UN official Labour favourite for by-election

David Shearer and Helen Clark in 2002 when he unsuccessfully contested the Whangarei seat for Labour. Photo / Northern Advocate

A top-ranking United Nations official in Iraq is returning home to New Zealand to try and win the Labour nomination for the Mt Albert by-election.

The Herald has learned David Shearer, currently the deputy special representative of the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon in Iraq, heads a list of up to a dozen possible candidates.

Mr Shearer's role in Iraq includes acting an envoy for the UN Development Programme - which Helen Clark has left Mt Albert to run.

Mr Shearer and his wife, Anuschka Meyer, were the Herald's New Zealanders of the Year in 1992. That year, they ran one of the biggest aid camps in Somalia during the civil war and famine that killed up to 330,000 people.

He is classed as a leading contender by the party hierarchy to contest the by-election but will still have to win support of the local electorate organisation.

Mr Shearer's nomination is in but he has not arrived back in New Zealand yet, although it is understood he is on his way. He has been in Baghdad in recent days.

Mr Shearer's work in international aid has also seen him work in Liberia, Rwanda, Gaza, Lebanon, Belgrade and Kosovo.

Mr Shearer, who is in his 50s, has previously unsuccessfully tried to enter Parliament as a Labour candidate, and for two years was an adviser to Labour leader Phil Goff when he was Foreign Affairs Minister.

Mr Goff, who went to Papatoetoe High School with Mr Shearer, has kept in contact with him since and has previously referred to him as a "special guy".

"David's a pretty special guy. He's hugely regarded by those he works with and people within the UN," Mr Goff told the Herald in 2007.

Mr Shearer is a friend of Phil Twyford, the list MP who was favourite for the seat.

Mr Twyford stood aside because of concerns from the party hierarchy about the next on the list, Judith Tizard, being returned to Parliament in his list place if he won.

A Herald article on Mr Shearer last year said he coordinated a billion-dollar aid, development and reconstruction program.

The article said he divided his time between between Iraq, primarily Baghdad, and neighbouring Jordan, where his wife and two children lived.

Mr Shearer's connection to Mt Albert is unclear. He is a South Aucklander and former head boy of Papatoetoe High School. Prior to his aid career, he was a science teacher who worked across Auckland. He used to live in Swanson in the far west of Auckland.

In 2002, Mr Shearer stood unsuccessfully in Whangarei and was number 45 on Labour's list.

Labour's nominations for the June 13 by-election close at 5pm today, with up to a dozen people believed to be putting themselves forward.

Political studies tutor Meg Bates, lawyer Helen White, AUT lecturer Hamish McCracken and Auckland City Councillor Glenda Fryer are all confirmed candidates.

National list MP Melissa Lee is the favourite to win its nomination.