Helen Clark
From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Rt. Hon. Helen Clark | |
 The Rt. Hon. Helen Clark in 2005 |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office December 5 1999 |
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| Deputy | Jim Anderton (1999 - 2002) Michael Cullen (2002 - Present) |
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| Preceded by | Jenny Shipley |
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27th Leader of the Opposition
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| In office 1 December 1993 – 5 December 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Mike Moore |
| Succeeded by | Jenny Shipley |
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11th Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand
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| In office 8 August 1989 – 2 November 1990 |
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| Prime Minister | Geoffrey Palmer(1989 - 1990) Mike Moore (1990) |
| Preceded by | Geoffrey Palmer |
| Succeeded by | Don McKinnon |
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| Born | 26 February 1950 (age 57) Hamilton,  |
| Constituency | Mount Albert, since 1981 |
| Political party | Labour |
| Spouse | Peter Davis (Married 1981) |
| Profession | Lecturer |
| Religion | Agnostic |
Helen Elizabeth Clark (born February 26, 1950) became Prime Minister of New Zealand in December 1999. She started her third term in 2005. As of 2006, she is ranked by Forbes magazine as the 20th most powerful woman in the world.[1]
[edit] Early life
Clark grew up as the eldest of four daughters from a Waikato farming family. Her mother, Margaret, worked as a primary school teacher and her father, George, was a farmer who supported the National Party during the 1981 election.
Clark studied at the University of Auckland, where she graduated with a MA (Honours) in 1974. Her thesis research focused on rural political behaviour and representation.[2]
