New Zealand Prime Minister John Key won't weigh in on whether or not he thinks the Australian government should back Kevin Rudd's bid to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations.
However, he doesn't think the former Australian prime minister's potential candidacy will have an impact on Kiwi Helen Clark's campaign to lead the UN.
It was confirmed on Monday that Mr Rudd had asked the Australian government to endorse his nomination for the secretary-general position.
Australian Labor leader Bill Shorten has come out backing Mr Rudd, insisting he is suitably qualified for the job, while Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said it's ultimately a matter for cabinet to decide.
There are already 12 declared candidates to replace Ban Ki-moon when his term comes to an end, including Miss Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister.
Speaking to reporters in Jakarta, Mr Key said it was up to the Australian government to decide whether or not it wanted to support Mr Rudd.
"Personally I think it's time that the United Nations had a woman at the helm, I think Helen Clark has by far the best credentials, she's proven over the course of this more transparent part of the process to have acquitted herself incredibly well and that's where our support lies," he said.
"We don't do that in a reserved way, we do that because we genuinely hope she wins."
Mr Key said New Zealand would "love it" if Australia could get behind Miss Clark's bid and that it was something he had discussed with both former prime minister Tony Abbott and his successor Malcolm Turnbull.
"Hopefully the Australians support Helen Clark, but if they don't, we'll understand why."
The UN Security Council will hold its first straw poll on who should be the next secretary-general later this week. The secretary-general is appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Security Council.
Meanwhile, one of the UN's best known analysts says Mr Rudd faces an uphill battle to nudge Miss Clark out of the way, but should not be counted out.
Richard Gowan, a UN expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said tit-for-tat vetoes of candidates, including frontrunner Miss Clark, by UN Security Council permanent members the Unite States, United Kingdom, Russia and China could lead Mr Rudd to victory.
"The US is generally believed to be backing an alternative candidate, Argentinian foreign minister Susana Malcorra, while the UK has given Helen Clark its early backing," Mr Gowan told AAP yesterday.
"Rudd will have to explain why Australia's two main western allies are supporting other people. Equally, the fact that the US and UK are apparently behind Malcorra and Clark might play to Rudd's advantage down the road.
"There is a good chance Russia or China will veto the leading western candidates early on, allowing Rudd to step up."
Russia has been insisting on the election of an Eastern European candidate while China has not given much away about its preferred candidate.
Key to Mr Rudd's hopes of succeeding South Korean career diplomat Ban Ki-moon could be China.
"If there is any hint that China votes to discourage Rudd in the upcoming UN straw polls his candidacy is in a lot of trouble, because his command of Mandarin and close contacts in Beijing are meant to be his greatest strength," Mr Gowan said.
One of Mr Rudd's disadvantages is the widespread sense at the UN that he has "tepid" support in Australia.
