Clark relishes the moment as rumour becomes reality

Helen Clark answers questions on any further ambitions by saying: ‘This is the job ... I want to do well.’ Photo / Mark Mitchell

The rumour has finally become reality: Helen Clark's critics and friends alike have often said she hankered after a big job at the United Nations.

And after her first job interview, at 59, she becomes head of the UN Development Programme and No 3 in the UN hierarchy this month.

A torrent of tributes flowed in Parliament yesterday as former enmities were put aside for shared pride, not least from an MP who left her party, Maori Party co-leader Tariana Turia.

A bouquet of flowers from Mrs Turia took pride of place on a table in Helen Clark's office yesterday.

Next Wednesday will be the former Prime Minister's last day in the House and she is due to start her New York job on April 20.

Helen Clark's job interview was with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon, a former Foreign Minister of South Korea whom she met in her role as Prime Minister.

New Zealand supported his bid for the top UN position, which ends in December 2011.

Asked if she could see herself going for the No 1 job, she said: "This is the job that I bid for. This is the one I want to do well."

Her terms is for four years.

"I would have to judge then whether I want to continue in that or in any other capacity and [it] would partly depend on how well you are seen to have done the job, whether that is credible or whether it isn't.

"I've only got one focus."

Helen Clark landed the top job from a field of about 80 with support from a wide range of countries thought to have included China, South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, and Norway.

She also had support from traditional friends of NZ such as Australia, the Pacific Islands and Britain.

The selling point for Helen Clark was that in these times, leadership was required, not a development specialist.

She learned of the vacancy from a newspaper story in London in January and texted Prime Minister John Key to take him up on an offer he had made to assist if there was a job she wanted to pursue.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair had been very encouraging, as had his successor, Gordon Brown.

She will have some adjustments to make in her new job - such as altering her former style of megaphone diplomacy against the Robert Mugabe-led regime in Zimbabwe for starters.

One of the first big issues will be what role the UNDP plays in Zimbabwe now that former Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is Prime Minister in a unity Government.

Transition to democracy is an important role for the UNDP.

Despite support from the National Government she remains critical of its moves to put NZ Aid back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, calling it a "backward move".

Helen Clark largely quarantined herself from discussion about last year's election defeat by resigning on election night and refusing all interviews after that.

She said she was certain her successor, Phil Goff, would lead Labour to the next election and could become Prime Minister.

She would not name a favourite to succeed her in Mt Albert.