Former Labour leader and Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark has resigned from her UN post

Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has resigned from her post at the UN, with Labour leader Andrew Little saying every Kiwi should be proud of her time on the world stage.

Clark notified UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres that she would leave on April 19, at the end of her second four-year term.

Clark heads the UN Development Programme, the first woman to lead the organisation.

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In the email, Clark said "it has been an honour and privilege for me to lead UNDP for eight years".



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A spokeswoman for Clark said she wouldn't be making a statement.

Little praised Clark for her time at the UN, saying her "incredible energy" had been good for both the organisation and New Zealand.

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"The level of leadership that she's shown in that role gives every New Zealander reason to be very proud of her...

"She has a very strong reputation: I know from the international contacts I have in various governments around the world, she is highly regarded."

He did not believe Clark's unsuccessful campaign for secretary-general would be a black mark on her UN career, given the decision was "intensely political".

"She is held in very high standing...when I made a visit to the UN at the end of 2015, there wasn't a person I spoke to who didn't speak very highly of Helen Clark."

1/2 Yes, it's official. At the end of 8 years & of two full terms as @UNDP Administrator, I will be stepping down: https://t.co/wAjLMspzTp — Helen Clark (@HelenClarkUNDP) January 26, 2017

In a statement, Prime Minister Bill English said New Zealand "has every right to be proud of Helen Clark's tenure as administrator of the UNDP".



"This has been a very challenging role in which she has performed admirably and has earned her international recognition.



"I wish her all the best in her future endeavours."

The 66-year-old Clark, who was prime minister from 1999 until 2008, had hoped to become UN secretary-general last year.

The former Labour leader entered the race to become the next UN secretary-general with more than 50 nations campaigning to elect the first female to the top job.



However, a series of poor showings in straw polls undermined her chances, as she consistently came towards the bottom of the pack.

Thank you @HelenClarkUNDP for your eight years of service at the @UNDP. You've done New Zealand – and Labour – proud. — Andrew Little (@AndrewLittleMP) January 26, 2017

If the vote was by popular choice, Clark would have been a front-runner. Her bid for the top job had a huge head of steam on social media and elsewhere, thanks to her high visibility on Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat.

Her dream finally ended in October last year, with former Portugese prime minister Antonio Guterres unanimously endorsed by the UN Security Council.

Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully said at the time the Government had no regrets about throwing its weight behind Clark, but the odds had been "very heavily stacked against" her from the beginning, given the geopolitical considerations.



The cost of Clark's taxpayer-funded campaign was fairly insignificant, and had been "well worth it", McCully said.

"It's very very infrequently that we have a New Zealander able to contend for the position of secretary-general with that sort of track record, so I think we were absolutely right to nominate Helen Clark."

Joy Dunsheath, who serves as president of the United Nations Association in New Zealand said Clark's resignation "will end years of superb leadership and service at the United Nations".

In 2016, Clark was alongside Oprah Winfrey in a list of the world's most powerful women.

Forbes magazine's 100 "power women" ranked Clark at number 22.

The UNDP administrator is appointed by the secretary-general and confirmed by the General Assembly for a term of four years.

IN FULL: CLARK'S RESIGNATION EMAIL

I am writing to advise all staff that I have informed the Secretary General that I am preparing to leave my position as Administrator at the end of my second term on 19 April.

This will allow the Secretary General to appoint a new Administrator as soon as possible. I stand ready to support the transition to the new leader of the organisation. I have full confidence in our Associate Administrator, Tege Gettu, to act as Administrator if there is a gap between my departure and the arrival of the next Administrator.

This is not my final message to staff - there is much to be done between now and 19 April. There is, for example, a timetable for tabling the draft of the next Strategic Plan to enable it to be discussed at the Executive Board's Annual Meeting on 31 May. It is my desire to see all aspects of the organization in a strong and sustainable state when the next Administrator assumes office.

These are times of change across the UN system. There are post-QCPR reviews being commissioned which may impact on UNDP. While these processes are unfolding, I urge you all to continue to deliver to the high standards for which UNDP is known. Making progress on the SDGs and on supporting national development achievements must continue unabated.

It has been a privilege and an honour for me to lead UNDP for eight years. Our staff are our greatest strength, and I will miss you all. I will offer my thanks and gratitude more fully nearer to my departure.

With kind regards,

Helen Clark