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Cross-Party Parliamentarians’ Group Welcomes Helen Clark’s UN Nomination

Wellington, 27 March 2009: The Chair of the New Zealand Parliamentarians’ Group on Population and Development (NZPPD) welcomes the announcement that Helen Clark is the preferred candidate to head the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“As New Zealand parliamentarians with a particular focus on international development, we share a confidence that Helen Clark would be an excellent leader of UNDP”, says Dr Jackie Blue, NZPPD Chair.

In February 2009, the NZPPD wrote to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressing their support for Helen Clark’s candidacy.

“Helen Clark has consistently illustrated the capabilities to hold this role and has solid support from our parliamentary group.”

The group has provided a forum for New Zealand parliamentarians to engage and act on international population and development issues for over ten years. The NZPPD has a particular focus on the Pacific region, where the population and development challenges remain great.

Background
The NZPPD is cross - party, with currently 46 members representing just under 40 percent of all New Zealand MPs. The group is an active part of parliamentary life in New Zealand and works to further the achievement of the 20 Year Programme of Action developed at the groundbreaking International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). Family Planning International houses the NZPPD Secretariat.

ENDS

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