Helen Clark receives an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Ulster University.
It was very special to be awarded an honorary doctorate in Belfast today (29 June 2026) by Ulster University. One of my grandfathers was born in Northern Ireland and migrated to New Zealand before World War One, so our family has long had an affinity with the region.
The students graduating today were from the arts, humanities, and social science disciplines. I spoke about the ongoing importance of studying in these areas - an important point when is often utilitarian approaches are taken to tertiary education.