New Zealand's former PM visits Brighton for film screening

Helen Clark, who is also the former chair of the United Nations Development Programme, was at the Duke of Yorks cinema at the CINECITY festival on Sunday (November 26).

In the city boasting the UK's only Green MP, Clark stressed the importance of tackling climate change because 'we are facing a horror story [and] no-one is equipped' for what it will bring.

She highlighted the 'incredible weather the UK has been having', citing the recent flooding, and claimed the 'Paris [agreement] needs to be actioned'.

Global health is another item on Clark’s political agenda. Discussing the costs of obesity to individuals and society, the New Zealander was positive about the implications of local food partnerships, such as Brighton and Hove’s own which was the first in the UK. She is a supporter of enabling 'people to have healthy choices' and 'education about nutrition'.

Talking about HIV/AIDS in the local community, Clark said: “I think the ball has been dropped… we do need a fresh round of awareness raising, particularly among young people who do not remember when people were dying from this disease…, and genuine outreach working with the at-risk groups”.

She elaborated on her own experiences during the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, 'I was very active at the early stages', she said, having known the first person to die of AIDS in New Zealand: her next door neighbour. During her time as Prime Minsiter, Clark worked with civil society groups to reach the key populations at risk of transmission.

Further screenings of ‘My Year with Helen’, which charts Clark’s bid to become the first female Secretary-General of the UN, are planned across the country. The former New Zealand Prime Minister said she entered the field of international development in order to utilise her policy and leadership skills to support other countries.