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.

Helen Clark

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

Helen Clark

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

Helen Clark

There is also a marked global trend towards sustainable agriculture, building on traditional methods which use fewer chemical inputs, carefully manage soil and water resources, and work hand-in-hand with nature.

Helen Clark

We're a nation in search of an identity, but it's quite exciting. I don't regard it as a problem. It's a challenge.

Helen Clark

I'm not into power for the sake of it.

Helen Clark

I've been round Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and China in the last few months and the message that I've been taking is that New Zealand is building an up market dynamic into a connected economy. And that we are not the old-fashioned, ship mutton kind of product the people associate their export in work.

Helen Clark

We don't want to deal with a separatist party.

Helen Clark

I don't know that you're ever going to persuade New Zealanders that they're not going to own their own homes and I'm not going to try.

Helen Clark

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

Helen Clark

I deeply detest social distinction and snobbery, and in that lies my strong aversion to titular honours.

Helen Clark

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

Helen Clark

Well, there have been periods in the past when prime ministers of Australia and New Zealand were at each others' throats publicly and frequently. That's not productive at all.

Helen Clark

'Never look back' is my philosophy.

Helen Clark

I have no beliefs of a religious kind.

Helen Clark

In the end, there will always be a fundamental difference of perspective between New Zealand and Australia on defense, whoever is in government.

Helen Clark

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.

Helen Clark

Well of course New Zealand isn't anti-American.

Helen Clark

If the market is left to sort matters out, social injustice will be heightened and suffering in the community will grow with the neglect the market fosters.

Helen Clark

I think it's inevitable that New Zealand will become a republic and that would reflect the reality that New Zealand is a totally sovereign-independent 21st century nation 12,000 miles from the United Kingdom.

Helen Clark

Well, we don't think for a moment that either the U.S. or Australia are out to damage the New Zealand economy, but if there were a sustained period in which they had a free-trade agreement and New Zealand didn't have that same arrangement with the States, that could be both trade- and investment-distorting.

Helen Clark