Helen Clark says her right-hand man Sir Michael Cullen, leaves behind a remarkable legacy.

The 76-year-old lost his fight to lung cancer overnight.

He's known for being the architect behind the KiwiSaver scheme and getting the Superannuation Fund up and running.

The former Prime Minister told Heather du Plessis-Allan he always delivered in his various roles.

“Incredibly smart, I could throw him just about any problem, any problem, and he would find a way of dealing with it. And you need very senior ministers like that who can help you get the business done.”

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