Prime Minister Helen Clark hugs her mother, Margaret, after
conceding defeat at the Labour Party supporters' venue at
the Dalmatian Cultural Centre in Auckland on Saturday
night. Photo by Getty Images.
The tears of a young Bangladeshi taxi driver spoke
volumes for the depth of feeling about the decision of Helen
Clark to step down as leader of the Labour Party as soon as the
election results made it clear she would no longer be prime
minister of New Zealand.
The driver, Faiz (29), told the Otago Daily Times
during a 30-minute ride how much Miss Clark had done to help
his community, especially around immigration and work issues.
The Bangladeshi community would be mourning her resignation.
As the tears flowed during the ride, Faiz wondered how a
National government would treat families like his own as they
struggled to live and work in a new country.
There was genuine shock at the announcement by Miss Clark
during her concessionary speech.
"It's over and out for me," Miss Clark told her supporters at
an election night function.
With many people in tears, Miss Clark stood with her family
and congratulated National Party leader John Key, saying
responsibility for the defeat was hers.
She later told reporters that in politics "you have to take
the highs with the lows".
"They have been nine incredible years.
''I am proud of what we have achieved," Miss Clark said.
It had always been her intention to stand down immediately if
she lost, she said.
A new leader would be elected before Christmas and Miss Clark
said she would stay in Parliament as MP for Mt Albert.
She pledged to support whoever replaced her.
She accepted responsibility for the result, but added that
New Zealanders were fortunate to live in a democracy where
people had the right to choose.
Their choice on Saturday had not been as Labour had wanted.
It was the 10th time she had stood successfully as the Mt
Albert candidate for Labour and the fifth time she had led
Labour at an election, winning three elections.
"But it is obvious that tonight is not one of those nights.
''Tonight is one for the winners to savour."
Miss Clark said she had decided at an early age that she
would seek to serve the people of New Zealand through
membership of the New Zealand Labour Party.
She chose Labour as it represented her values of fairness,
opportunity and success.
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