The Helen Clark Foundation
Mahi a Rongo
Formation2019 (2019)
TypePublic policy think tank
Headquarters55 Wellesley Street East, Auckland CBD
Location
Executive Director
Murray Bruges
Websitehelenclark.foundation

The Helen Clark Foundation (Māori: Mahi a Rongo) is a New Zealand-based independent, non-partisan public policy think tank hosted by Auckland University of Technology.[1][2]

Formation

The foundation was formed in 2019 and is named after Helen Clark, the 37th prime minister of New Zealand and former administrator of the United Nations Development Programme who serves as patron.[3] Its mission is to create public policy research which promotes the values demonstrated by Helen Clark across her lengthy public career: inclusion, fairness, and sustainability.

The founding executive director was Katherine (Kathy) Errington, a former diplomat.[2] Its board currently includes Professor Peter Davis (Chair), Dr Hinemoa Elder, Dr Tamasailau Suaalii-Sauni, Rajen Prasad QSO, Helen Klisser During, Simon Mitchell and Geoff Pownall. Former board members include Dame Cindy Kiro and Joan Caulfield.[4]

Initiatives

Research reports

The foundation publishes research reports about a range of important public policy issues in New Zealand on its website. Previous reports have covered issues including climate change and decarbonisation, democracy, drug policy, sustainable cities, housing, and a series examining policy challenges emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.[5][6]

Projects

The foundation researched alcohol harm in 2021 in collaboration with Health Coalition Aotearoa.[7] These unique data sets and subsequent media coverage are collated on the foundation's website.

It supports drug law reform, promoting a harm minimisation approach to drug use that adopts a health-based rather than criminal justice framework.[8] In September 2019, the foundation issued a report analysing the impact of the current laws around cannabis in New Zealand and supporting a legal regulatory framework for the possession and sale of cannabis.[9][10] In September 2022, the foundation released a report in partnership with the New Zealand Drug Foundation that reviewed the use of methamphetamine in New Zealand, including the illicit market, use patterns, the regulatory environment and the harms caused.[11] This report recommended a range of approaches to minimise the harms from methamphetamine by addressing both supply and demand, including the removal of criminal penalties for possession of small quantities, the expansion of the Te Ara Oranga programme, as well as other improved treatment and rehabilitation options.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Cheng, Derek (4 March 2019). "Helen Clark Foundation set up to tackle big issues of the day". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 "Helen Clark to launch AUT think tank focusing on sustainability, peace and inclusiveness". TVNZ. 3 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  3. ↑ "Rt Hon Helen Clark: Speech at Launch of The Helen Clark Foundation, Auckland 21 March 2019". Helen Clark NZ. 23 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Our People". The Helen Clark Foundation. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "CEAC press release on Environment | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 21 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  6. ↑ "Drug Policy Reform Archives". The Helen Clark Foundation. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "Hospitals see surge in accidents, injury on big boozing days like Hyde St party | The New Zealand Herald". nzherald.co.nz. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Former Prime Minister Helen Clark calls for new approaches to tackle methamphetamine harm in New Zealand". Newshub. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  9. ↑ Palmer, Scott (3 September 2019). "Helen Clark Foundation report gives cannabis legalisation green tick". Newshub.
  10. ↑ The case for YES in the 2020 referendum on cannabis Archived 12 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine, Helen Clark Foundation, p.7
  11. ↑ "Minimising The Harms From Methamphetamine - The Helen Clark Foundation". The Helen Clark Foundation. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  12. ↑ Martin, Hannah (3 September 2022). "'Meth was in charge of me': Call for overhaul in NZ's approach to drug". Stuff. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
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