Clark to head UN Development Programme

By Paul McBeth

Wednesday 25th March 2009

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is to be named head of the United Nations Development Programme, according to the Trans-Tasman political letter.

Prime Minister John Key lobbied international leaders as he supported Clark for the nomination, while at the same time his administration purged Labour-appointees from the boards of state-owned enterprises and Crown entities.

Similarly, Foreign Minister Murray McCully is looking to fold NZAID, the government department responsible for the nation's aid programme, back into the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade where its focus will shift to economic development from poverty alleviation.

The government has also put the previous administration's "world-leading" climate change agenda on review, calling the proposed emissions trading scheme overly ambitious.

Major donors to the UNDP supported Clark to the highest international position held by a New Zealander since former Prime Minister Mike Moore was named Director-General of the World Trade Organisation after she was placed on the short-list. Her leadership in a number of global issues and her international standing over the country's anti-nuclear policy are believed to have supported her.

UN Secretary General Ban Ky-Moon is expected to confirm the appointment in the next few hours. Clark's expected to take up the post later this year, forcing a by-election in the Mount Albert electorate which she has held for 28 years.

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