Twice as many Australians support New Zealand’s Helen Clark to lead the United Nations than Kevin Rudd, a new poll shows.

The Essential poll also shows that even Labor voters prefer the former New Zealand prime minister over the former Australian prime minister, Fairfax Media reported on Thursday.

Clark has officially put herself forward for the role of UN secretary general but Rudd has not yet done so, despite months of speculation he would.

The Essential poll found 45% of 1,020 people surveyed thought Clark would be a better leader for the UN, with just 21% opting for Rudd.

Among Labor voters, 36% preferred Clark, compared with 34% who backed Rudd, while just 17% of Coalition voters would support him.

Rudd said recently he believed an Eastern European candidate was the most likely to be chosen to replace Ban Ki-moon as UN head.

“Last I looked my name is not Ruddovich,” he said.