Helen Clark has today polled exactly the same votes as she did in the second round of the Security Council's votes for the UN Secretary General job.

Key says Russia is not being duplicitous in any way with New Zealand in the position it is taking with the UN Secretary General.

COMMENT: As Key has pointed out publicly, Clark's abilities are widely acknowledged; her trouble is that she doesn't have a champion among the P5.

COMMENT: Claire Trevett assesses New Zealand's term at the UN's top table.

New Zealand hopes of a breakthrough in Syria during its Presidency of the Security Council next month will be a tough ask if a debate in the Security Council on Monday was anything to go by.

In a world in which 'sweeteners' are often put on the table as currency for votes, New Zealand's team on the UN Security Council has taken it literally.

New Zealand will hand over the responsibility of carrying out polls on the Secretary General job to Russia in September to ensure there is no perception of a conflict of interest.

Helen Clark's bid for the UN Secretary General job has been raised by Foreign Minister Murray McCully during a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow.

You would have thought he was stating the bleedingly obvious by saying it's time a woman was at the centre of the world's diplomatic stage.

Helen Clark is thought to be considering whether to withdraw from the contest to become the next UN Secretary General.

Helen Clark says she is disappointed with the result of the latest UN Secretary General ballot.

The United Nations Security Council will hold its second secret ballot in its selection process for a new Secretary General to replace Ban Ki Moon.

Kevin Rudd says Australia Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's rejection of Rudd's bid to be UN Secretary General was a breach of faith and would damage Turnbull internationally.

Both Maori Party co-leaders expressed support for Helen Clark's bid for the United Nation's top job - before the party decided it could not support the application.

Dame Tariana Turia says she backs Helen Clark in her bid to be Secretary General despite opposition to it from the Maori Party she founded.

As Helen Clark's bid to become UN Secretary General reaches a delicate stage, one of New Zealand political parties breaks ranks to oppose her.

A Liberal MP says former Australian PM did not deserve the top job at the UN.

Helen Clark says she is ready for the biggest challenge of her political career - trying to secure the United Nation's most powerful job.

COMMENT: It's early days yet in the quest for UN chief with many rounds of voting to come.

Helen Clark's chances of securing the United Nations' top job should be known by October.

Helen Clark would have wanted a better result in the first poll for the United Nations top job - but isn't out of the contest, David Shearer says.

The contest to find the next Secretary General of the United Nations "is a marathon, not a sprint," says Foreign Minister Murray McCully

John Key says he would still like Australia to support Helen Clark's bid for Secretary General but does not believe a Kevin Rudd campaign would hamper Clark's chances.

COMMENT: For such a wily campaigner Kevin Rudd has left his run late for the world's top diplomatic post.

Labour MP Phil Goff says Australia should turn down Kevin Rudd's request to run for UN Secretary General and back Helen Clark because she was more likely to be successful.

Kevin Rudd has asked the Australian Government to formally nominate him for the Secretary General's role at the United Nations, which will pit him against Helen Clark.

COMMENT: Helen Clark has stormed through the transparent part of her bid to lead the United Nations.

COMMENT: Judging by Helen Clark's performance and the audience enthusiasm for her, she may be the UN Secretary General.

Helen Clark put in a strong performance in a debate between candidates for the United Nations' top job.