# Helen Clark

> Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008

**Wikidata**: [Q180383](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q180383)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Clark)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/helen-clark

## Summary
Helen Elizabeth Clark is a New Zealand politician who served as the Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008. A member of the Labour Party, she later served as the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). She is recognized as a prominent international leader and a member of The Elders.

## Biography
- **Born**: February 26, 1950
- **Nationality**: New Zealand
- **Education**: University of Auckland
- **Known for**: Serving as Prime Minister of New Zealand (1999–2008) and leadership within the United Nations
- **Employer(s)**: United Nations, Government of New Zealand
- **Field(s)**: Politics, Political Science, University Teaching
- **Aliases**: Helen E. Clark, The Right Honourable Helen Elizabeth Clark

## Contributions
Helen Clark led the Government of New Zealand as Prime Minister for three terms, spanning from 1999 to 2008. Following her national leadership, she served at the international level as the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the UN's global development network. She has also contributed to academia as a university teacher and political scientist.

## FAQs
**What awards has Helen Clark received?**
Helen Clark has received numerous honors, including the Order of New Zealand, the Champions of the Earth award, and the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. She has also been recognized with the BBC 100 Women award, the Star of the Solomon Islands, and honorary doctorates from the University of Auckland and the University of Waikato.

**What international organizations is Helen Clark affiliated with?**
She is a member of The Elders and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. During her tenure as Prime Minister, she was affiliated with the United Nations, and she later led the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

**What is Helen Clark's educational background?**
Helen Clark attended the University of Auckland, where she received her education.

## Why They Matter
Helen Clark matters as a significant figure in both national and global governance. As Prime Minister of New Zealand, she led the country for nearly a decade, overseeing a period of economic growth and social policy development in a nation known for its high democracy index and progressive reforms. Her transition to international leadership as the head of the UNDP extended her influence to global development initiatives, impacting millions of lives through the UN's humanitarian and economic programs. Her continued work with The Elders underscores her enduring role as a global stateswoman and advocate for human rights.

## Notable For
- **Prime Minister of New Zealand**: Served from 1999 to 2008.
- **UNDP Administrator**: Led the United Nations Development Programme.
- **Member of The Elders**: Joined the association of outstanding former statesmen and women.
- **Order of New Zealand**: Recipient of the highest ranking honour in New Zealand.
- **Champions of the Earth**: Awarded for environmental leadership.
- **Academic Roles**: Worked as a university teacher and political scientist.
- **American Academy of Arts and Sciences**: Elected member of the prestigious honorary society.

## Body
### Early Life and Education
Helen Elizabeth Clark was born on February 26, 1950. She is a New Zealand citizen. She received her higher education at the University of Auckland, a major university in Auckland, New Zealand, founded in 1883.

### Political Career
Helen Clark's primary political achievement is her tenure as the Prime Minister of New Zealand, which lasted from 1999 to 2008. During this period, she served as the head of government for the sovereign state of New Zealand, a Commonwealth realm with a parliamentary monarchy structure. Her leadership coincided with a period where New Zealand maintained its status as a developed nation with a "Very High" Human Development Index.

### International Leadership
Following her premiership, Clark transitioned to international diplomacy. She served as the Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In this role, she was affiliated with the United Nations, a global intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 and headquartered in New York City. The UN focuses on international cooperation, peace, and security, and the UNDP specifically addresses global development challenges.

### Affiliations and Memberships
Clark is a member of The Elders, an association of outstanding former statesmen and women, peace activists, and human rights activists founded in 2007 and headquartered in London. She is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a United States honorary society and policy research center founded in 1780.

### Awards and Honors
Throughout her career, Helen Clark has been decorated with numerous prestigious awards:
- **Order of New Zealand**: The highest ranking honour in New Zealand (inception 1987).
- **Champions of the Earth**: An international award established in 2005.
- **Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun**: A Japanese order awarded in 2003.
- **Star of the Solomon Islands**: The highest honour of the Solomon Islands.
- **Order of Francisc Skorina**: An order from Belarus (inception 1995).
- **Order of Friendship of Tajikistan**: An order from Tajikistan.
- **BBC 100 Women**: An international award given by the BBC.
- **Lifetime Achievement Award**: Part of the NZ Women of Influence awards (inception 2016).
- **Honorary Doctorates**: Awarded by the University of Auckland and the University of Waikato.

### Professional Identity
In addition to her political career, Clark is recognized as a politician, university teacher, and political scientist. She is identified as a human, specifically a member of Homo sapiens, within the knowledge base structure. Her signature is recorded as "Signature Helen Clark.svg".

## References

1. Davos 2014 Participant List
2. [The Rt Hon Helen Clark ONZ](https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/people/helen-clark/)
3. [Source](https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/new-year-honours-list-2010)
4. [Source](https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/31483/helen-clark-awarded-honorary-doctorate)
5. [Source](https://www.calendar.auckland.ac.nz/en/university-personnel/honorary-graduates.html)
6. [100 Women: Who took part?. 2013](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-24579511)
7. [Source](https://www.waikato.ac.nz/about/calendar/staff-and-honours/honorary-doctors/)
8. [Source](https://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)
9. International Standard Name Identifier
10. Virtual International Authority File
11. CiNii Research
12. IMDb
13. SNAC
14. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
15. Brockhaus Enzyklopädie
16. Munzinger Personen
17. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
18. Davos 2013 Participant List
19. Davos 2015 Participant List
20. Davos 2016 Participant List
21. Davos 2017 Participant List
22. Davos 2019 Participant List
23. Davos 2022 Participant List
24. Davos 2020 Participant List
25. LIBRIS. 2015