Clark to be confirmed in top UN role today

Helen Clark. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is expected to move to New York by August to become head of the United Nations Development Programme.

A formal announcement is anticipated today from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon confirming Helen Clark has been appointed to the high-level post of administrator.

Mr Ban's decision to select Helen Clark was due to be taken to the General Assembly for final approval last night and announced soon after.

She is expected to resign from Parliament in May and begin in the new role before August.

The previous administrator, Kemal Dervis, left last month and Helen Clark is likely to want to begin soon given the global economic crisis.

Helen Clark, 59, was interviewed for the job a month ago after being shortlisted from up to 80 applicants. She will be the first woman administrator to hold the post.

The impact of the economic crisis on developing countries was one of Mr Dervis' priorities in his last months and in a recent letter to the leaders of the G20 countries, Mr Ban urged them to ensure their responses to the global economic crisis took developing countries into account.

Helen Clark will also have to deal with the ongoing efforts to reform the UN as an organisation.

It is the result of Helen Clark's years of working the international relation circuits - in her nine years as Prime Minister she built strong relationships with other international leaders and had a reputation of being firm but fair.

Yesterday, Helen Clark refused to comment beyond releasing a brief statement saying the selection process was very close to ending and
an announcement was imminent.

Neither Prime Minister John Key nor Labour leader Phil Goff would comment on Helen Clark's appointment until a formal announcement was made.

Mr Key had given the Government's backing to Helen Clark's bid, including lobbying on her behalf with other international leaders. Mr Key said if she did have the job it would be an honour for the Government and for New Zealand.

She will also take with her a lucrative superannuation entitlement after 28 years in Parliament.

The Register of Pecuniary Interests lists her as being in the Government Superannuation Fund (Parliamentary Scheme) under which top-up subsidies of 23 per cent were added to any contribution she put into it.

It closed to new MPs in 1992 although MPs already on it were able to stay on it.

The expected appointment is the highest-profile international position to go to a New Zealander since Mike Moore was appointed head of the World Trade Organisation.

The UNDP administrator receives a package in the region of $500,000 a year, including base salary and allowances.

The UNDP is the aid and development arm of the UN. It has a multibillion-dollar budget and operates in 166 countries.

It runs programmes ranging from reconstruction work in Afghanistan and improving governance in developing countries and controlling HIV/Aids. It is responsible for the Millennium Development Goal of halving world poverty levels by 2015.

The UNDP administrator is the third-highest position in the United Nations.

BYELECTION SHUFFLE

Helen Clark's departure will force a byelection in the Mt Albert seat she has held for the past 28 years.

The Herald understands Labour expects to stand a newcomer in the seat, rather than a sitting list MP - as part of its efforts to refresh its ranks.

The effect of standing a newcomer would be to block Judith Tizard from returning to Parliament on the list.

The Mt Albert seat is a Labour stronghold and new list MP Phil Twyford, who lives in the electorate, was previously tipped as most likely to take over.

However, Labour has reconsidered. It would mean Damien O'Connor returning to Parliament to take up Mr Twyford's list spot - leaving the next spot open for Judith Tizard to take up when Michael Cullen leaves, as he is expected to later this year.

National's candidate in the 2008 election was Ravi Musuku who has said he wishes to stand in a byelection. The party could be considering standing Korean Melissa Lee, who is already a list MP, in the seat.