Clark role puts her third in UN hierarchy

Helen Clarks's move to the United Nations Development Programme will secure her an office in downtown New York, a tax-free salary and command of a NZ$9 billion international budget.

Miss Clark is poised to head the powerful agency and, if confirmed, it would in effect place her third-highest in command at the UN.

That would rank it among the most powerful positions held by a New Zealander. Prime Minister John Key confirmed yesterday that it was considered more significant than former Labour prime minister Mike Moore's role as World Trade Organisation boss.

But neither Mr Key nor Miss Clark would comment publicly on the likelihood of her getting the job after news of her appointment was leaked prematurely. An announcement is expected by the end of the week.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon is understood to have nominated Miss Clark for the position after interviewing a shortlist of four candidates from a pool of 80. His recommendation must be approved by the UNDP board before it can be officially announced.

The salary is on a par with the $393,000 paid to Mr Key as prime minister but it is tax-free. It also comes with a generous pension scheme.

The Key Government threw itself behind Miss Clark's bid for the job, lobbying extensively on her behalf to help win strong backing from some of the development agency's biggest donor countries. But it is Miss Clark's extensive contacts in the international political arena, combined with her foreign policy expertise, that are likely to have swayed the decision.

She will have command not only of a huge aid budget but responsibility for implementing its ambitious goals, which include reducing world poverty and HIV/Aids, across its offices in 165 countries.

The job is usually awarded for a four-year term. The present administrator is to step down in August.

With speculation that Miss Clark could leave Parliament as early as next month, there is manoeuvring behind the scenes over her Mt Albert seat, which will be up for grabs in a by-election.

Former finance minister Michael Cullen is also expected to quit Parliament next month, opening the way for the return of former West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor.

List MP Phil Twyford was seen as an early frontrunner to win Labour's candidacy for Mt Albert, but party sources said he was unlikely to put his name forward.

If he won, it would allow another Labour list MP to enter Parliament. However, the next seven people on Labour's list are all former MPs, some of whom would not suit the party's drive for new blood.

Party insiders said employment lawyer and long time Labour activist Helen White was expected to throw her hat in the ring once Miss Clark officially resigned. Ms White yesterday declined to comment.