Commonwealth Lecture | The Commonwealth Commonwealth Lecture 10 April 2015 On Thursday 9 April the Rt Hon Helen Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Programme and former Prime Minister of New Zealand delivered the 17th Commonwealth Lecture. The lecture took place at the 800 year old Guildhall, home of the City of London Corporation in the heart of London and was attended by over 500 guests. The theme of the lecture, 'Youth, Innovation and Sustainable Development: the Commonwealth in a Post-2015 World' ties in closely with the 2015 Commonwealth theme of ‘A Young Commonwealth’, a fact Mrs Clark highlighted: “Three in every five Commonwealth citizens are under the age of 30. That fully justifies the choice of this year’s Commonwealth theme: “A Young Commonwealth”. And one cannot fail to be impressed by the major focus of the Commonwealth on developing youth potential through its programmes and forums.” Rt Hon Helen Clark – UNDP Administrator “Youth, Innovation, Sustainable Development and The Commonwealth in a Post-2015 World” Full transcript “It is a privilege for me to deliver the Commonwealth Lecture at this prestigious venue this evening.

I thank Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma for the invitation to me, and I also acknowledge the presence of Sir Anand Satyanand, the Chair of the Commonwealth Foundation and former Governor-General of New Zealand. As Prime Minister of New Zealand, I had the privilege of attending four Commonwealth Heads of Government Summits – or CHOGMs as they are known. For a New Zealand Prime Minister coming from the very far south of the South Pacific, CHOGM is an opportunity to meet counterparts not only from one’s near region, but from the Caribbean, Asia, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe, and Canada. For the Commonwealth, like the United Nations, spans every region of the world. It constitutes nearly a third of the global population – some 2.2 billion people, and a quarter of our planet’s land area. But it has not relied on its size and geographical reach alone in making its mark in a world of many multi-country organisations. The Commonwealth’s unique value has been its commitment to development, democracy, and diversity." Continue >> Watch full length video of the lecture Helen is the first woman to lead the UNDP. Prior to her appointment with UNDP, Helen served for nine years as Prime Minister of New Zealand.

As Prime Minister, Helen engaged widely in policy development and advocacy across the international, economic, social and cultural spheres. She and her government prioritised reconciliation and the settlement of historical grievances with New Zealand’s indigenous people and the development of an inclusive multicultural and multi-faith society. The theme for 2015 is ‘A Young Commonwealth’ and Helen Clark will speak on Youth, Innovation and Sustainable Development: the Commonwealth in a Post-2015 World from the magnificent setting of the Guildhall, in the heart of the City of London. Helen Clark: From New Zealand Prime Minister to U.N. heavyweight - CNN.com Helen Clark opens up about being third most powerful person at U.N. Former NZ Prime Minister now head of U.N. Development Program First female to hold position at U.N., ranked 21 on Forbes list of powerful women Traveling in a plane soaring 2,400 meters above the ocean when the door in front of you suddenly swings open, is many things: terrifying, disturbing, dramatic.

For former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark , it was also "a bit annoying." If it seems like the understatement of the century, then that's because you get the impression there isn't much that rattles the 63-year-old, who is now the third most powerful person at the United Nations. Back in 2005, the then-prime minister was flying along the south west coast of New Zealand when her six-seater plane hit turbulence, forcing the door to swing open. After some scrambling the rogue door was closed, and Clark -- today the Administrator of the United Nations Development Program -- landed safely, though with a badly bruised elbow. That was the "annoying" bit, she said. JUST WATCHED MUST WATCH Warren Buffett's advice to Melinda Gates 03:01 Eight years later, securely seated in the United Nations office in New York, one of the longest serving female prime ministers of all time says "nothing" scares her. Well, apart from a few extreme sports. "I think I've conquered fear," she said. "Except I'm not going into a parachute jump. I don't want to go into a bungee jump -- wonderful revenue earner for New Zealand tourism that it is.

And I don't want to do a deep sea dive," she said. "So there's three things off my list but I'll try almost anything else." Small country, big ambition Almost a decade before German Chancellor Angela Merkel was toasting a third consecutive term in office, Clark was on the other side of the world celebrating her own successful third election. Read: Is Merkel the most powerful female politician? Clark, the leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, led the country for nine years, from 1999 to 2008. That's just two years less than British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher . And six years longer than recently ousted Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard . Since leaving politics and joining the United Nations in 2009, Clark's international profile has continued to grow -- this year Forbes' ranked her as the 21st most powerful woman in the world. "I could not have credibly done this job [at the United Nations] if I had not had the experience of leading a small country," she said of New Zealand, which has a population of around 4 million. "There's no greater accountability than having to face your own electors every three years.

So I like to think this has been a preparation for this position now." Women of the world Clark is also the first female to head the United Nations Development Program, overseeing 8,000 staff in 177 countries, and an annual budget of $5.8 billion. Her vision is a big one: "Eradication of poverty and tackling exclusion and inequality in our world -- and doing it in a sustainable way." Where does one start with such an immense goal? For Clark, part of the answer lies in the empowerment of women. "If you can't inherit the family property, if you can't borrow money, if you can't hold title to land or a rental title because you're a woman -- this isn't fair," she said. "Oftentimes attitudes towards women can be the tremendous unseen barriers -- people don't see a woman doing certain jobs. I've had a lot of experience of crashing my head through glass ceilings so I know it can be done, but it's not something you do by yourself.

You have to build support networks." Read: Meet Helene Gayle -- the CEO feeding the world Force of nature Growing up on a farm in New Zealand, Clark learned to be self-reliant from a young age -- a trait she's held throughout her career. "We slaughtered our own meat, we grew our own vegetables. I think I come from generations of extremely resilient people who tend to survive through thick and thin," she said. To illustrate her point, Clark recalls meeting another head of state on the steps of New Zealand parliament one day: "I had the keys in my hand and I said 'come along with me.' I unlocked the door to the private lift and took him up. He was astonished. Where was the army of functionaries who were opening the door pressing the lift button?" When her party suffered a devastating defeat at the 1990 elections, Clark was down, but not out. "I became well known in New Zealand for saying 'let's move on,'" she said. "Another door will open if you look for it." And while leading the United Nations Development Program has been one of her greatest achievements, it has come with sacrifices, such as working on the other side of the world from husband Peter Davis.

"I don't necessarily want to be remembered as the most popular girl on the block," she said. "I want to be remembered as the girl who made a difference." Annual Commonwealth Lecture – Helen Clark (UNDP) « CHEC No comments Helen Clark, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and former Prime Minister of New Zealand, gave the annual Commonwealth Lecture at Guildhall on April 9. Her talk, entitled Youth, Innovation, Sustainable Development and The Commonwealth in a Post-2015 World, drew attention to the need to create a sustainable future through cutting back on consumption. Clark highlighted what she saw as the ‘glacial’ reaction of international governments to the growing threat of climate change. In her discussion of the forthcoming SDGs Clark described how the new SDGs contained strong environmental content to build resilience against climate change and protective partnerships for ecosystems to thrive. The full transcript of the lecture is available here , and a video of the talk is also available on the Commonwealth Secretariat website . New Zealand’s Helen Clark enters race to lead UN It comes just days after Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop poured cold water on the chances of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd landing the role , which would be one of the world’s most powerful positions.

The former Labor leader has yet to apply for the position but has widely expressed an interest in the position to a number of people. The search for a successor to Ban Ki-moon comes at a time of high anxiety in global affairs as the United Nations grapples with the biggest refugee crisis since World War II and raging conflicts in the Middle East and Africa. “I am putting myself forward based on proven leadership experience over close to three decades, both in my own country and here at the United Nations,” Clark told AFP in an interview, ending months of speculation. “I do think I have the experience and the attributes to do this job.” Currently the UN’s highest-ranking woman, Clark heads its largest agency, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), a post she has held for the past seven years, overseeing the world body’s vast development agenda. Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, left, and former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.Source:Supplied New Zealand formally put forward Clark, one of the most experienced women in global politics, as its candidate at a press conference in Wellington.

“Having served as the prime minister of New Zealand for nine years and held one of the top jobs in the United Nations for the past seven, Helen Clark has the right mix of skills and experience for the job,” Prime Minister John Key said. “There are major global challenges facing the world today and the United Nations needs a proven leader who can be pragmatic and effective. “Coming from New Zealand, Helen Clark is well placed to bridge divisions and get results. She is the best person for the job.” The 66-year-old former academic is among New Zealand’s longest-serving prime ministers, having headed the government for three successive terms from 1999 to 2008. Next week, the UN General Assembly will hold public hearings for the candidates for the first time in the United Nations’ 70-year history, with the race still wide open months before a vote. Other than Clark, seven candidates including three women are vying for the top job. The candidates include UNESCO chief Irina Bokova of Bulgaria and the former High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, of Portugal.

Clark would become the first woman to lead the United Nations, after eight men in the top job -- although she downplayed her gender as a factor in her candidacy. The search for a successor to UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, pictured, comes at a time of high anxiety in global affairs.Source:AP “I’m not putting myself forward because I’m a woman. I’m putting myself forward because I think I’m the best person for the job,” she said. “I happen to be a woman with a strong track record.” “I’ve given it a lot of thought,” Clark said of her candidacy. “I think we face a very, very challenging world outlook.” The United Nations has come under heavy fire over its failure to reform, with critics arguing it is ill-adapted to respond to evolving global crises. Clark pointed to those shortcomings during the interview, saying she was “extremely keen” to steer the world body towards a more effective approach to addressing what she termed a “different kind of conflict.” Today’s warfare is about “civil wars, disparate non-state actors. It’s violent extremism. This requires new approaches,” she said. Today #NZ Prime Minister @johnkeypm announced Govt nomination of me as UNSG.

Looking 4ward 2 the campaign. Follow me on @Helen4SG #Helen4SG — Helen Clark (@HelenClarkUNDP) 4 April 2016 Turning to the UN bureaucracy, Clark called for reform to turn the world body - with its 40,000-plus employees and annual budget of over $8 billion - into a more “pro-active organisation.” “We can be a clunky, old-fashioned-style administration,” she acknowledged. “I’m known for being a pragmatic, task-focused and results-oriented person.” UN diplomats see Clark as a prominent candidate for the top post, but it remains unclear how much support she will be able to garner from the permanent Security Council members: Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. Russia has said that the next secretary-general should come from eastern Europe, the only region that has yet to be represented in the top job. Britain has said it would back a woman to be the world’s top diplomat. After public hearings are held in the General Assembly beginning next week, the Security Council is expected to select the winning candidate in July, who would then be endorsed by the assembly. The successful candidate will begin work on January 1, 2017.

Ex-New Zealand Premier Helen Clark to run for UN top job - BBC News Ex-New Zealand Premier Helen Clark to run for UN top job 5 April 2016 Read more about sharing. Close share panel Media captionHelen Clark on BBC Newsnight: "I would like the security council to look more like the 21st Century world we live in today" Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has ended months of speculation by announcing her candidacy to become the next UN secretary-general. In an interview with the BBC she said she would like the Security Council "to look more like the 21st Century". She said Germany, Japan, India and Brazil would be "obvious candidates" to become permanent members. She also referred to a proposal for two African states to become permanent members. Ms Clark is the current head of the UN's Development Programme. She argues that she has the right mix of proven experience to take over from Ban Ki-moon, who retires in December. She says the UN needs a new set of tools to face modern peace and security issues. Image copyright AP Image caption Ms Clark says that she supports reform of the UN security council Three other women are vying to become the UN's first female secretary general.

Four men are also candidates. There have so far been nine post holders, all men. "The security council reflects the geo-political realities of 1945," Ms Clark told the BBC's Newsnight programme. "I would like it to reflect the 21st century world which we live in today." Earlier the former prime minister told the AFP news agency that she was putting herself forward because of her proven leadership experience over nearly 30 years both in New Zealand and at the UN. Other candidates for the secretary-general position include Unesco chief Irina Bokova of Bulgaria and the former High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, of Portugal. New Zealand Prime Minister John Key recommended Ms Clark as the country's candidate at a press conference in Wellington on Monday. "Having served as the prime minister of New Zealand for nine years and held one of the top jobs in the United Nations for the past seven, Helen Clark has the right mix of skills and experience for the job," he said.

New Zealand : Constitution and politics | The Commonwealth New Zealand : Constitution and politics Constitution Monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II Legislature: New Zealand Parliament New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, with Queen Elizabeth II titular head of state, represented in the country by the Governor-General. There is a unicameral House of Representatives, directly elected for a three-year term, with universal suffrage for everyone over 18. Voting is not compulsory, though enrolment is. The number of MPs rose from 99 to 120 in 1996, under the new electoral system when the country moved to a form of proportional representation known as MMP (mixed member proportional). Voters have an electorate vote and a party vote. The former is used to select an MP in 70 constituencies – including seven Maori constituencies – on a first-past-the-post basis, while the latter is used to select a party and determine the total number of seats for each party in parliament. All parties polling more than five per cent of this vote (or with at least one electorate seat) are entitled to further seats based on the proportion of the party votes cast.

Normally 50 members are party MPs but this number can be increased (increasing the total number of seats in parliament for the term) when a party wins more electorate seats than it is entitled to according to the party vote. This happened for the first time in September 2005, when there was a single Maori Party ‘overhang’ MP. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor-General on the basis of party strength in the House of Representatives and the Prime Minister appoints a cabinet. The MMP system is designed to prevent domination by a majority group and to give voice to minorities, under-represented in Westminster (first-past-the-post) systems. It is also intended to encourage voting on the basis of policies rather than a party bloc. In the first election under MMP, the proportion of women MPs rose by half to about one-third of the total and the Maori community obtained representation to match its 13 per cent share in the population. Politics In the general election of November 1999 the Labour Party, led by Helen Clark, won 49 seats and its coalition partner Alliance ten.

The National Party, led by Jenny Shipley, took 39 seats and its ally, the Association of Consumers and Taxpayers of New Zealand (ACT New Zealand), nine. With the support of the Green Party (seven seats), Labour was able to command a majority in the 120-member House of Representatives and Helen Clark became Prime Minister. In the July 2002 general election, Labour (52 seats) and its coalition partner – Progressive Coalition Party (two) – were unable to command a parliamentary majority without the support of smaller parties. These now included United Future (eight) and the Green Party (nine). The National Party secured 27 seats and ACT New Zealand nine, while its former coalition partner, New Zealand First, strengthened its position to 13. The September 2005 general election was very close, but when all the votes were counted, the ruling Labour–Progressive coalition (Labour 50 seats, Progressive one) was returned for a third successive term and Helen Clark continued as Prime Minister, still able to command a majority in parliament only with support from New Zealand First (seven) and United Future Party (three). The National Party won 48 seats and the Green Party six.

The National Party – under the leadership of John Key – won the November 2008 election with 58 seats and 44.9 per cent of votes, and like previous governments would only be able to command a majority in the House with support from minority parties. Turnout was 79.5 per cent and Labour took 43 seats (34.0 per cent of votes), Green Party nine, ACT New Zealand five, the Maori Party five, Jim Anderton’s Progressive one, United Future one and New Zealand First none. In the November 2011 election the National Party increased its share of votes to 47.3 per cent, though with 59 seats still short of an absolute majority in parliament. Labour took 34 seats (27.5 per cent), the Green Party 14 (11.1 per cent), New Zealand First eight (6.6 per cent) and the Maori Party three. ACT New Zealand, Mana and United Future each won one seat. With the support of ACT and United Future, John Key was sworn in as Prime Minister for a second time.

In December 2011 the National Party formed a coalition government with ACT New Zealand, United Future and the Maori Party. The National Party won the election held on 20 September 2014, with 47.0 per cent of the vote and 60 seats, just short of an outright majority. The Labour Party received 25.1 per cent of the vote (32 seats); the Green Party 10.7 per cent (14); and New Zealand First 8.7 per cent (11). The Maori Party, ACT and United Future each won an ‘electorate’ seat. But United Future’s party vote did not entitle it to any seats, so its electorate seat was an ‘overhang’ seat, bringing the total number of members in the new parliament to 121. John Key reached ‘confidence and supply’ agreements with the three smaller parties and formed a new government. Head of government The Hon Bill English, Prime Minister Simon William English is the leader of New Zealand's National Party. He took office on 12 December 2016.

New Zealand PM thrown out of parliament over Panama Papers New Zealand PM thrown out of parliament over Panama Papers Wednesday, 11 May 2016 | 10:09 AM ET CNBC.com SHARES Brendon Thorne | Getty Images New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key speaks to media at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Offices during a joint press conference in Sydney, Australia. The Prime Minister of New Zealand has been ejected from parliament after a tirade over the country's role in the Panama Papers. John Key, who has led the South Pacific country since 2008, was answering a question from a Green Party politician on why he had not apologized to charities Greenpeace, the Red Cross, and Amnesty. On Tuesday, Key surprised media and politicians by naming those organizations in connection with the papers. It was subsequently confirmed none of the three was found to have any direct link to foreign asset trusts currently under scrutiny by journalists. After a long rant defending why he named the charities, Key was told to sit down by the speaker of the house. When he then didn't, the New Zealand Prime Minister was ordered to leave the chamber.

New Zealand has been mentioned in the Panama Papers more than 60,000 times and Mossack Fonseca has an office in the country, leading many to label the country a tax haven. Speaking to CNBC Wednesday, the co-leader of the New Zealand Green party Metiria Turei , said the NZ Prime Minister was failing to address New Zealand's role in the Panama Papers scandal. "Because John Key won't take the matter seriously, politicians are asking difficult questions and the prime minister is unable to handle questioning," she said. Key's connection Turei said a personal connection exists between Key and the Panama Papers and the leader is 'slinging mud' to deflect attention. "Two years ago Key's own personal lawyer, who runs a company that sets up foreign trusts in New Zealand and who has worked with Mossack Fonseca, lobbied the Minister of Revenue to make sure that tax rules were not changed. "So we have a connection with John Key and people he knows personally who want to keep the rules loose," said the opposition MP. Turei also said Key had also consistently defended companies that had been identified in connection with trusts sheltered in New Zealand.

beehive.govt.nz - Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament Helen Clark Prime Minister’s Statement to Parliament Helen Clark Head and Shoulders speech notes for the Prime Minister's Statement to Parliament for 2007 It's my privilege to present this annual statement to Parliament setting out the government's priorities for the year ahead. Last year's statement set out an ambitious programme, and a great deal has been achieved. That has been due in no small part to the constructive working relationships Labour and the Progressive Party have with other parties in the House. New Zealand First and United Future as confidence and supply partners, and the Green Party and the Maori Party have been prepared to work through complex policy issues with the government, and I thank them all for their contribution. There's no question that New Zealand today is a stronger, fairer, and more confident nation than it was seven years ago. Many more people are in work , incomes are higher, educational achievement is up, and crime rates are lower. These results have been achieved across the society, lifting Maori and Pakeha, along with Pasifka, Asian and other New Zealanders But substantial as the gains have been, the government believes New Zealand can do even better.

As we reach each goal and target we set in economic and social policy, new ones must be identified and met. Meeting the challenges our country faces in the 21st century requires substance, not slogans. New Zealand's future is dependent on long term sustainable strategies for our economy, society, environment, culture and way of life. Those strategies have to be driven by strong leadership and sound policies. Our challenge is to build a sustainable economy based on innovation and quality in a world where high volume, low quality goods and services will always undercut us on price. Our challenge is to sustain family and community living standards in our open, competitive economy. Our challenge is to sustain our unique culture, values, and national identity in a world of globalised media and culture. Building a sustainable nation requires smart, active government working with key stakeholders across the economy and society. The invisible hand of the market doesn't deliver a sustainable nation, as an earlier era of New Zealand politics showed only too well. Now the quest for sustainability has taken on a new urgency because of the scale of the environmental challenge the world faces. Traditional patterns of development and fast growing populations have put an intolerable strain on the planet. The future economic costs of doing nothing are dire.

That's why issues around sustainability and climate change have become the compelling issues of our times, dominating international forums and agendas. Two decades ago it was the threat of nuclear war destroying the world as we knew it which galvanised New Zealand to become nuclear free and to work for a more peaceful world. Our nuclear free policy and the values which inspired it have become central to our national identity and how we project ourselves to the world. And so it must be with this century's environmental sustainability challenge. We have to make a stand - for our world, and for our own sake. Without a commitment to greater sustainability in our resource use and way of life, we risk not only damaging our own environment, but also exposing our economy to significant risk. That's why I have called for boldness in our approach to these issues. I believe New Zealand can aim to be the first nation to be truly sustainable - across the four pillars of the economy, society, the environment, and nationhood. I believe we can aspire to be carbon neutral in our economy and way of life.

I believe that in the years to come, the pride we take in our quest for sustainability and carbon neutrality will define our nation, just as our quest for a nuclear free world has over the past twenty three years. More than any other developed nation, New Zealand needs to go the extra mile to lower greenhouse gas emissions and increase sustainability. In our high value markets in Europe, we face increasing pressure on our trade and tourism, from competitors who are all too ready to use against us the distance our goods must travel to market, and the distance tourists must travel to us. By lowering our carbon footprint, we strengthen our position against that kind of protectionism - and the government is working to lower that footprint in many ways. Several years ago we rewrote the land transport legislation to put emphasis on sustainability. Over seven budgets we've increased spending on public transport by around 750 per cent. Now the draft New Zealand Energy and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategies set out to take sustainability to new levels. They champion renewable energy across power generation and transport, and energy efficiency at home and at work. I believe New Zealand has the potential to lead the world in its commitment to renewable energy. On biofuels, the time has come to implement a sales obligation .

Biofuels can replace diesel or petrol, and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. With domestic production they can also be positive for the current account. The government has decided that a Biofuel Sales Obligation will be set at 3.4 per cent of the annual energy content of total annual petrol and diesel sales by 2012. This initial target is considered sufficient to encourage the uptake of biodiesel and the development of infrastructure for ethanol distribution. Further details about the Biofuels Sales Obligation are being announced by Ministers today. This measure complements decisions already made to ensure that cars imported into New Zealand in future meet higher emissions standards and that consumers have proper information on the fuel efficiency of the cars they are purchasing. Last year in recognition of the important contribution of forestry to climate change mitigation strategies, the government announced its Permanent Forest Sinks Initiative . Already an announcement has been made of a major investment to develop 30,000 hectares of permanent forest on Ngati Porou land on the East Coast. But there is potential to do much more. In the coming weeks consultations are being held on the wide ranging proposals for sustainable land management in agriculture and forestry released before Christmas. These major export sectors have much to gain from association with sustainability policies.

In the future, business overall will need to be sustainable to make money, and there will be money to be made from being sustainable. In agriculture part of the answer lies in changing farming practice now, while longer term answers are also sought on how to reduce animal methane emissions. We should aim for world leadership in this area of science. I am also announcing today new sustainability priorities for the government this year. Towards a Carbon Neutral Public Service The government intends to lead by example by moving the public service towards carbon neutrality . This year the first group of six departments will commit to reaching carbon neutrality by 2012. By early next year, the Ministries for the Environment, Health, and Economic Development, the Departments of Inland Revenue and Conservation, and Treasury will have reduced their carbon footprint significantly. Their objective will be to reduce their department's emissions, but at the point that it is not feasible to reduce further, they will offset them; for example, by supporting tree planting on Crown land, which will also contribute to our sustainable land management policies. Over the next year all other departments will develop their plans. In 2012 all public service departments will be on the path to carbon neutrality.

The wider state sector will also be encouraged to join in the programme. The Role of Government Procurement in Achieving Sustainability The government sector is a significant purchaser of services within the economy. We intend to use our purchasing power to help drive innovation, cleaner production, and improved cost effectiveness over the whole life cycle of goods and services. We will be developing a single procurement policy for government, requiring sustainably produced goods and services to be used whenever possible. We are announcing today that as the VIP car fleet of the Department of Internal Affairs is replaced, vehicles which are more fuel efficient and have lower emissions will be acquired . It is estimated that this will lead to 550 fewer tonnes of CO2 being emitted, 400,000 fewer litres of fuel being used, and $500,000 being saved over three years. The government accepts the responsibility to lead by example in these areas, but we also want to encourage and support others to reduce their carbon footprint. Supporting Households to become more sustainable A big priority this year is to raise the awareness of households about sustainable practice in energy and water use, transport, and waste disposal.

Already the government has many separate initiatives, ranging from Energywise grants for assisting with energy efficiency retrofits, to solar water heating programmes, and improving energy efficiency requirements within the review of the building code . These programmes need to be integrated, so that households can see that they are all part of a programme they can implement to achieve the overall objective of improved sustainability. Supporting business sustainability Business has a big contribution to make to improving New Zealand's overall sustainability performance, and can take up the commercial opportunities which the worldwide interest in sustainability creates. Many businesses are involved already, and many more are interested. The new government procurement policy gives companies an added incentive to be sustainable. Already the Crown Research Institute Landcare has developed a CarbonZero programme , enabling businesses which meet its criteria to brand themselves credibly as carbon neutral. The government will work with leading business networks, like the Business Council for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Business Network, to promote awareness by companies of what they can do to improve their sustainability and their profitability. Together we can ensure there are standards set which give businesses and customers confidence in the integrity of our sustainability programmes.

We are also following closely exciting work in the private sector on the development of carbon trading regimes, and will be willing to consider what legislative and regulatory changes might be needed to put them into effect. Improving Waste Management During this year we will be advancing new proposals to improve waste management . They will include funding the construction of more recycling facilities for use in public places. While household recycling is progressing well, we need more facilities to encourage recycling of waste when people are away from home. We will continue to work with the Green Party on refinements to the Waste Minimisation (Solids) Bill which is currently before Parliament. We want effective legislation for some form of waste levy to help fund better waste minimisation infrastructure. Product stewardship will also be improved by measures in that legislation. While voluntary initiatives have been useful, some form of regulatory backup will be necessary for the environmental impacts of manufactured products to be minimised as much as possible. Overall the government has a huge and credible work programme this year to improve New Zealand's environmental sustainability credentials and move our country towards the vision of carbon neutrality. This is the way the world will move, and we have the opportunity to be at the forefront.

Sustainability and an identification with the vision for carbon neutrality can be central to our national identity and the way the world perceives us - and be to our overall benefit as a nation. Sustainability is central to our government's programme across all three key policy themes; economic transformation, families young and old, and strengthening national identity. We are committed to long term sustainable strategies to take our country ahead. Economic Transformation This year's Budget will outline the government's decisions on new settings for business taxation, aimed at increasing innovation, investment, and growth. Business tax changes this year are made possible by solid economic and tax growth over seven years, and by careful government fiscal management. Export Year 2007 is underway, with extra funding for market development grants, more targeted trade missions, and business - government collaboration around export focused events and forums. I thank the many private sector agencies throughout New Zealand who are supporting Export Year. I salute Ken Stevens, Export Year's Business Champion, who is a superb example of how to take Kiwi ingenuity to the world and grow a high value export business. 2007 is a big year for trade policy.

The Doha Round of the WTO is showing signs of life again, and our Minister of Trade and officials are actively engaged. The round is our top trade policy priority. New Zealand negotiators have recently completed the eleventh round of talks with China on a free trade agreement. The best possible access to China's fast growing markets for goods and services is essential for our economy. Planning is beginning on how to make the most of the New Zealand Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo in 2010, as one of many initiatives to lift our nation's profile in China. A study on the potential of an FTA with Korea will also be advanced this year. Three regional trade initiatives are of keen interest to New Zealand: the ASEAN-CER FTA negotiations, which are expected to be completed this year, the proposal for a Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific which is being developed for the APEC Summit in September, the study on the potential of a Free Trade Area covering the countries in the East Asia Summit. As a high proportion of New Zealand's trade is done with nations in the Asia Pacific, the government is an enthusiastic supporter of developments which could improve our access to these markets.

A highly educated and skilled workforce is critical to realising the opportunities for New Zealand in international markets and to developing a high value economy. Over the past year the government has undertaken a major review of tertiary education policies and funding, aimed at getting better value for money from the investments we make. An Education (Tertiary Reforms) Amendment Bill will be introduced this year. As well, we will continue to increase the numbers in work-based training, and in the Gateway programme which introduces high school students to industry. These programmes are well supported by business and union partners. We will continue to work with them to lift skill and productivity levels, and will be strengthening the Skill New Zealand tripartite forum. The development of Auckland as a world class international city is critical for New Zealand's overall growth and development. The government is currently considering its response to the region's proposals for strengthening its governance, and our investments in Auckland's transport infrastructure are large and growing. It has become increasingly important to align central and regional strategies for Auckland transport, and joint working parties are progressing that. Timelines around rail electrification will need to be agreed on, and new funding mechanisms for transport initiatives outside the current funding parameters need to be developed.

The government has also reviewed the public transport procurement legislation with the objective of enabling regional councils to get better value for money in their public transport spend. Decisions will be made shortly on changes to the legislation. Already this year there have been major developments in guaranteeing Auckland's power supply. The Electricity Commission's announcement on the upgrade of transmission into Auckland is going through a formal consultation process. Its proposals are consistent with the government's priorities of ensuring security of supply and focusing on renewable sources of energy. The Digital Future Last year's far reaching reform of regulatory settings for telecommunications has ushered in a new era of competition in the market. Broadband is already cheaper and faster. The new settings are helping us to catch up with other countries which have enjoyed more competitive settings for longer - but there's still a long way to go. Now to keep up and press ahead we need to continue to challenge the telco sector and our regions to lay down new high speed infrastructure which can match our aspirations to be a knowledge economy and society. This year the government will be refreshing its strategies for broadband and high speed connectivity. New Zealand needs a clear pathway to the roll out of fibre infrastructure, and we will be working with business and local government on that.

Specific decisions are pending this year on the three way operational separation of Telecom New Zealand, and on a range of mobile issues, including termination rates, co-location, roaming, and spectrum. The Digital Content Strategy will be launched, as will the Freeview digital TV platform. The Minister of Communications and Information Technology will be convening an ICT Summit aimed at refreshing the Digital Strategy and getting input from the sector on its future growth and development. Families: Young and Old In policy for families, young and old, this year, the government has major programmes rolling out and others in development. In health, the success of the district health boards in meeting targets for big increases in joint replacement and cataract surgery has encouraged us to develop a similar approach in other areas of surgery. Elective services will increase across the board by about ten per cent this year, and nearly all DHBs are already eligible for the extra funding. In addition, we will be negotiating specific targets for delivery with DHBs in areas other than elective surgery where progress is both needed and achievable. July 1 will bring 25 - 44 year olds into the Primary Health Care Strategy , completing the coverage of all age groups.

As with the earlier extensions to the scheme, doctors' fees for this age group will reduce substantially, and their prescription charges will drop from $15 to $3 per item. This is very helpful to family budgets. Health legislation this year will include the introduction of a new Public Health Bill, to update legislation which is half a century old. We are making big investments in the health of children and young people, by moving to screen all new babies for hearing loss, increasing funding for dental health, and by tackling obesity through promotion of better nutrition and more physical exercise. In housing, income related and fair rents for state housing remain fundamental to Labour. This year will see big moves to upgrade the social housing stock; moves to increase the supply of affordable housing - including through the integrated development of Hobsonville, and decisions about the shared equity scheme for first home owners. Home ownership has always been part of the Kiwi dream. We believe the state has a role to play in supporting modest income families to reach that dream. On 1 July the new KiwiSaver Scheme will begin, encouraging savings for first home ownership, as well as for retirement.

This year the Rates Inquiry will look at the factors driving the steep rates increases which have been of such concern to superannuitants and others on fixed and modest incomes. Legislation for the Supergold Card for superannuitants and the Veterans' card will be passed this year, with the cards available from August. In education, July 1 heralds the introduction of twenty hours free early childhood education and care for three and four year olds, with substantial uptake by the sector likely. The review of school operational funding is complete and government will be considering its response this year. The new school curriculum will be published in September. New initiatives are being taken to ensure school attendance. The District Truancy Service is being strengthened ; parents whose children are not regularly attending school can expect to be prosecuted. New funding is being introduced this year to give more support to schools to manage disruptive behaviour. While New Zealand's overall levels of attainment in the school system are high relative to other OECD countries, we do have a significant minority of young people who fail badly. This needs to be tackled at a number of levels. Engaging teenagers in education which is meaningful and relevant to their futures is one of them.

We have already invested heavily in the Gateway Programme, and this year will go further with the development of a young apprenticeship scheme in schools. Overall the government is looking to personalise education so that it is tailored to the needs of every student. This requires effective teaching, strong professional leadership, engaged families, a strong grounding in the basics of literacy and numeracy, completing secondary schooling, setting clear boundaries for students, and adequate resourcing. I have no doubt the New Zealand education system can deliver the quality teaching children and young people need to learn. But capacity to learn is also heavily influenced by wider social factors. Labour in government has focused on more affordable health care, fair state house rentals for low income families, and adequate income through rising employment levels and the family tax credits of Working for Families . There is no doubt that our policies have made a big difference, with the numbers of children living in households below the poverty line decreasing dramatically. At least 60,000 children were lifted out of income poverty between 2001 and 2004, and another 70,000 will have been lifted out with the full implementation of Working for Families after 1 April this year.

On that date, all families eligible for Family Support will receive another ten dollars per child a week. Can we do better and move to eradicate child poverty ? That's certainly my dream - but let's not dismiss the huge progress which has been made in that direction. Over the past seven years, the number of working age beneficiaries has decreased by over 28 per cent; that is by close to 115,000. This has been achieved by huge decreases in the numbers on unemployment benefit, and now with decreases in the DPB numbers too. The numbers of those on unemployment benefits for two years and over are down by seventy per cent. We believe that the numbers on benefits can be reduced further by extending employment services to those on all categories of benefits, and setting stronger work expectations. Significant changes in legislation, policy, and services are being made this year so that we can support even more beneficiaries into work. Labour believes that the best form of social security is a job, underpinned by fair labour law, good public healthcare and education, and affordable housing for people on low incomes. Good policies in these areas followed over the long term help build a more sustainable society.

But we are also directly targeting violent and destructive behaviour in the community which causes so much concern and grief. Late last year we launched a 26 point Action Plan aimed at young people at risk and those already causing mayhem in their communities through youth gangs. Seven government departments are involved, working closely with local government, NGOs, schools, and communities, including supportive businesses which are backing good programmes. Across Auckland, where the youth gang issues are the most prominent, the police are adopting a no tolerance approach to offending by youth gang members, and have increased their presence in areas known for gang violence. The message is that no part of our communities will be abandoned to gang influence. There must be no "no go" zones. Family violence is also being targeted, with new prevention and support services rolling out this year. A major community campaign will begin to reinforce the unacceptability of family violence and change attitudes towards it. High priority is being given to the SKIP programme which teaches positive parenting and alternatives to physical discipline. The changes recommended by the Justice and Electoral Select Committee to Section 59 of the Crimes Act would also have a positive impact on violence in the home, and it is my hope that Parliament will support them this year to help make our children safer.

Last year the government announced significant changes to law and practice in the criminal justice system. Legislation now before Parliament aims to deliver greater consistency in sentencing, greater truth in sentencing through reform to parole laws, and more effective community based sentences for low risk offenders. New drug and alcohol and special treatment units are being set up in prisons this year, and there will be many more opportunities for employment. We want better results from the criminal justice system, through a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and through more appropriate punishment for low risk offenders. The recent violent offending by a prisoner on parole, leading to murder and the infliction of serious injury, has shocked our nation. Enquiries establishing exactly how his case was handled are ongoing. But the government has already decided to give serious consideration to allowing the police to make a recall application to the Parole Board where they have serious concerns about a parolee's behaviour.

Where a recall application is being made on the basis that an offender is failing to comply with the conditions of his or her release, or is acting in a way which makes those conditions now inappropriate, it is proper that responsibility for applying for recall rests with the Community Probation Service, because the probation officer who is supervising the offender has first-hand knowledge of the information upon which the application is based. Where, however, the application is based upon the fact that the offender is posing an undue risk to the safety of the community, or has committed an offence punishable by imprisonment, it is likely that the information upon which the application is based will have been derived from police investigations or intelligence received by the police. In these circumstances, it can be argued that the police should have the power to make an application for recall, rather than the CPS determining whether to act on the information that the police provide. This proposal for enhancing the ability to recall prisoners from parole is aimed at improving public safety and security. National Identity Reinforcing and celebrating New Zealand's unique national identity is very important to my government. As I said in my Prime Minister's Statement to Parliament last year, there is an evolving New Zealand way of doing things and a stronger New Zealand identity is emerging.

We pride ourselves on being a nation with a sense of fair play, on being clean and green, and on being nuclear free. We stand for decent values at home and abroad. We take pride in all those who've put our nation on the map, like Sir Edmund Hillary whose exploits were celebrated in Antarctica last month, and like Professor Alan McDiarmid, one of three New Zealanders to win the Nobel Prize who passed away last week. Our sports people, our artists and performers, and our leaders across the community provide inspiration at many levels. In government we seek to support and strengthen what is fundamentally good and unique about New Zealand. In a globalised world we can't take the preservation of our unique culture and our values for granted. In this globalised world, we are determined that there will be a place for a small, smart, inclusive, creative, and sustainable nation like ours. Many of our values are played out through our foreign and defence policies, and 2007 will be a particularly busy year in that sphere. Our defence deployments will continue at a high tempo, with New Zealand playing a critical role in peace building in the near neighbourhood and beyond.

Supporting resolution of conflict and lowering tension in the Pacific is a top priority, with particular attention being paid this year to the situation in Solomon Islands, Fiji, and Tonga. Relationships with the nations of Asia are more important than ever, and we are accepted as a partner in East Asian regionalism. In the Middle East, we will continue our peacekeeping involvement, begin negotiations on a trade agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council, and open the new New Zealand embassy in Cairo. Our Latin American Strategy has led to much more contact with that region across diplomatic, economic, cultural, and other relations. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit to be held in Uganda this year, reminds us of the traditional network of relationships we have in Africa. The new South Africa has emerged as a major world opinion leader, and our relationship with it is also growing fast. I do want to emphasise the very high value the government places on its relationship with other Western nations. We are part of a community of shared values, which makes us feel at home in dealing with Australia, the United States and Canada, and the nations of Europe. These bedrock relationships must be continually nourished and refreshed.

This year the government will host three major international conferences: the Commonwealth Local Government Conference, the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO , and the Regional Interfaith Dialogue at Waitangi, and an associated symposium on the major Alliance for Civilisations report to the United Nations. Our international work on dialogue across civilisations and faiths is highly relevant to the nation we are building at home. New Zealand's growing diversity is recorded in last year's census. A commitment to social cohesion and the willingness to be inclusive across ethnicity, culture, and faith is more important than ever before. It's critical that all New Zealand's peoples benefit from the progress our country makes and have a stake in our society. The Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Social Development, the Office of Ethnic Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and other agencies are all contributing to work in this area. Reconciliation at home between Maori and Crown matters too. The historical Treaty settlement process has considerable momentum. This year the government will be working with over twenty claimant groups, each with a number of claims.

Major developments in culture and heritage this year will include the commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele, government funded road works to safeguard the Kerikeri Mission Station, and development of plans for the New Zealand Memorial Park in Wellington. Government support for culture, in partnership with local government, corporate sponsors, and philanthropy will continue to play an important part in the development of many new productions across theatre, music, and dance. There continue to be exciting developments in film and contemporary music which attract considerable international attention. Other major bills before the House this year, and not already referred to include: legislation for election law reform to clean up campaign funding; the Therapeutic Products and Medicines Bill, establishing the Trans Tasman regulatory agency the Terrorism Supression Act ensuring that New Zealand is fully compliant with its international obligations the Property Law Bill, which rewrites the 1952 Act, Treaty settlement bills, and a major overhaul of immigration legislation. My annual statement to Parliament this year is a call to action on sustainability. Complacency will not do : we have to act to secure our future. I do believe New Zealanders value our country's clean and green, fair and inclusive status, and our first world living standards.

But none of that is a god-given right - only strong leadership driving farsighted, sustainable strategies can lock that in for future generations. And only this Labour-led Government offers the leadership, the vision, and the substance to do that. We look forward to 2007 and progressing our work with and for New Zealanders. Helen Clark

Question: Helen Clark is currently the Prime Minister of which Commonwealth country?
Answer: NEW ZEALAND