A cup of tea with… HELEN CLARK

Helen Clark has been a part of New Zealand’s political landscape for almost 50 years, joining the Labour Party as a passionate young university graduate in 1971 and going on to lead the country from 1999 to 2008 as New Zealand’s first female elect Prime Minister. The oldest of four girls, she grew up believing there was nothing she couldn’t do if she put her mind to it and after her three consecutive terms in office as PM, she went on serve as an administrator for the United Nations Development Programme. Never one to shy away from controversial issues, over the years Helen has advocated for NZ’s antinuclear policy, Ma¯ori rights, same-sex civil unions, the legalisation of prostitution and cannabis law reform.

Hello Helen Clark, thank you so much for joining us.

Hello, you’re most welcome. I just need to keep an eye on the soup, so you don’t mind if I pop out in about 20 minutes to give it