Former PM Helen Clark announces death of centenarian father Frederick George Clark

Helen Clark with her father George Clark at home in Waihī Beach. Photo/ Bob Tulloch

Helen Clark‘s father, Frederick George Clark, has died age 103.

In a statement shared to Facebook, the former Prime Minister announced George died at his home in Waihī Beach on Saturday.

She described her father as a pillar of the Te Pahu and Waihī Beach communities and a much-loved family member.

“Dad was a dedicated family man who always wanted the best for his daughters, and supported us all the way,” Clark wrote.

“He was born in a nursing home in Frankton on March 8, 1922, and into a farming family at Te Pahu. He attended Kaniwhaniwha Primary School and Mt Albert Grammar School, before returning to the family farm which he ran until his retirement to Waihī Beach with Mum in 1987.

“Dad was a pillar of the Te Pahu and Waihī Beach communities, serving on local committees in Te Pahu and the Waikato, and volunteering for conservation-related tasks at Waihī Beach. Much more will be said about Dad’s long and wonderful life at his celebration of life service.”

The family will be holding a public celebration of his life at the Waihī Beach RSA next Monday and have encouraged mourners to forgo flowers and donate to Waipuna Hospice and St John Ambulance, who “have been there for Dad continually”.

Clark said her father was the “dearly loved husband of our mother”, the late Margaret Helen Clark, for 62 years.

She also thanked all her father’s dedicated carers “from the bottom of our hearts”.

Earlier this year, Clark wrote about the amazing day she had with her father, known as George, in March when he turned 103.

“I hope I live to look as well as Dad does at this great age!” she posted.

“It’s phenomenal, really,” Helen Clark said.

“Each of these birthdays since he turned 100 have been big milestones, and you never know which one will be the last. But Dad has a great determination to live, and right now, his goal is March 8.”

He was described as an avid traveller, adventuring with Margaret across parts of the Trans-Siberian Railway, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, much of western Europe, Australia, Rarotonga, Argentina and Chile.

“He enjoys watching wildlife documentaries, especially those about African animals like elephants, cheetahs and lions. He’s always loved nature programmes on TV,” Clark said.

Clark was Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1999-2008, the second woman to hold the nation’s top office.

By his centennial birthday, George had filled 15 scrapbooks with highlights of her illustrious political career and maintained his keen interest in current events well into his twilight years.

He was described by Clark as a committed Labour supporter, regularly attending Parliament openings over the years and assisting on election day.

According to Stuff, he caught up with his old friend and opposition leader of the time Jim Bolger during one of these visits, having worked together on a meat and wool executive over 30 years before.

More to come