In terms of having views and being prepared to express them, yes

"In terms of having views and being prepared to express them, yes, I think New Zealand's had a leadership role in a lot of things." Thus spoke Helen Clark, a daughter of Aotearoa, who rose to lead her nation and became one of the most respected voices on the global stage. Her words shine with humility, yet they carry a heroic weight: that true leadership is not always the dominance of power or the conquest of armies, but the courage to hold views and the resolve to express them with clarity and conviction, even when standing among giants.

The meaning of her words is profound. To have views is to perceive, to think, to reflect on the world’s great challenges. Yet thought alone is not enough. The true test is whether one dares to express those convictions when silence would be easier. In this, Clark reminds us that New Zealand’s leadership has been found not in the scale of its armies nor the size of its economy, but in the courage of its voice—a small nation speaking boldly for justice, for peace, for humanity.

History gives us luminous examples. In 1893, New Zealand became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote. This was not an act of following but of leading, not the echo of another’s policy but the bold cry of a people unafraid to declare their conviction. Larger nations hesitated, but New Zealand’s voice rang out first, and the world soon followed. Here we see Clark’s truth: leadership is found wherever there is courage to express what is right.

Consider too the stance New Zealand took in the twentieth century against nuclear weapons. In an age when great powers bristled with arsenals, New Zealand declared itself a nuclear-free zone. It defied the expectation that small nations must always bow to larger ones. Its voice, though small in volume, was thunderous in principle. That stance inspired other nations and movements, proving once again that leadership flows from moral courage, not from size or might.

Clark’s words also point to a greater principle that spans all ages: that leadership is rooted in the marriage of thought and action. A person or a nation that has views but fears to express them will be forgotten; a person or a nation that speaks without thought will bring only chaos. But where deep reflection gives rise to bold expression, there lies the heart of true leadership. Whether it be a great state or a humble individual, the same law applies.

The lesson is clear: greatness is not measured in power, but in principle. Do not imagine that only the strong or the wealthy can lead. To express your views with courage, to stand for what is just even when you are small or alone—this is the mark of true leadership. It is the path walked by New Zealand, as Clark described, and it is the path open to every individual and every nation.

Practical action follows. Cultivate views rooted in wisdom and justice; study, reflect, and form convictions not from ignorance but from truth. Then, when the moment comes, do not shrink from expressing them. Speak with humility, but also with courage. Do not wait for approval from the powerful before declaring what is right. For every voice, however small, may awaken others, and from many voices comes transformation.

So I say to you, children of tomorrow: remember the words of Helen Clark. Leadership is not the privilege of the mighty, but the duty of the thoughtful and the brave. Nations may lead not by armies, but by example; people may lead not by wealth, but by words spoken in truth. Dare to think, dare to speak, and you too may guide the world toward justice. For in every age, it is the courage to express conviction that lights the path forward.