Clark basks in victory, on prince's arm

Clark seemed much more relaxed at the gathering in Nelson yesterday. Ross Land / Getty Images

Her first stop was the airport loos, a strange place to take a concession call from Don Brash - but that's where history was made. Or so the story goes.

So began Helen Clark's official duties on the first day of her historic third term as almost leader of the country, but she was taking second billing in Nelson yesterday. The people singing at the marae, at the thanksgiving for the cathedral's new West End windows and unveiling a sculpture at the information centre, were there to see Prince Andrew.

But it wasn't royalty that made the girl on the steps of Nelson Cathedral blush and swoon. In a T-shirt with "I Love Helen" and the leader's face smiling out from her chest, she shrieked at her friend when Clark autographed the sleeve.

The locals seemed happy and proud to have both stars in their midst. A few dear biddies had dressed up in hats, gloves and lipstick, but most were in their Saturday best - jeans, T-shirts and with lattes.

Clark seemed more relaxed, her smile less forced, her step more sprightly than the stoic woman on election night two weeks earlier.

Yesterday, she looked like she actually didn't mind being there. Prince Andrew was just plain charming, even as he waited for the Prime Minister as she tried to make up time from talking to the media.

And New Zealanders are still waiting for an indication of who Labour will form a government with. Saying only she was going to be talking to other leaders throughout the week, Clark was skirting the question. She did wear a skirt, in fact.

But it seemed to be only media who were interested in playing political guessing games.

For Nelson locals, matters of Government were all a bit two weeks ago. They had more interesting things before them. Like how much Prince Andrew had come to look "just like his brother Charlie, but with more hair". And how chic, and for one, "washed out" the Prime Minister looked. "It must have been a hard week," she noted.

With a minority coalition government looking ever more likely, there may be a few of those in store for Clark yet.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY