UPDATED 9.40am: It's all over for Helen Clark and her race to lead the United Nations.

LISTEN ABOVE: PM John Key speaks to Larry Williams about the UN Security Council vote

The entire United Nations Security Council came before the media, and named the former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres the unofficial winner of the race to become Secretary-General.

Russia's Vitaly Churkin said that will be formalised very soon.

"We have decided to go for a formal vote tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock. Tomorrow morning there will be an acclimation vote, and we wish Mr Guterres well."

Antonio Guterres received 13 encourage votes, no discourage votes, and two votes showing no opinion.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark has never ranked more than mid-field.

Congratulations Antonio #Guterres. Clear winner in selection for #NextSG. A longtime colleague: we were Prime Ministers & UN heads together: https://t.co/8FYcXRaYfP — Helen Clark (@HelenClarkUNDP) October 5, 2016

"I congratulate my long-time colleague Antonio Guterres whom the UN Security Council has agreed to recommend to the United Nations General Assembly as the next Secretary-General of the United Nations," said Clark.

"Antonio and I met when we were both Prime Ministers, and have worked together as heads of major UN agencies in recent years. Antonio has the knowledge and experience to lead the United Nations well, and I wish him every success."

"I deeply appreciate the full support I have had throughout my campaign for the position of Secretary-General from Prime Minister John Key, Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully, the New Zealand Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and a very wide cross section of the New Zealand Parliament and public. Public and governmental support also came from around the world."

"To all who supported my campaign, I thank you for your confidence in me and your many messages of support and encouragement."

Prime Minister John Key has campaigned hard on Clark's behalf, but said the result is predictable in a number of ways.

Mr Key told Larry Williams the chosen candidate Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres was a front runner and led from the start.

"I think you've seen a deal done here. The Russians wanted an Eastern European. Basically what I think's happened is the Americans and the Brits have said we'll accept a European, not an Eastern European, if you accept the European."

Mr Key said he always wants to see New Zealanders do well.

"I think for the amount of money we put in, it's one of those things where from time to time, a candidate and an opportunity come along. It might be a very long time before New Zealand gets another serious candidate of the caliber of Helen Clark."

Labour leader Andrew Little said Clark had been an extraordinary ambassador for New Zealand in her role as head of the UN Development Programme "and she would have been an outstanding Secretary General."

He said the efforts of John Key, Murray McCully and the diplomatic service in advocating for her deserved much credit.

But he was disappointed a woman had not been chosen - over the course of the contest, there have been seven women out of 14 candidates.

"Given the number of women candidates for the role it is disappointing the Security Council couldn't break from the past and demonstrate it believes in diversity at the highest levels," he said.

CNN's United Nations correspondent Richard Roth said female candidates have lost out.

"There were a lot of strong female candidates in this race, who have run UN organisations, such as Helen Clark. For whatever reason - remember there's only one woman ambassador in that room, though they take their orders from higher up, the women failed here in the Security Council voting."