Aussie sheilas outranked by Kiwi women

Helen Clark, the 20th most powerful woman in the world, waits for a train. Picture / Chris Skelton

Prime Minister Helen Clark has been named the 20th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes magazine.

But she's not the only Kiwi to feature in the US business magazine's third annual "World's 100 Most Powerful Women" list, which ranks women based on a combination of press exposure and economic impact.

Telecom chief executive Theresa Gattung made her first appearance at the healthy rank of 49, just behind the Queen, at 46, and Laura Bush, 43.

No Australians made the cut.

Yesterday, when asked about the accolade, the Labour leader was scarcely able to hide her delight, saying it was a coup for New Zealand.

"I think it's a great feather in the whole of New Zealand's cap," she said. "It's hard for small countries to get recognition."

Asked if she was feeling particularly powerful after hearing the news, Clark chuckled. But when shown other names on the list, she commented: "It's fascinating, when you consider the power of countries like South Korea - for New Zealand to come in at 20 and their Prime Minister [Han Myung-sook] is at 68 - it's amazing."

Clark made her comments waiting for a train at Kingsland Station to attend the opening of Waitakere City Council's new chambers.

Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, overtook US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, for first place. Rice had to settle for second after two years at the top, while Merkel, the leader of conservative Christian Union party and Germany's first female chancellor, came from nowhere, having not made last year's list at all.

Clark ranked 24 last year.

The magazine said 30 of the women on this year's list were in the top levels of government, but seven of the top 10 were business women.

China Vice-Premier Yi Wu completes the top-ranking trio of politicians. The highest-ranked business woman is Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo's chief executive, at number four.

Melinda Gates is ranked 12, just ahead of Oprah Winfrey, at 14, and Hillary Clinton at 18. Cherie Blair has been knocked off the list from last year's 62.

The magazine said this year's list proves women's power is growing worldwide, with "just" 53 of the 100 being Americans.