Hood: PM Welcomes New Leadership Prize Hint Hint

22 January 2007

PM welcomes establishment of Hillary Institute

Prime Minister Helen Clark welcomed with thinly-veiled enthusiasm today’s announcement of the formation of the Hillary Institute and of a prestigious international prize for outstanding leadership.

Prime Minister said that, while successful and inspirational leadership produces its own rewards, she was confident that a little bit of extra recognition wouldn't go amiss.

The award will be named after the Hillary Step, which is a significant feature on Mount Everest and not a piece of Sir Edmund's furniture.

It will be awarded to a person who displays great leadership in their chosen field. The Prime Minister also suggested that "perhaps an interest in mountaineering might be taken into account".

"The award will foster and recognise a new generation of leaders following Sir Edmund’s example of working to make the world a better place," Helen Clark said, "Though when I say 'new generation', I'm sure there are leaders who aren't what you'd call young but still have plenty of leadership in them, that might be considered."

"There must be a leader like that somewhere in the world. But perhaps we might not have to look very far at all."

Helen Clark will serve as patron of the Hillary Institute because, as she put it, "it was there". While noting the recent trend of politicians awarding themselves prizes - such as the Greens coming first in their own environment policy rankings (or indeed Clark's issuing of her own Maori report card at Ratana Pa) - she downplayed the possibility in this case.

"I'm sure the Institute wouldn't award the prize to someone involved in the organisation. Necessarily. Unless of course there was some particularly good candidate. This might be one of those times one shouldn't be too literal in interpreting the rules."

"So now we're looking for nominations of outstanding leaders," Helen Clark said, "Can you think of anyone like that?"

There was then an awkward silence while the Prime Minister looked around expectantly.

ENDS

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