Helen Clark

:This entry discusses the New Zealand Prime Minister. For others, see Helen Clark (disambiguation).

Prime Minister

Prior to the 2005 General Election, Clark was Prime Minister, Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage, and had responsibility for the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service and Ministerial services. Her areas of interest include social policy and international affairs.

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As Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, she formed successive minority coalition governments with the Alliance party (1999), which collapsed in 2002 resulting in an early election, and with Jim Anderton's Progressive Party (2002, with parliamentary supply and confidence from United Future and 'good faith' with the Green Party).

Related Topics:
New Zealand Labour Party - Alliance - Jim Anderton - Progressive Party - United Future - Green Party

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Currently, Clark is New Zealand's caretaker Prime Minister, pending the formation of a new government after the 2005 General Election, which gave Labour a two-seat lead over the next largest party, the New Zealand National Party.

Related Topics:
Currently - New Zealand - New Zealand National Party

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Criticism

Helen Clark's leadership style has been criticised as autocratic and micro-managing. This is also a criticism of her government's policies — such as the ban on smoking in bars — which have been described as social engineering.

Related Topics:
Autocratic - Micro-managing - Social engineering

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During her time as Prime Minister she has been involved in a number of controversial situations. These include signing for charity a painting that she did not paint ('Paintergate'), the Corngate affair and a speeding motorcade (which resulted in driving offence convictions for three of the six drivers participating).

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