Helen Clark's Diary - March
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The Helen Clark Foundation is turning five!
This month, we are celebrating The Helen Clark Foundation's fifth anniversary. Our work is focused on helping New Zealand foster a healthier fairer society, building a sustainable and resilient future, growing a fair and more prosperous economy, and navigating through an increasingly turbulent world.
As a small yet impactful charitable think tank our ability to continue advocating for informed public discourse and to develop policies which will enhance our lives hinges on the generosity of members and donors like you.
LISTEN TO MY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY MESSAGE
To find out more about joining our foundation please visit The Helen Clark Foundation’s website.
Blake Awards 2024
I was honoured to be awarded the BLAKE Lifetime Achievement Award for pursuits of progress, equity, and sustainability.
Two decades ago as Prime Minister, I announced that the Government would contribute over $3 million to the establishment of a trust dedicated to continuing the environmental leadership legacy of Sir Peter Blake. Peter’s legacy was one of caring about the environment and inspiring others to do so. Today the trust builds on that legacy with young people. Hear what I have to say about Peter and the Trust in this clip on YouTube. Please visit Blake Trust website for details about this year’s awards and their environmental programmes.
War in Gaza
UN Security Council passes a resolution for immediate ceasefire
In March, the UN Security Council finally passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza -so badly needed to ward off starvation and death and severe disability related to bombardment, injury and illness. Yet the fighting has gone on with more atrocities by the day. A ceasefire, release of the hostages, and a political process for peace are badly needed. The Guardian.
British lawyers advise UK Government on Israel’s breach of humanitarian law
“The British government has received advice from its own lawyers stating that Israel has breached international humanitarian law in Gaza but has failed to make it public, according to a leaked recording obtained by the Observer.” The British Government should act on that advice.
SDGs
Crafting post-2030 prospects
“The SDGs were intended to be an inspiring manifesto to create a better, safer, and more resilient world. In retrospect, we can see that they created 17 silos that were little more than a promise without a plan. In crafting post-2030, we have important lessons to learn”: The Lancet.
NEW ZEALAND
RIP Rod Oram
Devastating news of the tragic death of Rod Oram, a major contributor to economic commentary & journalism in #NZ. Rod raised awareness of the need for #climateaction & had strong principles around inclusion & sustainability. Deepest sympathy to family. RIP
Hector’s dolphins vs. SailGP
Hector’s dolphin is a nationally vulnerable species. As Conservation Minister in 1988, I ensured protection for the species by creating a marine mammal sanctuary in Lyttelton Harbour, a major habitat for the dolphins. Without that action then, the species would be even more at risk: RNZ. Here is New Zealand Geographic’s news item on that decision.
This background brief from New Zealand’s Department of Conservation is clear that Hector’s dolphins have benefited from the protection given through the marine mammal sanctuary. The Maui dolphin, a sub-species of Hector’s dolphin, has a conservation status of nationally critical and needs protection.
More public spending cuts?
Max Rashbrooke notes that “independent economists were right to be sceptical last year about the party’s pledges…. New Zealanders expect their leaders to be both compassionate and competent, but currently National is struggling on both counts”. Even larger spending cuts? The Spinoff has more on this..
Commenting on the role of a party newly in opposition
Seen it all. If a party defeated in a New Zealand election comes out all guns blazing immediately, the commentariat will slam it for not having absorbed the message the electorate was sending, and it’s hard to be reported in any case. But that phase does end…. Newsroom.
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WEBINAR: New Zealand in 2024: Sir Geoffrey Palmer in Conversation with Helen Clark
The Helen Clark Foundation marked its fifth anniversary in March with an online discussion between former Prime Minister Geoffrey Palmer and me, moderated by Fran O’Sullivan of the New Zealand Herald. We canvassed the quality of governance in New Zealand, policy processes and challenges. Video link below.
WEBINAR: Long Covid - Are we taking it seriously enough?
As the focus on Covid-19 has waned and the public has largely returned to ‘normal’, many patients and health experts worry that the debilitating burden of long Covid is going unacknowledged. Our expert panel, Professor Michael Baker, Professor Warren Tate, Professor Paula Lorgelly, and patient advocate Jenene Crossan discussed the size and scale of the problem in New Zealand, what we now know about the condition and how to treat it, and what more we could and should be doing - both to support existing patients and to prevent future infections. Video recording below.
“There is no bad city for cycling”
If you missed urban design champion Janette Sadik-Khan’s lecture, see her excellent interview with Jack Tame on Q & A.
The Helen Clark Foundation co-hosted Janette Sadik-Khan in Auckland to hear how as New York transport chief under Mayor Bloomberg she and her team transformed New York City through cycleways, pedestrianisation, and plazas. Please take a look at the recording of Janette’s full presentation and Q&A.
Cycling in Auckland
Fantastic to see the growth in cycling in Auckland - the more bikes the less congestion and road damage for the city to deal with, to say nothing of the health benefits to riders.