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One of New Zealand's longest serving prime ministers has been given the country's highest honour.
Helen Clark has been awarded the Order of New Zealand, a distinction limited to only 20 living New Zealanders.
This caps off three decades in both domestic and international
politics.
Clark gets the top honour for 30 years of service to New
Zealand.
"Obviously some incredible Kiwis have been honoured with the Order of New Zealand and I feel very privileged to be counted among them," she says.
Born in the Waikato to a farmer and a school teacher, Clark always had more than a passing interest in politics.
A political studies lecturer by the age of 23, Clark graduated with a masters degree in politics in 1974 and became an MP in 1981.
"I'm conscious of the fact that I've nailed my colours to the mast of the Labour Party," she said at the time.
After losing the last election, she took up the number three job with the United Nations as the administrator of the United Nations Development Programme .
She is currently back in New Zealand on holiday.
"It's wonderful to be back, particularly escaping the very, very wintry blasts that have been going through New York. I used to go to holiday offshore when I was Prime Minister to get some peace and quiet. Now it's the other way round."
Clark's proud father George Clark says many of her achievements were for the benefit of New Zealand.
"It's great. What Helen's achieved is an honour for this country. As parents of course we're very, very proud."
But Clark's biographer, Brian Edwards, says it is not only her political achievements that deserve recognition.
"Once you got to know Helen, you realised that if anyone was in trouble or very ill or anything like that Helen would be the first person there. And I think when she finally made a very dignified exit from politics this was a more humane, civilised and better place to live."
In other New Year Honours announced on Thursday, children's rights campaigner, Lesley Max, becomes a Dame for more than two decades of service to young New Zealanders.
Max is founder and CEO of Great Potentials Foundation, which helps underprivileged children.
Lord Of The Rings and The Lovely Bones director, Peter Jackson, has also been recognised for his services to the film industry.
Jackson will now be known as Sir Peter, as he becomes a knight companion.
The other new knights are public health expert, Professor Mason Durie, High Court judge, James Robertson, and businessman, Douglas Myers.
An honorary knighthood goes to American philanthropist, Julian Robertson.
Together, doctors Peter Fisher and Frederick Graham are honoured
for their work on the use of in vitro fertilisation in New
Zealand.
Former ONE News presenter Judy Bailey becomes an Officer of the NZ
Order of Merit for her services to broadcasting and the community,
while George Henare is a Companion of the Order for his services to
theatre.
Check out the full New Year Honours list.
Share your thoughts on the New Years Honours list on our messageboard
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Post new commentvalidous said on 2010-01-01 @ 19:32 NZDT: Report abusive post
WELL DONE to Peter Jackson.... proud to be a kiwi