Clark hot ticket for Mapua hall
Mapua businesswoman Nicky McBride thought former prime minister Helen Clark would be perfect for the International Women’s Day event she was helping to organise in the seaside village, near Nelson.
So, she asked and Clark, the former United Nations Development Programme administrator who in November was appointed to the Global Commission on Drug Policy, said yes.
McBride then watched tickets for the Mapua and Districts Business Association March 8 evening at the Mapua Community Hall sell like hot cakes, most within three hours.
‘‘The Helen Clark thing is amazing,’’ said McBride, who is originally from Northern Ireland. ‘‘I knew she was significant but I didn’t know that we probably could have had an event four times as big.’’
The idea to ask Clark came to McBride after she saw the documentary My Year With Helen about the stateswoman, which included her unsuccessful bid to become Secretary-General of the United Nations.
‘‘I came out and thought: ‘Wow, she would be the person for International Women’s Day’,’’ McBride said. ‘‘I didn’t live in New Zealand when she was prime minister. Other than having heard about her ... I haven’t had any real exposure to her but in seeing the movie, I thought: ‘She’s my kind of person’.’’
McBride Googled: ‘‘How do you get hold of Helen Clark’’, selected the most suitable method then sent Clark a message, asking if she would be in New Zealand on March 8.
‘‘She got back almost immediately and said yes ... and it all went from there,’’ McBride said. ‘‘Quite straightforward, really.’’
Clark said she had been to many events in the NelsonTasman region over the years ‘‘and always had great audiences’’.
‘‘So, based on previous positive experiences, I said yes [to the invitation from McBride]. ‘‘As well, I’ve always believed that senior figures should be accessible beyond the major population centres.’’
Clark can expect a full house of about 125 people at the community hall. The tickets were sold for $390 per table of six.
As well as the evening with Clark, the guests were set to enjoy bubbles and canapes on arrival followed by a three-course meal.
Fellow organiser Janet Taylor, the former co-ordinator of the business association, said ‘‘fantastic support’’ from the community helped keep down the ticket price. That support included an accommodation provider offering a free night’s stay for Clark and the caterer giving the organisers ‘‘a good price’’.
Other sponsors provided for the planned arrival drink and canapes.
‘‘That’s one of the things we love about this area is that people do support each other and make things happen.’’
A question and answer session with Clark was planned, with attendees expected to come up with the questions.
McBride said she hoped the evening would get people thinking about equality and ‘‘even challenging themselves’’.
‘‘You have Helen Clark doing big things at big levels but then there’s the everyday businesswomen doing the everyday things that can make the everyday difference,’’ she said. ‘‘I think, it’s everyday differences that ultimately lead to equality when supported with government and legislation, and all the things that prop it up.’’