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.

COMMENT: Helen Clark has plenty of things consider as she contemplates the next step in the contest to lead the United Nations.

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.

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: Malcolm Turnbull has dispensed with the old rules and done the right thing by announcing Kevin Rudd is not a suitable person to lead the UN.

Reports say Kevin Rudd's bid to run for the United Nations' top job is set to fail

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.

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.

Helen Clark has criticised the United Nations' record on peace and security in a debate between candidates for the top UN's job.

Candidates vying to become next UN Secretary General, including Helen Clark, will face further public scrutiny today in a televised debate in New York.

A UN-backed international tribunal has ruled that China has no "historic title" over waters or resources in the South China Sea.

Helen Clark is one of 11 candidates seeking the job, each of whom has held a public job interview with the UN General Assembly.

The slowdown in the global economy is now affecting the UN Development programme.

Helen Clark says the United Nations is feeling the effects of the slowing global economy and says conflicts around the world are adding to the problem.

Robert Martin has come a long way from an institution in Levin.

United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon says he's concerned by reports of violent clashes between students and police in Papua New Guinea.