Giant Helen Clark painting already gained $999 in bids on TradeMe

The large portrait of Helen Clark was found in a rubbish dump and is now for sale on Trademe. Photo/supplied

A larger-than-life portrait of former Prime Minister Helen Clark found in a Wellington tip looks set to sell for more than a grand on TradeMe.

The 2.4m by 1.2m plywood portrait was saved from the rubbish dump and put on the auction site, where it is sitting at a current bid of $999.

The portrait, described as weathered, dusty and worn around the edges, was put up with a $1 reserve.

Clark has tweeted about the painting, saying she hoped the proceeds from the auction will go to a good cause, such as Women's Refuge.

Must be a slow news day at home 🏡! Hope the proceeds will go to a good cause like Women's Refuge.

— Helen Clark (@HelenClarkNZ) April 7, 2017

In the questions and answers section of the auction, the seller said it was a good idea to give the proceeds to Women's Refuge and "too hard to 'refuse', so that would be what happened.

The auction is set to close next Sunday.