Greatest Living New Zealander
An unusually large (over 12000 votes) poll conducted by the New Zealand Herald has found previous Prime Minister Helen Clark as the greatest living Kiwi. After the death of Sir Edmund Hillary, hushed whispers have occurred in the corridors of the media. And our country’s largest newspaper canvassed deep and wide our opinions. Looked like Willie Apiata – winner of the Victoria Cross was going to win, then the old leader of the opposisition, Don Brash – said how disgusted he was that Helen Clark was nominated an himself nominated the architect of the Right Wing policies he champions, Sir Roger Douglas.
Don Brash probably sealed it for Helen – no wonder Don lost the leadership of the National party to the Prime Minister In Plaster – John Key (broke his arm as the second act of office – see next article). He is such a terrible politician.
The Herald has been perceived as highly critical of Helen Clark, but the venerable paper now has discovered its readership love our old PM anyway (and it ain’t afraid to say so). How sweet, bless.
Helen Clark does deserve it. She alone represents that which brought NZ out of twentieth century thinking and prepared our at-times fragile economy for the great bumpy-bump-bath ahead. Her self belief masked a sensitive and warm soul who managed to build an extremely durable political self that inspired many. We let her save ourselves from ourselves.
