Quotes from Helen Clark

It's fair to say that, for much of my lifetime, New Zealand certainly was a property-owning democracy and working people, ordinary people, had assets.

Well in the end the world can crank itself up to sanctions, as it has with Zimbabwe, another sad case.

Marine protected areas, and particularly no-take zones, are very effective in allowing regeneration of fish stocks.

Girls can do anything. We do do anything and we expect to be treated as equals.

As New Zealanders, we've been in on the United Nations from the very beginning, played a role in the drafting of the charter - it means a lot to us that those processes are followed.

We just sent our condolences to the President of the United States and the American people on what is a terrible, terrible tragedy.

I think the issue of North Korea is one where the international community as a whole has to work to resolve the crisis.

If you neglect those who are currently poor and stable, you may create more poor and unstable people. There has been a tremendous concentration of donor interest in countries that are seen as particularly fragile - but it becomes harder to mobilise money for sub-Saharan, plain poor countries.

The Prime Minister is head of team but its not a one woman act. I've been called all those things. Intellectual, sharp-tongued, all true. But what New Zealander is like is to know that someone is in charge and in the end the buck stops with the Prime Minister.

Any serious shift towards more sustainable societies has to include gender equality.

Well in the end the world can crank itself up to sanctions, as it has with Zimbabwe, another sad case.

Health and education are always issues.

In terms of having views and being prepared to express them, yes, I think New Zealand's had a leadership role in a lot of things.

Of course as a small country you're not necessarily in the strongest negotiating position unless you're negotiating with other small countries.

People are optimistic about the future.

No country will reach its full potential if its female citizens do not enjoy full equality.