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The following is a timeline of milestones in Helen Clark's political career.
1978 - First appointed to the Labour Party's New Zealand executive
1981 - Clark wins the Mt Albert electorate and becomes the 17th woman to be elected to New Zealand's parliament.
1987 - Clark first becomes a Cabinet Minister in the Labour government. Among her Cabinet positions are Housing, Conservation and Health.
August 1989 - Clark becomes Deputy Prime Minister.
1990-1993 - Clark is Deputy Leader of the Opposition after Labour lose the general election.
1993 - Clark challenges Mike Moore for the leadership of the Labour Party after National wins the 1993 general election. She becomes Labour leader in December 1993.
1999 - Clark becomes New Zealand's second female Prime Minister after the 1999 general election.
February 2008 - Clark becomes the longest-serving leader of the Labour Party.
October 2008 - Clark becomes New Zealand's fifth-longest-serving Prime Minister.
November 2008 - Clark concedes defeat in the general election and stands down as Labour Party leader.
March 2009 - Clark secures the job heading the United Nations Development Programme.
