25
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
no edit summary
Helen Clark was elected Prime Minister of New Zealand on 27 November 1999. Her rise to the top of New Zealand politics is the culmination of almost thirty years of involvement with the Labor Party.
Helen Clark was born in 1950, in Hamilton, and spent her first twelve years on the family sheep and cattle farm to the west of the city. She is the oldest of four girls. Helen attended Te Pahu Primary School.
After five years of secondary schooling at Auckland's Epsom Girls' Grammar, where she was a boarder, Helen Clark entered the University of Auckland in 1968 to study politics. Later she lectured in political studies at the university.
It was during her time at university that Helen Clark's active involvement in politics began, sparked by issues such as the civil war in Vietnam, apartheid in South Africa, and nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
In 1986 Helen Clark was awarded the annual Peace Prize of the Danish Peace Foundation for her work in promoting peace and disarmament.
In 1987, following the re-election of Labor, Helen Clark was elected to the Cabinet. Over the next three years she held a number of ministerial portfolios - conservation, housing, labour and health. From August 1989 until October 1990 she was Deputy Prime Minister.
As health minister Helen Clark sponsored the introduction of tobacco control legislation. This provided protection against smoking in workplaces and public places, and eliminated tobacco advertising and the sponsorship of sporting events by tobacco companies.
Helen Clark was elected Leader of the Laborr Party in December 1993 and served as Leader of the Opposition until the general election in November 1999, when Labor was again elected to government. She won a second term at the 2002 general election.
Away from politics, Helen Clark is a keen concert goer and opera lover and an enthusiastic supporter of the arts in general.
Helen Clark is married to Dr Peter Davis, Professor of Sociology and head of the Sociology Department at Auckland University.
Helen Clark was born in 1950, in Hamilton, and spent her first twelve years on the family sheep and cattle farm to the west of the city. She is the oldest of four girls. Helen attended Te Pahu Primary School.
After five years of secondary schooling at Auckland's Epsom Girls' Grammar, where she was a boarder, Helen Clark entered the University of Auckland in 1968 to study politics. Later she lectured in political studies at the university.
It was during her time at university that Helen Clark's active involvement in politics began, sparked by issues such as the civil war in Vietnam, apartheid in South Africa, and nuclear testing in the South Pacific.
In 1986 Helen Clark was awarded the annual Peace Prize of the Danish Peace Foundation for her work in promoting peace and disarmament.
In 1987, following the re-election of Labor, Helen Clark was elected to the Cabinet. Over the next three years she held a number of ministerial portfolios - conservation, housing, labour and health. From August 1989 until October 1990 she was Deputy Prime Minister.
As health minister Helen Clark sponsored the introduction of tobacco control legislation. This provided protection against smoking in workplaces and public places, and eliminated tobacco advertising and the sponsorship of sporting events by tobacco companies.
Helen Clark was elected Leader of the Laborr Party in December 1993 and served as Leader of the Opposition until the general election in November 1999, when Labor was again elected to government. She won a second term at the 2002 general election.
Away from politics, Helen Clark is a keen concert goer and opera lover and an enthusiastic supporter of the arts in general.
Helen Clark is married to Dr Peter Davis, Professor of Sociology and head of the Sociology Department at Auckland University.