Helen Clark: podcast appearances and interviews

Helen Elizabeth Clark, born on 26 February 1950, is a New Zealand politician and diplomat. She served as the 37th prime minister of New Zealand from 1999 to 2008, becoming the second woman to hold that office and the country's fifth-longest-serving prime minister. Clark's political career began after she entered the University of Auckland in 1968, studying politics and becoming active in the New Zealand Labour Party. Following her graduation, she lectured in political studies at the university and entered local politics in 1974, although she was not elected to any position at that time. She was elected to Parliament in 1981 as the member for Mount Albert, a position she held until 2009. During her tenure in government, Clark held several Cabinet positions, including minister of housing, health, and conservation, and served as the 11th deputy prime minister from 1989 to 1990. As leader of the Labour Party, which she assumed after challenging the incumbent in 1993, she navigated the party through multiple electoral victories. As prime minister, she led several economic initiatives such as the establishment of Kiwibank, the New Zealand Superannuation Fund, and the implementation of the Emissions Trading Scheme and KiwiSaver. Her government also introduced the controversial Foreshore and Seabed Act 2004. Clark was active in foreign affairs, sending troops to Afghanistan and East Timor, and advocating free-trade agreements including the first with China. After her political career, she served as the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme from 2009 until 2017. During her time at the UNDP, she was also a candidate for the United Nations secretary-general position in 2016.