Adopting and promoting sustainable production practices require concerted effort, something which in practice is too often missing or insufficient. Making this shift at the scale required demands forward-looking leadership in the public and private sectors alike.
Helen ClarkI think the issue of North Korea is one where the international community as a whole has to work to resolve the crisis.
Helen ClarkOf course as a small country you're not necessarily in the strongest negotiating position unless you're negotiating with other small countries.
Helen ClarkI've been round Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and China in the last few months and the message that I've been taking is that New Zealand is building an up market dynamic into a connected economy. And that we are not the old-fashioned, ship mutton kind of product the people associate their export in work.
Helen ClarkInnovation applied across the board of development is having a huge impact, and can have more. All sorts of technology can provide shortcuts, can overcome obstacles which once seemed insuperable.
Helen ClarkAfghanistan is one of the poorest countries on earth. Security issue or no security issue, there would need to be a focus on it.
Helen ClarkIn terms of protecting ourselves, the main issues are around how do we protect our borders [from illegal migrants and livestock and plant diseases], how do we protect our fisheries?
Helen ClarkNew Zealand and SA should take this dimension into account, the skills South Africans are presently contributing to New Zealand.
Helen ClarkSomeone's got to break the glass ceiling, and once it's broken, everybody else comes clamouring up behind.
Helen ClarkI deeply detest social distinction and snobbery, and in that lies my strong aversion to titular honours.
Helen ClarkWell in the end the world can crank itself up to sanctions, as it has with Zimbabwe, another sad case.
Helen ClarkSenator Obama will be taking office at a critical juncture. There are many pressing challenges facing the international community, including the global financial crisis and global warming. We look forward to working closely with President-elect Obama and his team to address these challenges.
Helen ClarkWhen women are able to live in a safe and secure environment, they can participate effectively in the economy and society. This helps overcome poverty, reduces inequalities and is beneficial for children's nutrition, health and school attendance. Every woman and girl has the right to live in safety in her home and community.
Helen ClarkGrounded in international human rights, gender equality doesn’t just improve the lives of individual women, girls, and their families; it makes economic sense, strengthens democracy, and enables long-term sustainable progress.
Helen ClarkI don't know that you're ever going to persuade New Zealanders that they're not going to own their own homes and I'm not going to try.
Helen ClarkIt's fair to say that, for much of my lifetime, New Zealand certainly was a property-owning democracy and working people, ordinary people, had assets.
Helen ClarkNo country will reach its full potential if its female citizens do not enjoy full equality.
Helen ClarkI think that generally New Zealand is respected for the positions it takes because it thinks them through.
Helen ClarkI think the penny has dropped that the All Blacks aren't automatically just going to be the best team in the world.
Helen ClarkIn the end, there will always be a fundamental difference of perspective between New Zealand and Australia on defense, whoever is in government.
Helen ClarkEquity, dignity, happiness, sustainability - these are all fundamental to our lives but absent in the GDP.
Helen ClarkWe just sent our condolences to the President of the United States and the American people on what is a terrible, terrible tragedy.
Helen ClarkIf you neglect those who are currently poor and stable, you may create more poor and unstable people. There has been a tremendous concentration of donor interest in countries that are seen as particularly fragile - but it becomes harder to mobilise money for sub-Saharan, plain poor countries.
Helen ClarkAs New Zealanders, we've been in on the United Nations from the very beginning, played a role in the drafting of the charter - it means a lot to us that those processes are followed.
Helen ClarkI think it's inevitable that New Zealand will become a republic and that would reflect the reality that New Zealand is a totally sovereign-independent 21st century nation 12,000 miles from the United Kingdom.
Helen ClarkWe need a lot of thinking and ideas. We need all the innovators, particularly with the new sustainable technologies - how do we get them to affordability so that people can generate clean energy?
Helen ClarkIf the market is left to sort matters out, social injustice will be heightened and suffering in the community will grow with the neglect the market fosters.
Helen ClarkWe need innovation. We need great ideas that can be simply and effectively produced all over the place.
Helen ClarkIt is a very small minority point of view and I think, through continuing to set the tone of tolerance, acceptance, and diversity, you just have to further marginalize such people. Hopefully one day nobody will think that way.
Helen ClarkI felt really compromised. I think legal marriage is unnecessary and I would not have formalised the relationship [with husband Peter Davis] except for going into Parliament. I have always railed against it privately.
Helen ClarkI only take on roles that I'm passionate about. Life is too short to do things that you're not happy with.
Helen ClarkIn terms of having views and being prepared to express them, yes, I think New Zealand's had a leadership role in a lot of things.
Helen ClarkMarine protected areas, and particularly no-take zones, are very effective in allowing regeneration of fish stocks.
Helen Clark