Hon John Key
Prime Minister

1 April 2009
Speech

PM speech for motion to congratulate Helen Clark

I move that this House expresses its congratulations to New Zealand’s former Prime Minister the Rt Hon Helen Clark on securing the very important role as head of the United Nations Development Programme.

Today, at around 8.30 New Zealand time, the United Nations General Assembly voted to endorse her in this role, following the nomination of the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon.

The vote represents the end of a long and challenging process, as individuals from around the world have competed for this much sought after position.

It is a great achievement for Helen Clark personally and it is one all New Zealanders can be proud of.

Her new role holds the rank of Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, and is the third highest-ranking position in the UN.

Helen Clark has reached these new heights after many years of service to New Zealanders, at home and on the world stage.

She has been one of our country’s longest-serving Members of Parliament, a member of this House for 27 years, and one who has always worked hard on behalf of the New Zealanders she came to serve.

Her abilities, and the respect New Zealanders have for her, is reflected in the variety of senior roles she has exercised during that time, culminating in her service as New Zealand’s first elected female Prime Minister.

She held that position for nine years, a duration that ranks her amongst New Zealand’s longest-serving Prime Ministers.

Throughout that time, and indeed prior to her election to Parliament, Helen Clark has shown qualities that prepare her well for her new job.

She has always shown a passionate interest in international affairs.

She has dealt with complex domestic politics and gained the trust and respect of New Zealanders.

And she has never been afraid to exercise her views on issues, even when these have placed her at odds with others.

I am sure these qualities have prepared her well for what will be a complex and demanding role at the United Nations.

The scope of that job is difficult to overstate.

It will see Helen Clark running UN programmes in all developing countries with a Budget of around $5 billion US dollars.

She will be working to help establish democracies, reduce poverty, improve health care, help in crisis prevention and recovery and assist with environmental issues.

She will be working to get buy-in for her initiatives, and to ensure follow through on the ground.

And she will do so in the context of what is a particularly challenging economic time for the world

Many developed countries will be financially stretched in the coming years, and yet the needs of poorer developing countries will be no fewer.

It will fall to Helen Clark in her new role to ensure the world’s wealthy nations, no matter the difficulty of the times, continue to provide support to those less fortunate.

In other words, the UNDP needs someone who can front for them, mobilise resources and give the organisation a human face.

In appointing Helen Clark they have endorsed someone they believe is capable of that task.

The challenges ahead of her are formidable, yet I am confident that she will rise to them.

On behalf of this House and all New Zealanders, I would like to offer Helen Clark our ongoing support in her new role.

The New Zealand Government offered our full and formal endorsement to her bid, and we take great pleasure in her success.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who have played a role in supporting Helen Clark’s campaign for this international position, particularly in our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In particular let me single out Rosemary Banks who, in her role as New Zealand’s permanent representative to the United Nations in New York, has worked hard for this outcome.

I personally wrote and spoke to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to convey the Government’s support for Helen Clark’s bid.

And as Prime Minister I spoke to many international leaders to encourage their support.

I am pleased to report that that support came willingly from many corners.

Leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum gave their support as did the Australian and United Kingdom governments, as well as many other leaders.

But let me be plain, in the end their support did not come about because of the advocacy of the New Zealand Government.

Ultimately the reason Helen Clark won leaders’ support for her bid, and indeed this role, was because of the personal abilities she brought to the table.

Her success demonstrates the respect that so many in the international community have for her.

This support has been underscored by the universal welcome that UN member countries have shown for her appointment.

Helen Clark should be very proud of her achievement, and New Zealanders should be proud of her too.

On a personal note let me say how pleased I am that Helen Clark will have this opportunity to further her achievements on the world stage.

We come from different sides of the political spectrum.

In the last election campaign, and in the years leading up to it, I competed vigorously against her for the right to govern this country.

That is politics.

We have brought different approaches, priorities and outlooks to the issues this country faces, and we have each voiced those views strongly.

That we have been able to do so is one of the great strengths of New Zealand society.

Although we have had our disagreements Helen I say this:

Viewed from the world stage our differences are not great.

I am sure all New Zealanders, no matter their political beliefs, know that your achievement today warrants the putting aside of politics.

Over the past few days many have quipped that no matter how important he is, many New Zealanders do not know the name of the current UNDP administrator.

I am certain that by the end of Helen Clark’s term they will not only know who she is and what she does, but most importantly, they will also know what countries the UNDP is assisting and why.

I for one wish you the very best.

We will work with you Helen as you take up this most demanding role.

We will proudly stand strong alongside you in your new endeavour.

Your appointment today not only marks a proud day for you personally, but a proud day for all New Zealanders.

ENDS

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