Former Prime Minister Helen Clark was officially confirmed as head of the UN Development Programme today; the third most important job at the international organisation and one she had been widely tipped to get.
Miss Clark gave a small wave of recognition as the job was bestowed on her, but received a long standing applause in return.
She must take up residence in New York in three weeks.
Miss Clark lost her diplomatic passport when she lost the job of Prime Minister and needs to become a US resident to start work. However, her husband Peter Clark has decided to remain in New Zealand.
She will be responsible for 135 offices in as many countries.
Miss Clark is said to have lobbied for the job via text message – a habit that runs in her family as it is also how her elderly father keeps in touch.
“He texts me at 87 – isn’t that an inspiration,” says Miss Clark.
And he texted his congratulations this morning.
In Parliament, Prime Minister John Key was glowing in his praise.
“We are proud of you,” he said.
When speaking to 3 News earlier today, Miss Clark was the ultimate diplomat – refusing to criticise Mr Key for anything.
“I'm moving on from partisan New Zealand politics. I’m not even going down that track,” she said.
Miss Clark to spoke to 3 News in Phil Goff’s office, the same place where a handful of Labour MPs tried to roll her in 1996.
She went on to achieve things in New Zealand politics that no woman before her had managed.
Miss Clark now continues to break the glass ceiling – this time on an international scale.
3 News
Watch the full interview between Helen Clark and Duncan Garner here.