Art fake lands NZ PM in hot water

Clark says she has no desire to ever hold a paint brush

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has admitted passing off a painting given to a charity auction as her own work, even though it was painted by another woman, a report said Sunday.

The painting was commissioned by the prime minister's office in 1999 after Clark was asked by an animal welfare group to provide a piece for a celebrity art auction, The Sunday Star-Times reported.

Clark, who was leader of the opposition at the time, then signed the paining herself and the picture was sold at auction for NZ$1,000.

She told the Star-Times that time pressures had forced her to outsource the artwork and said she would be reimbursing the buyer with a personal cheque.

"It was election year," she said. "I was the leader of the opposition and I was as busy as a one-armed wallpaper hanger."

Clark, who told the paper she had "no great artistic gifts" said she believed that many other ministers from previous governments had done the same thing with charitable artwork donations.

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"The only thing I can be accused of is trying to be helpful when I didn't have time," she said.

'Forgery'

That doesn't appear to have impressed the Auckland businessman who bought the painting.

Henry van Djik told the Star-Times he was appalled at the prime minister's actions, which he said was akin to "forgery."

"She should never have signed that painting if she didn't do it," he was quoted as saying.

"I feel I've been misled. It's a rip-off and to me this is like a forgery case," he said. "If it's not by her, it's not worth two dollars now."

Van Djik said he bought the picture because he expected she would become prime minister and its value would appreciate.

He is demanding not only a refund from the prime minister, but also a painting from her own brush by way of an apology.

Clark, who told the newspaper she had "bent over backwards" to help charities, said she would refund van Djik but would not be doing a painting.

"Look I really don't ever want to hold a paint brush again," the Star-Times quoted Clark as saying.

As well as holding the post of prime minister, Clark is also New Zealand's minister for arts, culture and heritage.