Paintergate

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Paintergate was a political scandal in New Zealand. Paintergate occurred in 2002 when it was revealed that Prime Minister Helen Clark had signed a piece of art which she did not paint. The painting was auctioned off for charitable purposes.

The abstract landscape painting was painted by Paraparaumu artist Lauren Phouhy.

Clark was not charged by police. Paintergate received considerable attention from the media due to the Prime Minister's involvement. The painting was subsequently obtained and destroyed.

It was named after Watergate, maintaining a popular meme in New Zealand and world media to amend any politically scandalous event with the suffix "gate".