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New Zealand - Head of Government

The Rt Hon Helen Elizabeth Clark is serving her third term in office as Prime Minister

The Rt Hon Helen Elizabeth Clark is serving her third term in office as Prime Minister of New Zealand following her victory at the general election in November 2005. She was first elected into office on 27 September 1999 and re-elected in July 2002. Ms Clark is also Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage.

She was elected Leader of the Labour Party in December 1993 and served as Leader of the Opposition until the general election in November 1999 when Labour was elected to government. Before that, from 1990 to 1993, Ms Clark was Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Opposition spokesperson for Health and Labour, and a member of the Social Services and Labour Select Committees.

From August 1989 to October 1990, Ms Clark was Deputy Prime Minister. From 1987 to 1989, she held a number of ministerial portfolios, including Conservation, Housing, Health and Labour.

Ms Clark was elected as a Member of Parliament on the Labour Party ticket in 1981. She has held several parliamentary positions, including Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select Committee, and Chairperson of the ad hoc Disarmament and Arms Control Select Committee. Ms Clark has served as an executive member of the Labour Party from 1978 to 1988 and again from April 1989. She joined the Labour Party in 1971.

Ms Clark has an MA and BA in political science from the University of Auckland.

She was born in 1950 in Hamilton, New Zealand.