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Story: Premiers and prime ministers

Helen Clark distributing money

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Helen Clark distributing money

In 1999 newly elected Prime Minister Helen Clark surprised many observers by taking the culture portfolio, a bone previously thrown to junior ministers or ministers outside cabinet. This cartoon from 2000 pokes gentle fun as a flexible minister of arts, culture and heritage dishes out an $86.8-million ‘cultural recovery package’ to the struggling arts sector in her government’s first Budget.

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Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-350-044

by Jim Hubbard

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Gavin McLean, Premiers and prime ministers – The role of prime minister, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/cartoon/33181/helen-clark-distributing-money (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Gavin McLean, published 7 May 2012, updated 1 December 2016.