Helen Clark's global diplomacy: Ken Ross reviews the performance of New Zealand's most prominent female political figure.

• Author: Ross, Ken

When Helen Clark became prime minister her longstanding engagement in world affairs generated high expectations that she would lift New Zealand's global reputation. Her prime ministership had just one iconic moment of global diplomacy--not joining the coalition that intervened militarily in Iraq in March 2003. Clark's prime ministership may not be the pinnacle of her global importance. Her nine years as prime minister became a finishing school for that future. Clark's post-prime ministerial career is better showing off her talents in a role suited to her strengths. She may not have yet peaked.

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'From NZ to NYC Eyes on the Summit' (Financial Times, January 2014) (1)

'... in the run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 she seemed to be regarded by Radio 4's programme producers as the political voice of reason'. (Financial Times, February 2007). (2)

Helen Clark has the most complex global diplomacy profile of the fifteen prime ministers that New Zealand has had since 1945. Most of her important contributions to the Kirk brand--New Zealand as a progressive small state, with a deep internationalism central to our national identity--occur before and after she was prime minister. Her steeling of David Lange to achieve our non-nuclear accomplishments is among the most valuable contributions any New Zealander other than a prime minister has achieved for embedding the Kirk brand in our DNA.

Clark's post-prime ministerial career is better showing off her talent for global diplomacy in a role suited to her strengths. Her years as prime minister became a finishing school for that future: she had refreshed her intellectual capital and maturity of mind, largely as a by-product of her assiduous presence at leaders' gatherings. Increasingly, it is apparent that Clark's nine years as prime minister may not be the pinnacle of her career and that she may not yet have peaked. Her post-prime ministerial accomplishments have been bedded in by the Kirk international style.

Global diplomacy is what prime ministers do to advance their government's foreign policy. This article is a short version of the chapter on Clark that is to be in my forthcoming book on the global diplomacy of New Zealand prime ministers since 1945.

When she became prime minister in December 1999 Clark's longstanding engagement in world affairs generated high expectations that she would lift New Zealand's global reputation. But Clark's prime ministership had just one iconic moment of global stature--her 'No' to joining the coalition of the willing that intervened militarily in Iraq in March 2003. She undermined that by committing New Zealand to military engagement in Afghanistan and Iraq (for reconstruction after President Bush declared 'victory').

While Clark was prime minister the country knew that our non-nuclear policy, enshrined in the 1987 legislation, was secure. It had to be--Clark was the legislation's Praetorian Guard. Conversely, it was well appreciated that while George W. Bush occupied the White House it was a period for Wellington to draw up the wagons to better ensure our non-nuclear status quo. Clark's misfortune then was to depart the prime ministership as Barack Obama began his transition to a presidency that is giving us the most friendly administration New Zealand has ever had in the White House.

Clark warrants a bouquet for several accomplishments she achieved on the world stage in her prime ministerial years. Promoting Sir Kenneth Keith's election to the International Court of Justice in 2004 is the prime instance. Keith's nine years on the court has been an exemplar of the Kirk brand.

She polished New Zealand Inc by her willingness to go to Dublin in November 2006 to stand with the Rugby Union in their bid for hosting the 2011 Rugby World Cup. She was at the forefront of support for Team New Zealand's America's Cup campaigns. She gave priority to our national remembrance of New Zealand's historical military expeditions, including the construction of New Zealand war memorials in London and Canberra, and the interment of the Unknown Warrior in the National War Memorial. There is a wonderful paradox that the former...