Maida Clark

Maida Jessie Clark (5 November 1902 – 31 May 1991) was a New Zealand educator, politician, and community leader. She served as principal of Wellington Girls' College between 1950 and 1958, and was a Wellington city councillor from 1959 to 1968.

Early life and family Clark was born in Wellington on 5 November 1902, the daughter of Jessie and Donald George Clark. She was educated at Wellington Girls' College, and went on to study history at Victoria University College, graduating with a Master of Arts degree with second-class honours in 1925.

Teaching career Clark became a schoolteacher, and worked at New Plymouth Girls' High School, Auckland Girls' Grammar School, and Napier Girls' High School, as well as gaining experience teaching in England.

Political and other activities At the 1959 local-body elections, Clark was elected under the banner of the Wellington Citizens' Association as a member of the Wellington City Council, polling fifth out of 46 candidates. She was re-elected at the next two elections, serving as a city councillor until 1968. Standing against the Labour incumbent, Henry May, Clark gained 7880 votes, losing to May by 790 votes.

Clark was appointed to the Cinematograph Films Censorship Board of Appeal by Leon Götz, Minister of Internal Affairs, in 1962, serving until 1974. and upholding the censor's decisions not to allow My Lover, My Son (1970), What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1972), and Last Tango in Paris (1973) to be screened in New Zealand. In the case of Last Tango in Paris, the review body's decision was not unanimous, but Clark agreed with the majority decision to ban the film. Between 1962 and 1974, she was a member of the Golden Kiwi distribution committee for youth and recreation matters. She died in Lower Hutt on 31 May 1991, at the age of 88.