [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green]], [[United Future]] and [[New Zealand First]]—consolidated public support for MMP.<ref name=Reflections>{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Bryce|title=Reflections on Helen Clark's time as PM|url=http://liberation.typepad.com/liberation/2010/11/reflections-on-helen-clarks-time-as-pm.html|website=Liberation|access-date=20 July 2016|date=21 November 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627063209/http://liberation.typepad.com/liberation/2010/11/reflections-on-helen-clarks-time-as-pm.html|archive-date=27 June 2016}}</ref><ref name=steady_as>{{cite web|last1=Espiner|first1=Colin|title=The prime of Helen Clark – steady as she goes|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/candidates/about-the-leaders-28607/633471/The-prime-of-Helen-Clark-steady-as-she-goes|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|access-date=20 July 2016|date=25 September 2008|archive-date=8 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908202601/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/candidates/about-the-leaders-28607/633471/The-prime-of-Helen-Clark-steady-as-she-goes|url-status=live}}</ref>

Clark's particular interests included [[social policy]] and international affairs. A strong supporter of [[nuclear disarmament]], Clark pursued a policy of peace-making within the Pacific region.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dewes|first1=Kate|last2=Ware|first2=Alyn|title=Aotearoa/New Zealand: From Nuclear Ally to Pacific Peacemaker|url=http://www.disarmsecure.org/publications/papers/aotearoa_New_Zealand_From_Nuclear_Ally_to_Pacific_Peacemaker.php|publisher=Disarmament & Security Centre|access-date=8 May 2017|language=en|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901112623/http://www.disarmsecure.org/publications/papers/aotearoa_New_Zealand_From_Nuclear_Ally_to_Pacific_Peacemaker.php|archive-date=1 September 2017}}</ref> She set herself the task of making New Zealand the first [[ecologically sustainable]] nation, describing this as "central to New Zealand's unique national identity".<ref>{{cite web|title=#38 Helen Clark|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/11/biz-07women_Helen-Clark_EXX3.html|work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=10 June 2017|date=30 August 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201012500/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/11/biz-07women_Helen-Clark_EXX3.html|archive-date=1 February 2017}}</ref> Her government's major [[public policy|policy]] achievements include the [[Working for Families]] package, increasing the [[minimum wage]] 5% a year, interest-free student loans, creation of [[District Health Board]]s, the introduction of a number of [[tax credit]]s, overhauling the secondary school qualifications by introducing [[National Certificate of Educational Achievement|NCEA]], and the introduction of fourteen weeks’ parental leave.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Julc0FIsYMEC&q=new+zealand+abolished+interest+student+loans+2008&pg=PA50|title=Historical Dictionary of Polynesia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128030837/https://books.google.com/books?id=Julc0FIsYMEC&pg=PA50&dq=new+zealand+abolished+interest+student+loans+2008&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Fm2OUfOfPNLw0gXk8IDIAw&sqi=2&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=new%20zealand%20abolished%20interest%20student%20loans%202008&f=false|archive-date=28 January 2016|isbn=9780810867727|last1=Craig|first1=Robert D.|year=2011}}</ref> Commentators praised Clark (along with [[Michael Cullen (politician)|Michael Cullen]], the [[Minister of Finance (New Zealand)|Minister of Finance]]) for overseeing a period of sustained and stable [[economic growth]], with an increase in employment that saw a gradual lowering of the [[unemployment rate]] to a record low of 3.6% (in 2005).<ref>{{cite web|title=NZ unemployment: lowest in the world|url=http://www.jobsletter.org.nz/jbl22400.htm|work=The Jobs Letter|access-date=23 February 2018|date=17 February 2005|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205213151/http://jobsletter.org.nz/jbl22400.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Clark made every attempt to make sure that gender was not an issue in politics. However, Bryce Edwards states that others did. Clark was portrayed as bloodsucking, cold, and humourless. Clark says herself that when her male counterparts spoke in the media, they looked strong and determined, whereas when she portrayed the same characteristics, the media made it to look like she was "tough" and "nagging."<ref>{{cite journal|title=Media Representations of Women Politicians in Australia and New Zealand: High Expectations, Hostility or Stardom|first=Elizabeth|last=van Acker|page=121|journal=Policy and Society|volume=22|issue=1|year=2003|doi=10.1016/S1449-4035(03)70016-2|s2cid=218566937}}</ref>

In 2006 Clark was 20th in ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine's [[Forbes list of The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|ranking of the world's 100 most powerful women]].<ref name="100 women">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/11/06women_Helen-Clark_EXX3.html|title=Helen Clark, The Most Powerful Women|year=2006|access-date=12 November 2008|work=[[Forbes]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821160107/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/11/06women_Helen-Clark_EXX3.html|archive-date=21 August 2008}}</ref> By the time she left office in 2008 this had fallen to 56th.<ref name=Forbes2008>{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/11/biz_powerwomen08_The-100-Most-Powerful-Women_Rank_3.html |title=The 100 Most Powerful Women sorted by Rank |work=[[Forbes]]|year=2008 |access-date=20 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106161425/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/11/biz_powerwomen08_The-100-Most-Powerful-Women_Rank_3.html |archive-date=6 November 2010 }}</ref>

===First term: 1999–2002===
The 1999 general election produced a historic moment for New Zealand; for the first time, two women, Clark and Shipley, campaigned against each other as leaders of the country's two major parties. Clark repeatedly stated her desire to "govern alone" rather than as part of a coalition.<ref name="Boston233-234">{{cite book |last1=Jonathan |first1=Boston |title=Left Turn: The New Zealand General Election of 1999 |date=2000 |publisher=Victoria University Press |isbn=9780864734044 |pages=233–234}}</ref> However, in the lead up to the election, Labour made overtures to the left-wing [[Alliance (New Zealand political party)|Alliance]]. Clark addressed the Alliance's annual conference in August 1998.<ref name="Boston233-234"/> On polling day Labour returned 49 seats, an increase of 12, ahead of National's 39 seats.<ref name="1999election">{{cite web|title=Final results update for the 1999 New Zealand general election|url=https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/00PLLawRP99111/4d5c2cf501956d02710301e0b3284ae8bc5758f7|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]|access-date=10 June 2017|date=23 December 1999|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801090320/https://www.parliament.nz/resource/en-nz/00PLLawRP99111/4d5c2cf501956d02710301e0b3284ae8bc5758f7|archive-date=1 August 2017}}</ref> The first Clark-led Cabinet linked Labour with the Alliance.<ref name="1999election" /> Alliance leader [[Jim Anderton]] served as [[Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand|Deputy Prime Minister]] under Clark until 2002.<ref>{{cite web|title=Anderton, Jim|url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/anderton-jim/|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]|access-date=9 June 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125223031/https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/anderton-jim/|archive-date=25 November 2017}}</ref> The full ministerial team, and portfolios, was announced on 9 December—12 days after the election—and the new government was sworn in the following day.<ref name="Boston"/> The coalition partners pioneered "[[agree to disagree]]" procedures to manage policy differences.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Holl|first1=Maarten|last2=Palmer|first2=Matthew|title=Helen Clark and Jim Anderton with their coalition agreement, 1999|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/35909/helen-clark-and-jim-anderton-with-their-coalition-agreement-1999|publisher=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]|access-date=9 June 2017|language=en|date=20 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430084524/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/35909/helen-clark-and-jim-anderton-with-their-coalition-agreement-1999|archive-date=30 April 2014}}</ref> Such procedures lessened the chances of Cabinet becoming publicly divided and running the risk of losing the confidence of the [[New Zealand House of Representatives|House of Representatives]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Eichbaum|first1=Chris|title=Cabinet government|url=http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/cabinet-government/page-5|publisher=[[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand]]|access-date=11 June 2017|language=en|date=20 June 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401022745/http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/cabinet-government/page-5|archive-date=1 April 2017}}</ref>

In January 2000, the then [[Commissioner of Police (New Zealand)|Police Commissioner]], [[Peter Doone]], resigned after ''[[The Sunday Star-Times]]'' alleged he had prevented the [[Driving under the influence|breath testing]] of his partner Robyn, who had driven the car they occupied, by telling the 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, 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". Clark also responded by saying that National supporters had funded Doone's defamation-suit.<ref name="Peter Doone">{{cite news|url= http://www.nzherald.co.nz/print-media/news/article.cfm?c_id=289&objectid=10124904|title= PM confirmed story, says editor|first= Audrey|last= Young|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date= 11 May 2005|access-date= 23 May 2012|archive-date= 31 May 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120531052617/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/print-media/news/article.cfm?c_id=289&objectid=10124904|url-status= live}}</ref> Opinion on the significance of this incident varied.<ref name="Peter Doone opinion">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10125421|title=Mixed media: The PM'S slow leak|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=14 May 2005 |access-date=11 May 2006}}</ref>

In 2000, Labour MP [[Chris Carter (politician)|Chris Carter]] investigated the background of one of Clark's Cabinet colleagues, [[Minister of Māori Affairs|Māori Affairs Minister]] [[Dover Samuels]], regarding allegations of historic [[statutory rape]]. Ex-convict [[John Yelash]] claimed that Carter had approached him to help with the investigation; a claim that Carter denied.<ref>{{cite news|title=Judge me on my deeds, gay minister asks|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2349077|access-date=14 September 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=12 August 2002|language=en-NZ|archive-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914081655/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2349077|url-status=live}}</ref> Clark backed her MP, referring to Yelash as a "murderer" when he had in fact been convicted of [[manslaughter in English law|manslaughter]], a less serious offence.<ref name="Yelash">{{cite news|title=Cabinet backing for PM's payout|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=188494|access-date=9 June 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=12 May 2001|language=en-NZ|archive-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914124850/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=188494|url-status=live}}</ref> Yelash sued Clark for defamation, resulting in an out-of-court settlement.<ref name="Yelash"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Disquiet On The Westie Front|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0105/S00112.htm|date=18 May 2001|access-date=9 June 2017|work=[[Scoop (website)|scoop.co.nz]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914125209/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0105/S00112.htm|archive-date=14 September 2017}}</ref>

In April 2001, Clark met with Chinese President [[Jiang Zemin]] during an official visit to Beijing. Jiang referred to the Prime Minister as an "old friend". He stated that China hoped to "establish bilateral long-term and stable overall cooperative relations [with New Zealand]".<ref name="Jiang Zemin">{{cite web|url=http://english.people.com.cn/200104/21/eng20010421_68231.html|title=President Jiang Meets New Zealand PM|work=People's Daily|date=21 April 2001|access-date=11 May 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080723230939/http://english.people.com.cn/200104/21/eng20010421_68231.html|archive-date=23 July 2008}}</ref> Clark strongly supported China's entry into the [[World Trade Organization]].<ref name="Jiang Zemin"/>

[[File:Deputy Secretary of Defense.jpg|thumb|right|250px|With [[Paul Wolfowitz]] at the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]], 26 March 2002]] 
In March 2002, Clark made her first visit to the United States as Prime Minister. She visited "Ground Zero", the former site of the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]], where the [[New York City Police Department]] presented her with a [[New Zealand flag]] that had been recovered from the rubble after the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref name="Armstrong">{{cite news|last1=Armstrong|first1=John|title=Twin Towers gift poignant symbol for PM|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1241192|access-date=10 June 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=20 March 2002|language=en-NZ|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801082757/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=1241192|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 March, Clark visited [[the Pentagon]] and [[Washington, D.C.]], where she met with American officials, including a private meeting with President [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite web|title=New Zealand – Visits by Foreign Leaders – Department History – Office of the Historian|url=https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/visits/new-zealand|website=history.state.gov|publisher=United States Department of State|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512060611/https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/visits/new-zealand|archive-date=12 May 2017}}</ref> Most of the agenda for Clark's visit focused on the joint counter-terrorism campaign (dubbed the "[[War on Terror]]").<ref name="Armstrong"/>

As Opposition Leader in 1998, Clark signed her name to a canvas that had been painted on by another artist. The painting was subsequently auctioned to charity.<ref>{{cite news|title=Spotting a fake: the police view|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2051011|access-date=14 September 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=8 July 2002|language=en-NZ|archive-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914081554/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2051011|url-status=live}}</ref> After the act came to light in April 2002, the opposition National Party referred the matter to the [[New Zealand Police|Police]]. A police report found evidence for a ''[[prima facie]]'' case of forgery, but determined that it was not in the public interest to prosecute Clark.<ref name="Painting">{{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/2002-03/03rn09.htm |title=Research Note no.9 2002–03 |access-date=11 May 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060118203929/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/2002-03/03rn09.htm |archive-date=18 January 2006 }}</ref>

In June 2002, Clark apologised on behalf of New Zealand for aspects of the country's treatment of [[Samoa]] during the [[Western Samoa Trust Territory|colonial era]].<ref>[http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2044857 "Full text: Helen Clark's apology to Samoa"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330221446/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2044857 |date=30 March 2019 }}, 4 June 2002, NZ Herald. Retrieved on 10 June 2017.</ref> Clark's apology was made in [[Apia]] during the 40th anniversary of Samoa's independence and televised live to New Zealand where Samoans applauded the Prime Minister's gesture.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2025041.stm | work=[[BBC News]] | title=Apology to Samoa surprises New Zealand | date=4 June 2002 | access-date=4 May 2010 | first=Greg | last=Ward | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011125916/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2025041.stm | archive-date=11 October 2010 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

The Alliance split in 2002 over the Government's commitment of New Zealand troops to the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]], leading to the imminent dissolution of Labour's coalition with that party.<ref name="Alliance_split">{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_politics_story_skin/91509|publisher=[[TVNZ]]|title=Anderton confirms Alliance changes|date=3 April 2002|access-date=27 January 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613030407/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/news_politics_story_skin/91509|archive-date=13 June 2011}}</ref> Consequently, Clark called for an early election to be held on 27 July. Political opponents claimed that Clark could have continued to govern, and that a [[snap election]] was called to take advantage of Labour's strong position in opinion polls.<ref>{{cite web|last1=James|first1=Colin|title=John Key, modest constitutional innovator|url=http://www.colinjames.co.nz/ODT/ODT_2011/ODT_11Jun14.htm|work=[[Otago Daily Times]] (originally)|access-date=10 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425052414/http://www.colinjames.co.nz/ODT/ODT_2011/ODT_11Jun14.htm|archive-date=25 April 2012|date=14 June 2011}}</ref> In opinion surveys conducted during the election campaign, Clark scored high approval ratings and was far ahead of other party leaders as "preferred Prime Minister".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Boston|first1=Jonathan|title=New Zealand Votes: The General Election of 2002|date=2003|publisher=Victoria University Press|isbn=9780864734686|page=48|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N-ql-Xs9hhkC&pg=PA48|access-date=20 November 2017|language=en|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033744/https://books.google.com/books?id=N-ql-Xs9hhkC&pg=PA48|url-status=live}}</ref>

A major issue during the 2002 election campaign was the end of a moratorium on [[genetic engineering]], strongly opposed by the rival [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Vowles|first1=Jack|last2=Aimer|first2=Peter|last3=Miller|first3=Raymond|last4=Banducci|first4=Susan|authorlink4=Susan Banducci|last5=Karp|first5=Jeffrey|title=Voters' Veto: The 2002 Election in New Zealand and the Consolidation of Minority Government|date=2013|publisher=Auckland University Press|isbn=9781869407148|page=139|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P0JeAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT139|language=en}}</ref> The debate was reignited when investigative journalist [[Nicky Hager]] published a book, ''[[Seeds of Distrust]]'', in which he alleged that Clark's government had covered up a contamination of [[Genetically modified maize|genetically modified corn]] plants in 2000. A television interview with [[John Campbell (broadcaster)|John Campbell]] was terminated by Clark when she was taken by surprise from the allegations,<ref>{{cite web|title=3 News – 'Corngate' interview with Helen Clark|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/3-news-corngate-interview-with-helen-clark-2002|website=nzonscreen.com|publisher=NZ On Screen|access-date=14 June 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706124733/https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/3-news-corngate-interview-with-helen-clark-2002|archive-date=6 July 2017}}</ref> which she claimed to have known nothing about prior to the interview. The affair was dubbed "[[Corngate]]" by the media.<ref>{{cite news|title=Barry Soper: Nicky Hager adept at whipping up media frenzy|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11823728|access-date=14 June 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=23 March 2017|language=en-NZ|archive-date=14 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614005143/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11823728|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=TV3 Corngate screening unjustified says judge|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3547290|access-date=14 June 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=4 February 2004|language=en-NZ|archive-date=1 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801075651/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3547290|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Second term: 2002–2005===
Clark won a second term in the [[2002 New Zealand general election|2002 general election]]—her party increased both its share of the vote and number of seats.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Results 2002 General Election and Trends in Election Outcomes 1990–2002|url=https://www.parliament.nz/resource/mi-nz/00PLLawRP02071/6bf3e1af068523bd999bf4d196b4d759f76a0ad3|publisher=[[New Zealand Parliament]]|access-date=10 June 2017|date=20 August 2002|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201045419/https://www.parliament.nz/resource/mi-nz/00PLLawRP02071/6bf3e1af068523bd999bf4d196b4d759f76a0ad3|url-status=live}}</ref> Labour subsequently entered into a coalition with Jim Anderton's [[New Zealand Progressive Party|Progressive Party]] (a spin-off of the Alliance), with parliamentary [[confidence and supply]] coming from [[United Future]], and a good-faith agreement with the [[Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand|Green Party]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Government and Greens sign formal co-operation agreement|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-and-greens-sign-formal-co-operation-agreement|publisher=The Beehive (New Zealand Government)|access-date=10 June 2017|language=en-nz|date=20 August 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825223231/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/government-and-greens-sign-formal-co-operation-agreement|archive-date=25 August 2016}}</ref> [[Michael Cullen (politician)|Michael Cullen]], who served as Minister of Finance, was appointed  Deputy Prime Minister by Clark, replacing Anderton.{{sfn|Eyley|Salmon|2015|p=xii}}

{{Rquote|right|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<ref name="clarkrepublic">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1837083.stm |title=NZ premier denies royal snub |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107011607/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1837083.stm |archive-date=7 November 2012 |last=BBC News |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |date=23 February 2002 |access-date=25 May 2012 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>}}

A [[Republicanism in New Zealand|republican]], Clark stated in 2002 that she thought it was "inevitable" that New Zealand would become a republic in the near future.<ref name="clarkrepublic" /> Her term in office saw a number of alleged moves in this direction,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hartevelt|first1=John|title=Clark's comments spark republic debate|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9350295/Clarks-comments-spark-republic-debate|access-date=15 June 2017|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=1 November 2013|language=en|archive-date=6 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006151755/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/9350295/Clarks-comments-spark-republic-debate|url-status=live}}</ref> under her government's policy of building [[national identity]]. Examples include the abolition of appeals to the [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council|Privy Council]] in London and the foundation of the [[Supreme Court of New Zealand]], the abolition of titular Knighthood and Damehood honours (restored in 2009), and the abolition of the title "[[Queen's Counsel]]" (replaced by "[[Senior Counsel]]", restored in 2012).
[[File:The Prime Minister of New Zealand Ms. Helen Clark is being received by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at a Ceremonial Reception in New Delhi on October 20, 2004.jpg|thumb|right|Clark with Indian Prime Minister [[Manmohan Singh]], 20 October 2004]]
In 2003, Clark criticised the [[Invasion of Iraq]] without an explicit United Nations mandate, and her government opposed New Zealand military action in the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{cite news|title=NZ made 'right judgement' over Iraq|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/308164/nz-made-'right-judgement'-over-iraq|access-date=8 May 2017|work=Radio New Zealand|date=7 July 2016|language=en-nz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311011059/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/308164/nz-made-'right-judgement'-over-iraq|archive-date=11 March 2017}}</ref> Her government did not send combat troops to Iraq, although some medical and engineering units were sent.<ref>{{cite news|title=New Zealand's 15-year role in Iraq|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/286365/new-zealand's-15-year-role-in-iraq|access-date=8 May 2017|work=Radio New Zealand|date=7 October 2015|language=en-nz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814102051/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/286365/new-zealand's-15-year-role-in-iraq|archive-date=14 August 2017}}</ref> Clark's foreign policy reflected the priorities of [[liberal internationalism]], especially the promotion of democracy and human rights; the strengthening of the role of the United Nations; the advancement of antimilitarism and disarmament; and the encouragement of free-trade.<ref>David McCraw, "New Zealand Foreign Policy Under the Clark Government: High Tide of Liberal Internationalism?," ''Pacific Affairs'' (2005) 78#2 pp 217–235 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40023914 in JSTOR] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317053450/http://www.jstor.org/stable/40023914 |date=17 March 2016 }}</ref> In March 2003, referring to the US-led coalition's actions in Iraq, Clark told the newspaper ''[[The Sunday Star-Times]]'' that, "I don't think that 11 September under a [[Al Gore|Gore]] presidency would have had this consequence for Iraq." She later sent a letter to Washington apologising for any offence that her comment may have caused.<ref name="Iraq apology">{{cite web|url=http://uncorrectedtranscripts.clerk.govt.nz/Documents/20030409.htm |title=Questions for Oral Answer, Wednesday, 9&nbsp;April 2003 |access-date=11 May 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040627091539/http://uncorrectedtranscripts.clerk.govt.nz/Documents/20030409.htm |archive-date=27 June 2004 }}</ref>

On 17 July 2004, a motorcade involving police, [[Diplomatic Protection Squad]], and Ministerial Services staff reached speeds of up to 172&nbsp;km/h when taking Clark and Cabinet Minister [[Jim Sutton]] from [[Waimate]] to [[Christchurch International Airport|Christchurch Airport]] so she could attend a [[rugby union]] match in [[Wellington]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.police.govt.nz/district/central/release/1440.html|title=PM's Motorcade – Waimate to Christchurch Saturday 17&nbsp;July 2004|date=20 July 2004|publisher=New Zealand Police|access-date=21 January 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023122506/http://www.police.govt.nz/district/central/release/1440.html|archive-date=23 October 2008}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Quashed convictions">{{cite web
|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10399170
|title=Motorcade officers get clean slate
|author=Jarrod Booker
|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]
|access-date=10 July 2020
|date=1 September 2006
|archive-date=16 November 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033653/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/motorcade-officers-get-clean-slate/EYPJM25DHMJTTJ6OW6BSX3BGKI/
|url-status=live
}}</ref>
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.<ref name="Motorcade">
{{cite web
|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10339446
|title=PM 'enjoyed' convoy ride
|first=Jarrod |last=Brooker
|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]
|access-date=11 May 2006 |date=6 August 2005
}}
</ref>

In November 2004, Clark announced that negotiations with China had commenced for a [[free-trade agreement]], eventually signing [[New Zealand–China Free Trade Agreement|a comprehensive agreement]] in July 2008.<ref name="forbes fta">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/04/07/china-nz-fta-markets-econ-cx_jc_0407markets2.html|title=Landmark Trade Deal Struck By China, New Zealand|work=[[Forbes]]|date=4 July 2008|access-date=8 April 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150413093734/http://www.forbes.com/2008/04/07/china-nz-fta-markets-econ-cx_jc_0407markets2.html|archive-date=13 April 2015}}</ref> It was New Zealand's largest trade deal since the 1983 [[Closer Economic Relations]] agreement with Australia.

===Third term: 2005–2008===
[[File:Clark-Bush.jpg|thumb|Clark meets US President George W. Bush at the [[White House]], 22 March 2007]]

In 2005, following that [[2005 New Zealand general election|year's general election]], Labour and the Progressive Party renewed their coalition, with confidence and supply arrangements with both [[New Zealand First]] and United Future in exchange for giving the leaders of those parties ministerial positions outside Cabinet.<ref>{{cite news|title=Labour's Clark forms NZ coalition|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4348474.stm|access-date=8 June 2017|work=[[BBC News]]|date=17 October 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831182253/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4348474.stm|archive-date=31 August 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Confidence and Supply Agreement with New Zealand First|url=https://www.beehive.govt.nz/Documents/Files/NZFirst.pdf|publisher=New Zealand Government|access-date=8 June 2017|date=2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417085929/https://www.beehive.govt.nz/Documents/Files/NZFirst.pdf|archive-date=17 April 2017}}</ref> Clark became first Labour leader to win three consecutive elections.<ref name="NZ History"/> Clark won 66% of her electorate's votes, or 20,918 votes with a 14,749 majority.<ref>{{cite web |title=Official Count Results – Mt Albert |date=10 October 2005 |url=http://2005.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-27.html |publisher=New Zealand Ministry of Justice, Chief Electoral Office |access-date=12 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070731071719/http://2005.electionresults.govt.nz/electorate-27.html |archive-date=31 July 2007}}</ref>

On [[Armistice Day]], 11 November 2006, Clark attended a service in [[Hyde Park, London]], where a monument commemorating New Zealand's war dead was unveiled. During her visit she met [[Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth]], [[Prince Charles]] and British Prime Minister [[Tony Blair]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Queen honours New Zealand's dead|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6139656.stm|access-date=22 December 2017|date=11 November 2006|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033715/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6139656.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 26 May 2006, Clark ordered a military deployment to the [[2006 East Timorese crisis]] alongside international partners.<ref>{{cite web |title=NZ Army – Timor Leste: 1999–2012 |url=http://www.army.mil.nz/about-us/what-we-do/deployments/previous-deployments/timor+leste/default.htm |website=www.army.mil.nz |access-date=12 July 2020 |language=en-NZ |quote="On 25 May 2006 the Prime Minister of New Zealand announced that New Zealand Defence Forces would deploy in support of the Timorese government." |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033742/https://www.nzdf.mil.nz/army/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Vladimir Putin at APEC Summit in Australia 7-9 September 2007-18.jpg|thumb|Clark in the [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation]] Summit in Sydney, 9 September 2007]]
Clark's major overseas visit of her third term was a trip to the United States in March 2007, where she met with [[George W. Bush]] in Washington. Despite her strained relationship with the President, they agreed on many issues, including working cooperatively in foreign affairs, commerce and the need for both nations to work toward [[energy security]].<ref>{{cite web|title=President Bush Welcomes Prime Minister Clark of New Zealand to the White House|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2007/82018.htm|website=2001-2009.state.gov|publisher=U.S. Department of State|access-date=8 June 2017|date=21 March 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630050155/https://2001-2009.state.gov/p/eap/rls/rm/2007/82018.htm|archive-date=30 June 2017}}</ref>

On 8 February 2008, Clark was recognised as the longest-serving leader of the Labour Party in its history (although some uncertainty exists over the exact date when [[Harry Holland]] became party leader), having served for 14 years, 69 days.<ref name="nzh_labour_leader">{{cite web|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10491916|title=Clark beats record of longest-serving Labour leader – probably|author=Audrey Young|date=12 February 2008|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=12 February 2008}}</ref> By 26 October 2008 she had passed Holland's longest possible term and her position as longest-serving Labour leader was put beyond doubt.<ref group=note>No recent Prime Minister of New Zealand has lasted more than three terms in office, or their party as government. [[Keith Holyoake]] (1957; 1960–1972) was the last to do so, and [[William Massey]] (1912–1925) and [[Richard Seddon]] (1893–1906) both died one year into their fifth term.</ref>

By the end of her tenure in office, Clark had come to be seen as a divisive figure, going from a Herald-DigiPoll popularity rating of nearly 60% in 2005 to 42% at the time of the 2008 general election.<ref name="Audrey">{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Audrey|title=TPP protests put damper on long Key honeymoon|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11590131|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=20 July 2016|date=16 February 2016|archive-date=11 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911143805/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11590131|url-status=live}}</ref> Portrayals of Clark as controlling and manipulative after the 2005 election increased when she abandoned her consensus-managerial approach, such as during the [[New Zealand foreshore and seabed controversy]], and her support of the [[Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007]] (the so-called anti-smacking law).<ref name=Reflections/><ref name=steady_as/><ref name=prime_miss>{{cite web|title=The Prime of Miss Helen Clark|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/news/features-28605/719646/The-prime-of-Miss-Helen-Clark|website=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]]|publisher=The Dominion Post|access-date=20 July 2016|date=15 November 2008|archive-date=9 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150632/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/news/features-28605/719646/The-prime-of-Miss-Helen-Clark|url-status=live}}</ref> She was accused of having a "[[nanny state]]" approach to social issues,{{sfn|Eyley|Salmon|2015|pp=250, 253, 258}} a perception captured by the pejorative term '[[Helengrad]]'.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1575177/Australians-add-new-words-to-dictionary.html | title=Australians add new words to dictionary | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | location=London | first=Nick | last=Squires | date=10 January 2008 | access-date=10 June 2017 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913074655/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1575177/Australians-add-new-words-to-dictionary.html | archive-date=13 September 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Labour had been consistently behind the National Party in [[Opinion polling for the 2008 New Zealand general election|opinion polls]] since 2006, and the gap widened significantly in early 2007.<ref name="3 News polls">{{cite web|title=Opinion Poll Results|url=http://img2.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0804/3poll200408.pdf|publisher=3 News ([[MediaWorks New Zealand]])|access-date=27 May 2018|date=20 April 2008|archive-date=14 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314044631/http://img2.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/0804/3poll200408.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 August 2008 the [[New Zealand Treasury|Treasury]] announced that the New Zealand economy had entered a [[recession]].<ref>{{cite news|title=NZ in recession – Treasury|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/565184/NZ-in-recession-Treasury|access-date=19 May 2018|date=5 August 2008|work=Stuff.co.nz|language=en|archive-date=19 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519032747/http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/565184/NZ-in-recession-Treasury|url-status=live}}</ref>

Clark's personal popularity was eclipsed by [[John Key]] soon after the latter's election as [[Leader of the New Zealand National Party|National Party Leader]] in November 2006. In the final media polls prior to the {{NZ election link|2008}} Key was ahead of Clark in preferred prime minister polls by eight points in the Fairfax Media Nielsen poll and four points in the One News Colmar Brunton poll.<ref>{{cite news|title=A statistical analysis of John Key's legacy|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/23-03-2017/a-statistical-analysis-of-john-keys-legacy/|access-date=19 May 2018|work=The Spinoff|date=23 March 2017|archive-date=19 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519033226/https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/23-03-2017/a-statistical-analysis-of-john-keys-legacy/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the 2008 election campaign, Clark attacked the National Party as "insincere" in its promise to maintain many of her government's flagship projects, such as KiwiSaver and [[Kiwibank]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10531965 |title=Poll all about trust, says Clark |date=13 September 2008 |access-date=19 May 2018 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |first=Audrey |last=Young |archive-date=19 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519235849/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10531965 |url-status=live }}</ref>

National overtook Labour as the largest party following the 2008 election. Labour did not have the numbers to ally with smaller parties and no viable path to government; Clark conceded defeat to Key and announced that she was standing down as party leader.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10541898 | title=Helen Clark steps down after Labour's loss in NZ election | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | date=8 November 2008 | access-date=20 November 2010 | archive-date=23 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523055657/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10541898 | url-status=live }}</ref> On 11 November 2008 Clark was succeeded by [[Phil Goff]] as Leader of the Labour Party.<ref name="goff_leader">{{cite web|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0811/S00156.htm|title=Labour elects Phil Goff as new leader|publisher=[[Scoop.co.nz]]|author=New Zealand Labour Party|date=11 November 2008|access-date=11 November 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090130102715/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0811/S00156.htm|archive-date=30 January 2009|author-link=New Zealand Labour Party}}</ref> In the first Labour Party conference after its defeat Phil Goff acknowledged that Clark's government had become identified with "[[nanny state|nanny-state]]" policies in the public mind, and said that the party wanted to "draw a line under the past and say, yes, we made mistakes, we didn't listen."<ref>{{cite news |title=Goff Admits: We made mistakes |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=11 September 2009 |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10596584 |access-date=15 August 2018 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330205541/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10596584 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reputation and legacy==
[[File:Helen Clark and John Key-3, UNDP.jpg|thumb|left|With her successor as Prime Minister, [[John Key]], 22 September 2009]]
Early in her career Clark gained a reputation as a capable advocate of nuclear disarmament and public health policy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helen Clark {{!}} prime minister of New Zealand|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Helen-Clark|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|access-date=19 May 2018|language=en|archive-date=19 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519033739/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Helen-Clark|url-status=live}}</ref> As party leader, Clark denounced [[Rogernomics]] as "a ghastly period" and won the 1999 election by abandoning its legacy.{{sfn|Eyley|Salmon|2015|p=130}} However, biographer Denis Welch has argued that she did not do enough to repudiate the paradigm created by Rogernomics, instead allowing Labour and National to become "increasingly hard to tell apart" on many issues.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Edwards|first1=Bryce|title=Helen Clark biography out soon|url=http://liberation.typepad.com/liberation/2009/07/helen-clark-biography-out-soon.html|website=Liberation|access-date=20 July 2016|date=16 July 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810015730/http://liberation.typepad.com/liberation/2009/07/helen-clark-biography-out-soon.html|archive-date=10 August 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Australian PM Kevin Rudd meets with UNDP chief Helen Clark.jpg|thumb|Clark with Australian Prime Minister (and [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] leader) [[Kevin Rudd]], 12 February 2010]]

Clark's government was pragmatic,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Garner|first1=Duncan|title=Opinion: Why Helen Clark should get the job|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/opinion-why-helen-clark-should-get-the-job-2016040513#axzz450VBGCi1|work=Newshub|access-date=20 July 2016|date=5 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816134848/http://www.newshub.co.nz/opinion/opinion-why-helen-clark-should-get-the-job-2016040513#axzz450VBGCi1|archive-date=16 August 2016}}</ref> managerial,<ref name=prime_miss/> concerned with stability,{{sfn|Eyley|Salmon|2015|p=145}} and focused on incremental changes over grand projects.<ref name=Reflections/><ref name=steady_as/> Political scientist Bryce Edwards argues that Clark was never a "conviction politician" and set out to be a "successful" rather than "great" politician, leaving behind a legacy of incremental reforms of New Zealand and good management of the status quo, but no bold ambitions.<ref name=Reflections/> Likewise, commentator John Armstrong, while praising Clark, describes her as a "[[technocratic]]" prime minister "who will be remembered more for her management abilities than a capacity to inspire".<ref>{{cite news|author-link=Laila Harre|last1=Harre|first1=Laila|last2=Armstrong|first2=John|last3=Bassett|first3=Michael|title=Over and out: Helen Clark's legacy|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10543097|access-date=19 May 2018|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=14 November 2008|language=en-NZ|archive-date=19 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519033610/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10543097|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2009, two months after losing office, Clark was voted 'Greatest Living New Zealander' in an opt-in website poll run by ''[[The New Zealand Herald]]''. In a close race she received 25 per cent of the vote, ahead of Victoria Cross recipient [[Willie Apiata]] at 21 per cent. Then Prime Minister John Key said he was not surprised by the poll, saying "she is well thought of as a New Zealand Prime Minister."<ref>{{cite news |last=Tapaleao |first=Vaimoana |title=Admired Helen Clark can hold her head high |date=24 January 2009 |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10553333 |access-date=24 January 2009 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |archive-date=9 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209161316/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10553333 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[Forbes]]'' magazine ranked Clark the 22nd most powerful woman in the world in 2016,<ref name="Forbes16">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/helen-clark/?list=power-women|title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|website=[[Forbes]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812002221/http://www.forbes.com/profile/helen-clark/?list=power-women|archive-date=12 August 2016|access-date=6 June 2016}}</ref> down from 20th in 2006.<ref name="100 women" />

==Post-prime ministerial career==
Clark was the first defeated Labour Prime Minister to immediately resign the party leadership rather than lead it in Opposition. She served as the [[Shadow Cabinet|shadow]] foreign affairs spokesperson<ref>{{cite news|title=Goff: 'I was born into the Labour Party'|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/news/714126/Goff-I-was-born-into-the-Labour-Party|access-date=8 June 2017|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=11 November 2008|language=en|archive-date=19 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219090423/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/vote-08/news/714126/Goff-I-was-born-into-the-Labour-Party|url-status=live}}</ref> in the [[Shadow Cabinet of Phil Goff]] for several months before retiring from Parliament in April 2009 to accept a position with the United Nations (UN).

===United Nations Development Programme===
[[File:Helen Clark Visits the National Assembly for Wales, 11 April 2012 - Ymweliad Helen Clark i Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru, 11 Ebrill 2012 (7083412441).jpg|thumb|Clark at the [[Welsh Assembly]], 17 April 2012]]
Clark became the Administrator of the [[United Nations Development Programme]] (UNDP) on 17 April 2009, and was the first woman to lead the organisation.<ref name="Tribute">{{cite web |title=Tribute to Helen Clark – leaves UNDP after eight years as Administrator |url=http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2017/04/19/tribute-to-helen-clark-leaves-undp-after-eight-years-as-administrator.html |publisher=UNDP |access-date=10 September 2018 |language=en |date=19 April 2017 |archive-date=9 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909151013/http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2017/04/19/tribute-to-helen-clark-leaves-undp-after-eight-years-as-administrator.html |url-status=live }}</ref> She was also the Chair of the [[United Nations Development Group]], a committee consisting of the heads of all UN funds, programmes and departments working on development issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.undp.org/about/helen-clark.shtml |title=United Nations Development Programme – Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |date=17 April 2009 |access-date=20 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100627053152/http://www.undp.org/about/helen-clark.shtml |archive-date=27 June 2010 }}</ref> The New Zealand Government strongly supported her nomination, along with Australia, the Pacific Island nations and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, [[Gordon Brown]]. She also received the support of the five countries on the bureau of the UNDP board ([[Iran]], [[Haiti]], [[Serbia]], [[The Netherlands]] and [[Tanzania]]) and was unanimously confirmed by the [[United Nations General Assembly|General Assembly]] on 31 March. She was sworn in by UN Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] on 27 April 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2009/april/helen-clark-sworn-in-as-undp-administrator.en |title=Helen Clark sworn in as UNDP Administrator |publisher=UNDP |date=31 March 2009 |access-date=20 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100811163204/http://content.undp.org/go/newsroom/2009/april/helen-clark-sworn-in-as-undp-administrator.en |archive-date=11 August 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10564198 |title=Editorial: Clark needs to be diplomatic but forceful |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=30 March 2009 |access-date=20 November 2010 |archive-date=22 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022120944/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10564198 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/govt+supports+helen+clark+united+nations+role |title=Govt supports Helen Clark for United Nations role |publisher=New Zealand Government |date=8 February 2009 |access-date=20 November 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522144149/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/govt+supports+helen+clark+united+nations+role |archive-date=22 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30353&Cr=undp&Cr1= |title=General Assembly confirms Helen Clark as new UN development chief |publisher=United Nations |access-date=20 November 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090910102358/http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=30353&Cr=undp&Cr1= |archive-date=10 September 2009 }}</ref> In this position, ''Forbes'' deemed her the 23rd most powerful woman in the world.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall|title=The World's 100 Most Powerful Women|year=2014|work=[[Forbes]]|access-date=22 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920073036/https://www.forbes.com/power-women/list/#tab:overall|archive-date=20 September 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Helen Clark in Iran.JPG|thumb|upright=0.9|Clark wearing [[hijab]] in [[Tehran]] during a meeting with Iranian President [[Hassan Rouhani]], 4 August 2013]]
In 2013, ''Forbes'' upgraded her position to 21st most powerful woman in the world after she was appointed to administer UNDP for a second term and for her potential future as UN Secretary General.<ref>{{cite news |title=Helen Clark reappointed for UN role |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/8546926/Helen-Clark-reappointed-for-UN-role |access-date=24 May 2013 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=13 April 2013 |archive-date=18 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518033538/http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/8546926/Helen-Clark-reappointed-for-UN-role |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Helen Clark on Forbes list |url=http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbint/705726489-helen-clark-on-forbes-list |access-date=24 May 2013 |work=[[Newstalk ZB]] |date=23 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301150858/http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/auckland/news/nbint/705726489-helen-clark-on-forbes-list |archive-date=1 March 2014 }}</ref> She was the only New Zealander to make the list.<ref>{{cite news| url= http://www.3news.co.nz/Ranking-the-worlds-most-powerful-women/tabid/417/articleID/299257/Default.aspx| work= 3 News NZ| title= The world's most powerful women| date= 27 May 2013| url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130529000528/http://www.3news.co.nz/Ranking-the-worlds-most-powerful-women/tabid/417/articleID/299257/Default.aspx| archive-date= 29 May 2013| df= dmy-all}}</ref>

Clark was recognised for her managerial style of leadership.<ref name=prime_miss/> During her tenure, she was an advocate of China's [[Belt and Road Initiative]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jichang|first=Lulu|date=25 June 2018|title=United Nations with Chinese Characteristics: Elite Capture and Discourse Management on a global scale|url=https://sinopsis.cz/en/united-nations-with-chinese-characteristics-elite-capture-and-discourse-management-on-a-global-scale/|access-date=13 November 2020|website=Sinopsis|language=en-US}}</ref> She worked to reform the administration and bureaucracy of UNDP, with an emphasis on greater [[Transparency (behavior)|transparency]] in the organisation.<ref name="resignation">{{cite news|title=Helen Clark resigns from UNDP, saying it has been an honour and a privilege|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/88794507/Helen-Clark-resigns-from-UNDP-saying-it-has-been-an-honour-and-a-privilege|access-date=15 June 2017|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=26 January 2017|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808081310/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/88794507/Helen-Clark-resigns-from-UNDP-saying-it-has-been-an-honour-and-a-privilege|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Publish What You Fund]] campaign ranked UNDP as the most transparent [[aid organisation]] in the world in 2015 and 2016,<ref>{{cite web|title=UNDP tops global index for international aid transparency for second consecutive year|url=http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2016/04/12/undp-tops-global-index-for-international-aid-transparency-for-second-consecutive-year.html|publisher=United Nations Development Programme|access-date=15 June 2017|language=en|date=12 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619015917/http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2016/04/12/undp-tops-global-index-for-international-aid-transparency-for-second-consecutive-year.html|archive-date=19 June 2017}}</ref> under Clark's administration.

In February 2015, Clark visited Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to express solidarity with those working to prevent the spread of [[Ebola]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.gn.undp.org/content/guinea/fr/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/02/11/| title=UNDP welcomes Helen to West Africa: Key| publisher=UNDP Guinea| date=13 February 2015| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216172813/http://www.gn.undp.org/content/guinea/fr/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2015/02/11/| archive-date=16 February 2015| df=dmy-all}}</ref>

During her tenure, the ratio of women to men at UNDP reached 50%, including at the most senior level of the organisation.<ref name="resignation" />

On 24 May 2016, a ''[[Foreign Policy]]'' article alleged that Clark's tenure as Administrator had "left a trail of embittered peers and subordinates", and accused her of "undercutting the UN's promotion of human rights".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Lynch|first1=Colum|title=U.N. Secretary-General Front-Runner Faces Internal Uproar|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/24/aunty-helen-of-turtle-bay/|access-date=11 September 2017|work=Foreign Policy|date=24 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911071528/http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/05/24/aunty-helen-of-turtle-bay/|archive-date=11 September 2017}}</ref> The article centred on an allegation that her senior staff retaliated against 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.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Davison|first1=Isaac|title=Helen Clark denies allegations in Foreign Policy article|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11644241|access-date=11 September 2017|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=25 May 2016|language=en-NZ|archive-date=11 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911073412/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11644241|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Watkins|first1=Tracy|title=Helen Clark's office denies she left trail of 'embittered peers and subordinates' at United Nations|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/helen-clark-denies-she-left-trail-of-embittered-peers-and-subordinates-at-united-nations-20160525-gp36nq.html|access-date=11 September 2017|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=25 May 2016|language=en-au|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911092755/http://www.smh.com.au/world/helen-clark-denies-she-left-trail-of-embittered-peers-and-subordinates-at-united-nations-20160525-gp36nq.html|archive-date=11 September 2017}}</ref>

On 26 January 2017, Clark announced that she would not seek re-election as UNDP Administrator after the completion of her four-year term. She said it had been an "honour and privilege" to have served in the role.<ref name="Ewing">{{cite news|last=Ewing|first=Isobel|title=Helen Clark to step down from UN role|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2017/01/helen-clark-to-step-down-from-un-role.html|work=Newshub|date=26 January 2016|access-date=15 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129014152/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2017/01/helen-clark-to-step-down-from-un-role.html|archive-date=29 January 2017}}</ref> She left UNDP on 19 April 2017.<ref name="Ewing"/><ref name="Signoff"/>

===United Nations Secretary-General selection===
{{Main|United Nations Secretary-General selection, 2016}}
[[File:Helen Clark 2016.jpg|thumb|left|Clark at the [[United Nations General Assembly]], July 2016]]
In January 2014, a ''Guardian'' interview with Clark raised the possibility that she could take over as [[United Nations Secretary-General selection, 2016|UN Secretary-General]] after Ban Ki-moon's retirement in 2016. She did not confirm her interest, but commented: "There will be interest in whether the UN will have a first woman because they're looking like the last bastions, as it were." She also said in the same interview that: "If there's enough support for the style of leadership that I have, it will be interesting."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/27/will-helen-clark-be-first-woman-to-run-united-nations | title=Will Helen Clark be the first woman to run the UN? | work=[[The Guardian]] | date=27 January 2014 | access-date=29 January 2014 | last=Martinson | first=Jane | author-link=Jane Martinson | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203164000/http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/jan/27/will-helen-clark-be-first-woman-to-run-united-nations | archive-date=3 February 2014 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In response, Prime Minister John Key said the New Zealand Government would support a bid, but cautioned that it would be a tough task to get the job.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11193355 | title=Govt will back Clark if she wants top UN job: Key | work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] | date=29 January 2014 | access-date=29 January 2014 | last=Trevett | first=Claire | archive-date=29 January 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140129091523/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11193355 | url-status=live }}</ref>

On 4 April 2016, Helen Clark officially submitted her nomination as New Zealand's candidate for the 2016 UN Secretary-General selection.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Pilkington|first1=Ed|title=Helen Clark, former New Zealand PM, enters race for UN secretary general|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/05/helen-clark-former-new-zealand-prime-minister-confirms-bid-for-united-nations-top-job|access-date=11 September 2017|location=New York|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=4 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925134751/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/05/helen-clark-former-new-zealand-prime-minister-confirms-bid-for-united-nations-top-job|archive-date=25 September 2017}}</ref> In an interview on the same day, Clark stressed that she was running as the gender-neutral best candidate and not "on the basis of being a woman."<ref>{{cite news|title=WATCH: 'I have the skills for the job' – Helen Clark on bid for top UN job|url=http://www.radiolive.co.nz/WATCH-I-have-the-skills-for-the-job---Helen-Clark-on-bid-for-top-UN-job/tabid/504/articleID/117913/Default.aspx|access-date=11 September 2017|work=RadioLIVE|date=5 April 2016|language=en-NZ|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911071749/http://www.radiolive.co.nz/WATCH-I-have-the-skills-for-the-job---Helen-Clark-on-bid-for-top-UN-job/tabid/504/articleID/117913/Default.aspx|archive-date=11 September 2017}}</ref>

The UN's role in the [[2010–13 Haiti cholera outbreak|Haiti cholera outbreak]] has been widely discussed and criticised. There has been indisputable evidence that the UN is the proximate cause for bringing cholera to Haiti. Peacekeepers sent to Haiti from Nepal were carrying asymptomatic cholera and they did not treat their waste properly before dumping it into Haiti's water stream.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ijdh.org/advocacies/our-work/cholera-advocacy/ |title=Advocacy Cholera Accountability |website=Ijdh.org |access-date=30 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707173825/http://www.ijdh.org/advocacies/our-work/cholera-advocacy/ |archive-date=7 July 2016 }}</ref> When asked about compensation for victims, Clark has declined to take a position, calling it "legal issues."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/world/un-secretary-general-candidates-ban-ki-moon.html?_r=1|title=UN Secretary General Candidates Ban Ki Moon|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=5 April 2016 |access-date=30 June 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920044702/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/05/world/un-secretary-general-candidates-ban-ki-moon.html?_r=1|archive-date=20 September 2017|last1=Sengupta |first1=Somini }}</ref>

Another issue that received attention during Clark's candidacy was allegations of [[Child sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers|sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers]]. This gross problem was brought to light after [[Anders Kompass]] exposed the sexual assault of children by peacekeepers in the Central African Republic.<ref>{{cite news |first=Sandra |last=Laville |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/18/un-whistleblower-who-exposed-sexual-abuse-by-peacekeepers-is-exonerated |title=UN whistleblower who exposed sexual abuse by peacekeepers is exonerated &#124; World news |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=30 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617165546/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jan/18/un-whistleblower-who-exposed-sexual-abuse-by-peacekeepers-is-exonerated |archive-date=17 June 2016 }}</ref> During the United Nations Secretary General Candidate informal dialogues, Clark said that the UN needed to deal quickly with sexual exploitation and abuse, and gender-based violence by peacekeepers.<ref name="webtv1">{{cite web |url=http://webtv.un.org/search/helen-clark-new-zealand-informal-dialogue-for-the-position-of-the-next-un-secretary-general/4846224774001?term=informal%20dialogue&languages=&sort=date |title=Helen Clark (New Zealand) – Informal dialogue for the position of the next UN Secretary-General (webcast) |website=Webtv.un.org |access-date=30 June 2016 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033740/http://webtv.un.org/search/helen-clark-new-zealand-informal-dialogue-for-the-position-of-the-next-un-secretary-general/4846224774001?term=informal+dialogue&languages=&sort=date |url-status=live }}</ref>

Straw polls were taken by secret ballot in October 2016. Clark finished fifth place in the sixth poll; her candidacy was effectively vetoed when three of the [[Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council|permanent Security Council members]] voted against her.<ref>{{cite news|title=Helen Clark out of running for UN Secretary-General|url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/314975/helen-clark-out-of-running-for-un-secretary-general|access-date=15 June 2017|work=[[Radio New Zealand]]|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=6 October 2016|language=en-nz|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924225457/http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/314975/helen-clark-out-of-running-for-un-secretary-general|archive-date=24 September 2017}}</ref>

Clark's bid for Secretary-General is the topic of a documentary film, ''My Year With Helen'', directed by [[Gaylene Preston]], which premiered in February 2018.<ref>{{cite news|first=Dani|last=McDonald|title=Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark speaks on 'My Year With Helen'|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/101114977/former-new-zealand-prime-minister-helen-clark-speaks-on-my-year-with-helen|access-date=27 May 2018|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=2 February 2018|language=en|archive-date=27 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527120717/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/101114977/former-new-zealand-prime-minister-helen-clark-speaks-on-my-year-with-helen|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.athenafilmfestival.com/film/my-year-with-helen/|title=Athena Film Festival|website=Athena Film Festival|access-date=27 May 2018|archive-date=8 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180308165119/https://athenafilmfestival.com/film/my-year-with-helen/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===World Health Organization===
On 9 July 2020 the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) appointed Clark as co-chair of a panel reviewing the WHO's handling of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and the response of governments to the outbreak. The [[Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response]] (IPPR) examined how the outbreak occurred and how future pandemics can be prevented. She served in the role alongside former Liberian President [[Ellen Johnson Sirleaf]], and of her appointment Clark said she hesitated before accepting because she felt the panel's task was "mission impossible".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12346972|title=Former prime minister Helen Clark to lead new Covid response panel|first=Vaimoana |last=Tapaleao  |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914183021/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12346972|archive-date=14 September 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Clark's appointment to this 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]] and her previous endorsement of Cuba for sending medical personnel abroad.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burrows |first1=Matt |title=UN watchdog takes aim at Helen Clark over her World Health Organization role, says she's too close to China |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/07/un-watchdog-takes-aim-at-helen-clark-over-her-world-health-organization-role-says-she-s-too-close-to-china.html |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=14 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905175322/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/07/un-watchdog-takes-aim-at-helen-clark-over-her-world-health-organization-role-says-she-s-too-close-to-china.html |archive-date=5 September 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> On 11 November, Neuer called on Clark to resign, claiming that her alleged favouritism towards China and the WHO, would affect the investigation into China's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burrows |first1=Matt |title=UN watchdog urges Helen Clark to resign from global COVID-19 inquiry over concerns she'll give WHO, China 'a free pass' |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/11/un-watchdog-urges-helen-clark-to-resign-from-global-covid-19-inquiry-over-concerns-she-ll-give-who-china-a-free-pass.html |access-date=11 November 2020 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=11 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111034756/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/11/un-watchdog-urges-helen-clark-to-resign-from-global-covid-19-inquiry-over-concerns-she-ll-give-who-china-a-free-pass.html |archive-date=11 November 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Clark responded that she had no ties with China.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/covid-19-coronavirus-former-pm-helen-clark-says-call-for-resignation-a-smear/4BLPDFQTBKYYJMZM5RFLMXS3VY|title=Covid 19 coronavirus: Former PM Helen Clark says call for resignation a 'smear'|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|date=15 November 2020}}</ref>

On 19 January, the independent panel concluded that Chinese officials could have moved faster in January 2020 to curb the initial COVID-19 outbreak, and criticised the WHO for not declaring an international emergency until 30 January 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Helen Clark-led Covid-19 independent review panel criticises China, WHO |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/434766/helen-clark-led-covid-19-independent-review-panel-criticises-china-who |access-date=19 January 2021 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119105611/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/434766/helen-clark-led-covid-19-independent-review-panel-criticises-china-who |archive-date=19 January 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Daly |first1=Michael |title=Covid-19: Helen Clark-chaired panel criticises China and WHO over pandemic |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/123992045/covid19-helen-clarkchaired-panel-criticises-china-and-who-over-pandemic |access-date=19 January 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=19 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119114100/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/123992045/covid19-helen-clarkchaired-panel-criticises-china-and-who-over-pandemic |archive-date=19 January 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> In the final report published in May 2021, the panel concluded that the pandemic could have been prevented if countries had taken a more proactive approach in February 2020; Clark said "so many countries chose to wait and see".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Spencer |first1=Christian |title=Shocking WHO independent panel report says COVID-19 pandemic was preventable |url=https://thehill.com/changing-america/well-being/prevention-cures/553214-shocking-who-report-says-covid-19-pandemic-was |access-date=15 May 2021 |work=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|date=12 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Helen Clark and Peter Davis, 2010.jpg|thumb|left|Then Governor-General [[Anand Satyanand|Sir Anand Satyanand]] (left) pictured with Clark and her husband, [[Peter Davis (sociologist)|Peter Davis]], on the occasion of Clark's investiture as a Member of the Order of New Zealand, 17 February 2010]]
Clark was brought up as a [[Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand|Presbyterian]], attending [[Sunday school]] weekly. When she was Prime Minister she described herself as an [[agnostic]].<ref name="religion">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3554978 |first=Audrey |last=Young |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=16 March 2004 |title=Insults get personal between Clark and Brash |access-date=8 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103025405/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3554978 |archive-date=3 November 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

She married sociologist [[Peter Davis (sociologist)|Peter Davis]] in 1981, shortly before she was elected to Parliament. Davis had been Clark’s partner for 5 years but she had come under pressure from some Labour members to marry for political purposes, despite her personal reservations about marriage.<ref name="marriage">
{{cite book|last=Edwards|first=Brian |author-link=Brian Edwards (broadcaster)|year=2001|title=Helen, Portrait of a Prime Minister|isbn=978-0-908988-20-4|chapter=Campaign '81|pages=144–150}}</ref> Davis is {{As of|2017|alt=currently}} a professor in [[medical sociology]] and was director of COMPASS (Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences) at the University of Auckland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/people/pdav008|title=Professor Peter Byard Davis|publisher=University of Auckland|access-date=8 June 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409105723/http://www.arts.auckland.ac.nz/people/pdav008|archive-date=9 April 2017}}</ref>

After the 1981 elections Clark said: "It was a difficult campaign". In an essay for the book ''Head and Shoulders'' in 1984 she said: "As a single woman I was really hammered. I was accused of being a lesbian, of living in a commune, having friends who were Trotskyites and gays...".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Myers|first1=Virginia|title=Head and shoulders|date=1986|publisher=Penguin Books|page=11|isbn=9780140092356|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J4kqAAAAYAAJ|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918202445/https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=J4kqAAAAYAAJ|archive-date=18 September 2017}}</ref>

In March 2001, Clark referred to National MP [[Wyatt Creech]] as a "scumbag" and a "sleazeball" for having raised the issue of a potential conflict of interest involving Davis, who was leading an academic research team studying government health reforms.<ref>{{cite news|title=PM's bid for moral high-ground lacks credibility|url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0103/S00305/pms-bid-for-moral-high-ground-lacks-credibility.htm|access-date=9 June 2017|work=[[Scoop (website)|scoop.co.nz]]|date=19 March 2001|archive-date=27 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527023341/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0103/S00305/pms-bid-for-moral-high-ground-lacks-credibility.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Clark is a keen hiker and [[mountaineer]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chapman|first1=Paul|title=New Zealand election: the vanquished Helen Clark|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/3405908/New-Zealand-election-the-vanquished-Helen-Clark.html|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=14 June 2017|location=Wellington|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211144945/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/3405908/New-Zealand-election-the-vanquished-Helen-Clark.html|archive-date=11 December 2008|date=8 November 2008}}</ref> In August 2008, an expedition group that included Clark and her husband became stranded on the [[Two Thumb Range]], a spur of the [[Southern Alps]], when their guide (and Clark's friend), Gottlieb Braun-Elwert, collapsed and died from a suspected heart attack.<ref>{{cite web|title=PM tells of attempt to save guide's life|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/581034/PM-tells-of-attempt-to-save-guides-life|work=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=14 June 2017|language=en|date=14 August 2008|archive-date=15 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715112216/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/581034/PM-tells-of-attempt-to-save-guides-life|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Views and positions==
===Social media===
During her tenure as UNDP administrator and afterwards, Clark's presence on [[social media]] and avid use of [[Twitter]] has attracted positive attention in news media.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Narang |first1=Sonia |title=Helen Clark Can Do It All: Run A Country, Fight For Women's Rights ... And Snapchat |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/06/06/729918102/helen-clark-can-do-it-all-run-a-country-fight-for-womens-rights-and-snapchat?t=1586879966073 |access-date=15 April 2020 |work=[[NPR.org]] |date=6 June 2019 |language=en |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033733/https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2019/06/06/729918102/helen-clark-can-do-it-all-run-a-country-fight-for-womens-rights-and-snapchat?t=1586879966073 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tribute to Helen Clark – leaves UNDP after eight years as Administrator |url=https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2017/04/19/tribute-to-helen-clark-leaves-undp-after-eight-years-as-administrator.html |website=UNDP |access-date=15 April 2020 |language=en |quote=As a communicator, Helen Clark has used various social media platforms to advocate directly to the public on important global issues. |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033747/https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/presscenter/pressreleases/2017/04/19/tribute-to-helen-clark-leaves-undp-after-eight-years-as-administrator.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Casey |first1=Alex |title=Helen Clark is on a permanent Twitter AMA |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/03-08-2017/helen-clark-is-on-a-permanent-twitter-ama/ |access-date=15 April 2020 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=3 August 2017 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033734/https://thespinoff.co.nz/media/03-08-2017/helen-clark-is-on-a-permanent-twitter-ama/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She has called for greater regulation of social media platforms,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Manhire |first1=Toby |title=Helen Clark: 'Facebook has become a monster' |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/22-03-2019/helen-clark-facebook-has-become-a-monster/ |access-date=15 April 2020 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=22 March 2019 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033734/https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/22-03-2019/helen-clark-facebook-has-become-a-monster/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Walls |first1=Jason |title=Former PM Helen Clark is throwing her support behind changing NZ's hate speech laws |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12230745 |access-date=15 April 2020 |work= [[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=13 May 2019 |language=en-NZ |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033734/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/former-pm-helen-clark-is-throwing-her-support-behind-changing-nzs-hate-speech-laws/BA2Q7IWWWLEYXSZDX5M2FFZ4VA/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Small |first1=Zane |title=How Helen Clark would regulate Facebook's livestreaming |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/how-helen-clark-would-regulate-facebook-s-livestreaming.html |access-date=15 April 2020 |work=[[Newshub]] |date=15 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033733/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2019/05/how-helen-clark-would-regulate-facebook-s-livestreaming.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and supports the [[Christchurch Call]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hilton |first1=Tommy |title='There must be limits' to what people can post on social media: Former NZ PM |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2019/11/11/-There-must-be-limits-to-what-people-can-post-on-social-media-Former-NZ-PM- |access-date=15 April 2020 |work=[[Al Arabiya English]] |date=11 November 2019 |language=en |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033720/https://english.alarabiya.net/en/features/2019/11/11/-There-must-be-limits-to-what-people-can-post-on-social-media-Former-NZ-PM- |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Cannabis reform===
During the [[2020 New Zealand cannabis referendum]], Clark publicly supported the "Yes" vote campaign to decriminalise [[recreational cannabis]], arguing that prohibition did not work. She also featured in the "We Do" campaign supporting the proposed "Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill."<ref>{{cite news |last= Clark |first= Helen |date= 4 September 2019 |title= Cannabis prohibition doesn't work anywhere. It's New Zealand's turn to legalise it |url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/04/cannabis-prohibition-doesnt-work-anywhere-its-new-zealands-turn-to-legalise-it |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date= 14 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930173819/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/04/cannabis-prohibition-doesnt-work-anywhere-its-new-zealands-turn-to-legalise-it|archive-date=30 September 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last= Sadler |first= Rachel |date= 29 September 2020 |title= Cannabis referendum: Helen Clark part of 60-strong group kicking off 'yes' vote campaign |url= https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/09/cannabis-referendum-helen-clark-part-of-60-strong-group-kicking-off-yes-vote-campaign.html |work= [[Newshub]] |access-date= 1 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201002003925/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/politics/2020/09/cannabis-referendum-helen-clark-part-of-60-strong-group-kicking-off-yes-vote-campaign.html|archive-date=2 October 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Israeli–Palestinian conflict===
During the [[2023 Israel-Hamas War]], Clark criticised the decision by New Zealand and several other Western governments to halt their aid contributions to [[UNRWA]] (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) following [[UNRWA October 7 controversy|allegations]] that several UNRWA workers had participated in the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]]. She said it was "most regrettable that countries have acted in this precipitous way to defund the organisation on the basis of allegations". While Clark acknowledged that the allegations against UNRWA were serious, she said that "defunding the agency without knowing the outcome of the investigation was not the right decision."<ref>{{cite news |title=NZ halts funding for beleaguered UN aid agency |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/507907/nz-halts-funding-for-beleaguered-un-aid-agency |access-date=29 January 2024 |work=[[Radio New Zealand]] |date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129212225/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/507907/nz-halts-funding-for-beleaguered-un-aid-agency |archive-date=29 January 2024}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Awards and honours==
{{rquote|right|For almost nine years, Helen Clark shouldered both the powers and responsibilities of being Prime Minister confidently and adeptly.  That only four other New Zealanders (Seddon, Massey, Holyoake, and Fraser) have held the Office for longer speaks much of Helen Clark's acumen, abilities and judgement.|Governor-General [[Anand Satyanand|Sir Anand Satyanand]]<ref>{{cite web | author-link=Sir Anand Satyanand |last1=Satyanand|first1=Sir Anand|title=Investiture for Rt Hon Helen Clark, ONZ|url=https://gg.govt.nz/publications/investiture-rt-hon-helen-clark-onz|publisher=Governor-General of New Zealand|access-date=2 September 2017|location=[[Government House, Wellington]]|date=17 February 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903033539/https://gg.govt.nz/publications/investiture-rt-hon-helen-clark-onz|archive-date=3 September 2017|df=dmy-all}}</ref>}}
*In 1986, Clark was awarded the annual Peace Prize of the [[Danish Peace Foundation]] for her work in promoting peace and [[nuclear disarmament]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=O'Connor|first1=Karen|title=Gender and Women's Leadership: A Reference Handbook|date=2010|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=9781483305417|page=374|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VGOqCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA374|language=en}}</ref>
*In 1990, Clark received the [[New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Taylor |first1=Alister |last2=Coddington |first2=Deborah |author-link1=Alister Taylor |author-link2=Deborah Coddington |title=Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand |year=1994 |publisher=New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa |location=Auckland |isbn=0-908578-34-2 |page=99}}</ref>
*In 1993, Clark was awarded the [[New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-system/types-new-zealand-royal-honours/other-distinctive-new-zealand-honours/suffrage-medal-register |title=The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 – register of recipients |date=26 July 2018 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=18 September 2018 |archive-date=18 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918090949/https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/our-programmes/new-zealand-royal-honours/new-zealand-royal-honours-system/types-new-zealand-royal-honours/other-distinctive-new-zealand-honours/suffrage-medal-register |url-status=live }}</ref>
*In 2002, she was presented with the [[Nuclear-Free Future Award]], for "installing New Zealand at the forefront of the world political movement to rid the earth of nuclear weapons".<ref>{{cite web|title=Helen Clark|url=http://www.nuclear-free-future.com/en/laureates/laureates/helen-clark/|publisher=Nuclear-Free Future Award Foundation|access-date=23 June 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602182350/http://www.nuclear-free-future.com/en/laureates/laureates/helen-clark/|archive-date=2 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The 2002 Nuclear Free Future Awards|url=http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/nukefree_sep02.html|access-date=23 June 2017|work=[[The Baltimore Chronicle]]|date=4 September 2002|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023337/http://www.baltimorechronicle.com/nukefree_sep02.html|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>
*In 2005, the government of the [[Solomon Islands]] awarded Clark (with [[John Howard]]) the [[Star of the Solomon Islands]] in recognition of New Zealand's role in restoring law and order in the Solomon Islands.<ref>
Website of the NZ government: [http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=23419 PM awarded the Star of the Solomon Islands] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092938/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=23419 |date=29 September 2007 }}. Retrieved 24 September 2006</ref> This award allows her to use the post-nominal letters "SSI".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://medals.org.uk/solomons/solomons001.htm |date=20 May 2004 |title=Medals of the World – Solomon Islands: Star of the Solomon Islands |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051103095301/http://medals.org.uk/solomons/solomons001.htm |archive-date=3 November 2005 }}</ref>
*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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prime Minister honoured by UN environment award |publisher=[[New Zealand Government]] |date=28 January 2008 |url=http://feeds.beehive.govt.nz/release/prime+minister+honoured+un+environment+award |access-date=29 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017215002/http://feeds.beehive.govt.nz/release/prime+minister+honoured+un+environment+award |archive-date=17 October 2008 }}</ref>
*In April 2009, she was awarded an [[honorary degree|honorary]] [[Doctor of Laws]] degree by the University of Auckland, her [[alma mater]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/04/23/1245aa884657 |title=Helen Clark awarded honorary doctorate |publisher=Radio New Zealand |date=23 April 2009 |access-date=20 November 2010 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033735/https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/31483/helen-clark-awarded-honorary-doctorate |url-status=live }}</ref>
*In the [[2010 New Year Honours (New Zealand)|2010 New Year Honours]], Clark was appointed a [[Order of New Zealand|Member of the Order of New Zealand]], New Zealand's highest honour, for services to New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2010 | title=New Year honours list 2010 | date=31 December 2009 | publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | access-date=4 January 2018 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192639/https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2010 | archive-date=4 January 2018 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Helen Clark invested into Order of New Zealand|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3339666/Helen-Clark-invested-into-Order-of-New-Zealand|access-date=3 September 2017|work=Stuff|date=17 February 2010|archive-date=3 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903034512/http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/3339666/Helen-Clark-invested-into-Order-of-New-Zealand|url-status=live}}</ref>
*She was recognised as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-10-20 |title=100 Women: Who took part? |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-24579511 |access-date=2022-12-18}}</ref>
*In September 2017, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the [[New Zealand Women of Influence Award]]s<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/96518092/my-food-bag-founder-cecilia-robinson-supreme-winner-at-women-of-influence-awards|title=My Food Bag founder Cecilia Robinson supreme winner at Women of Influence awards|website=Stuff|date=8 September 2017|language=en|access-date=2 June 2018|archive-date=29 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180329183718/https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/96518092/my-food-bag-founder-cecilia-robinson-supreme-winner-at-women-of-influence-awards|url-status=live}}</ref>
*In December 2017, she was awarded the [[Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/100003591/Helen-Clark-decorated-with-top-Japanese-honours-for-diplomatic-work |title=Helen Clark decorated with top Japanese honours for diplomatic work |date=19 December 2017 |work=Stuff |access-date=19 December 2017 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330182403/https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/100003591/helen-clark-decorated-with-top-japanese-honours-for-diplomatic-work |url-status=live }}</ref>

Patronage
*Clark is the patron for [[The Helen Clark Foundation]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://helenclark.foundation|title=The Helen Clark Foundation: An Independent Public Policy Think Tank|website=The Helen Clark Foundation|access-date=16 November 2020|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033721/https://helenclark.foundation/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Clark is an Honorary Member of [[The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.raoulwallenberg.net/?en/about/members/honorary-members.533.htm|title=Honorary Members|publisher=The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021233629/http://www.raoulwallenberg.net/?en%2Fabout%2Fmembers%2Fhonorary-members.533.htm|archive-date=21 October 2007}}</ref>
*She was the patron of the [[New Zealand Rugby League]] between 2002 and 2011, and has served as the patron of the [[Mount Albert Lions]] [[rugby league]] club for over 20 years.<ref name="NZ_Herald_2998849">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=2998849 |title=Kiwi players let their hair down at Clark bash |author=Jessup, Peter |date=12 October 2002 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=2 October 2011 |archive-date=16 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033737/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kiwi-players-let-their-hair-down-at-clark-bash/NM7LVS32LTLC46ZEDWKRHGU6M4/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120906091912/http://www.nzrl.co.nz/news-archive/nzrl-annual-meeting-new-patron-appointed.aspx NZRL Annual Meeting – New Patron Appointed] ''nzrl.co.nz'', 29 March 2011</ref>

==In popular culture==
In 1996, Clark guest starred as herself in popular New Zealand [[soap opera]] ''[[Shortland Street]]''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Elizabeth McRae|url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/elizabeth-mcrae/biography|publisher=NZ On Screen|access-date=6 June 2017|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825064650/https://www.nzonscreen.com/person/elizabeth-mcrae/biography|archive-date=25 August 2017}}</ref> A satirical book, later adapted as a play, titled ''[[On the Conditions and Possibilities of Helen Clark Taking Me as Her Young Lover]]'', by [[Richard Meros]], was published by [[Lawrence and Gibson]] in 2005. Clark has also [[List of special guests on bro'Town|guest-starred on ''bro'Town'']], the New Zealand animated television series.<ref>{{cite news|title=Video Vault: Grahame Thorne's perm and Helen Clark on bro'Town|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/77202737/video-vault-grahame-thornes-perm-and-helen-clark-on-brotown|access-date=25 August 2017|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=24 February 2016|archive-date=16 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116033747/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/tv-radio/77202737/video-vault-grahame-thornes-perm-and-helen-clark-on-brotown|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, the Eden Park Trust Board requested the right to stage six concerts a year, without having to seek individual planning permission – a process that had forced it to drop past concert plans. Clark said concerts at Eden Park stadium would "represent a home invasion of noise" and told a planning hearing the bid for six gigs a year should be rejected. Clark lives four streets from the stadium and told the independent planning commission "one's home is one's sanctuary". The former prime minister moved into her home in 1981 when Eden Park was a venue for daytime cricket and rugby.<ref name="EdenParkGigs">{{cite news |last1=Niall |first1=Todd |title=Eden Park concerts: Helen Clark opposes 'home invasion of noise' |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/123290359/eden-park-concerts-helen-clark-opposes-home-invasion-of-noise |work=Stuff |date=3 November 2020 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Electoral history of Helen Clark]]
* [[List of Nuclear-Free Future Award recipients]]
* [[Politics of New Zealand]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=note}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book|last1=East|first1=Roger|last2=Thomas|first2=Richard|title=Profiles of People in Power: The World's Government Leaders|date=2003|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=9781857431261|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mz-fXRsedPMC&pg=PA382|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171125223031/https://books.google.com/books?id=Mz-fXRsedPMC&pg=PA382|archive-date=25 November 2017 }}
* {{cite book|last1=Eyley|first1=Claudia Pond|last2=Salmon|first2=Dan|title=Helen Clark: Inside Stories|date=2015|publisher=Auckland University Press|location=Auckland|isbn=978-1-77558-820-7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_BJzCgAAQBAJ&q=denis%20welch%20helen%20clark&pg=PR1|access-date=20 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215092920/https://books.google.com/books?id=_BJzCgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA172&ots=rAniBskZkV&dq=denis%20welch%20helen%20clark&pg=PR1|archive-date=15 February 2017 }}

==Further reading==
* Boston, Jonathan (2000). ''Left Turn: The New Zealand general election of 1999''. Victoria University Press.
* {{cite book|author=Boston, Jonathan |title=New Zealand Votes: The 2002 General Election|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N-ql-Xs9hhkC&pg=PA256|year=2004|publisher=Victoria University Press|display-authors=etal|isbn=9780864734686}}
*{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=Helen |title=Women, Equality, Power: selected speeches from a life of leadership |date=2018 |publisher=Allen & Unwin |isbn=978-1-98854-705-3}}
* {{Cite book |first=Brian |last=Edwards |title=Helen: Portrait of A Prime Minister |place = Auckland |publisher=Exisle Publishing |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-908988-20-4 }}
* {{cite book |title= Annette King: The Authorised Biography |last1= Harvey |first1= John |last2= Edwards |first2= John |year= 2019 |publisher= Upstart Press |location= Auckland  |isbn= 978-1-988516-37-0 }}
*{{Cite book |first=Allan R. |last=Kerr |title= Helen Clark: Prime Minister of New Zealand |edition=3rd |place = Masterton, NZ |publisher=Capital Letters Pub. |year=c. 2006 |isbn=978-1-877177-57-6 }} ''This is a book intended for children.''
* Levine, Stephen and Nigel S. Roberts, eds. (2007). ''The Baubles of Office: The New Zealand General Election of 2005''. Victoria University Press.
* Levine, Stephen and Nigel S. Roberts, eds. (2010). ''Key to Victory: The New Zealand General Election of 2008''. Victoria University Press.
*{{Cite book |first1 = Raymond |last1=Miller |first2 = Michael (eds.) |last2 = Mintrom |title= Political leadership in New Zealand |place = Auckland |publisher=Auckland University Press |year=c. 2006  |isbn=978-1-86940-358-4 }}
* {{cite book | last=Russell | first=Marcia | title=Revolution:New Zealand from Fortress to Free Market | publisher=[[Hodder Moa Beckett]] | year=1996 | isbn=1869584287}}
* Skard, Torild (2014). "Helen Clark" in ''Women of Power: Half a century of female presidents and prime ministers worldwide'', Bristol: Policy Press. {{ISBN|978-1-44731-578-0}}
* Welch, Denis (2009). ''Helen Clark: A Political Life''. Penguin Books.
*{{Cite book |first=Tony |last=Williams |title=101 ingenious Kiwis: how New Zealanders changed the world|place = Auckland |publisher=Reed |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7900-1110-3 }} Helen Clark is profiled in a chapter entitled: "Helen Clark: first elected woman prime minister."

==External links==
* [http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/leadership/administrator/biography.html Biography of the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (2009–2017)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901125454/http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/operations/leadership/administrator/biography.html |date=1 September 2017 }} on UNDP
* [http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/people/helen-clark Brief biography] on the New Zealand [[Ministry for Culture and Heritage]]'s 'NZHistory' website
* [https://www.parliament.nz/en/mps-and-electorates/former-members-of-parliament/clark-helen/ Rt Hon Helen Clark] on Parliament.nz
* {{IMDb name|960721}}

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