Prime Minister John Key announced the New Zealand Government's formal nomination of Miss Clark yesterday morning.
She followed that with an announcement in New York, where she has lived and worked for the past seven years as the (first female) head of the UN Development Programme - the third-highest position at the UN.
Miss Clark has been coy and calculated regarding her intentions, but few can have had little doubt she would eventually stand.
Little surprise, too, that she would be backed by the Government, no doubt seeking to maintain the profile gained from our current two-year position on the UN Security Council (the bid for that began in 2004 when Miss Clark was prime minister).
Miss Clark clearly has the credentials for the job. She has been a formidable leader and trail-blazer, whose star has been steadily rising. She was this country's first elected female prime minister and the first Labour leader to win three consecutive elections.
She is widely respected for her international diplomacy skills, has long and broad leadership experience, and many significant contacts worldwide. She has been listed in the top 25 of the Forbes list of the world's 100 most powerful women for the past two years.
Her gender - although she is seeking the position on merit - is undoubtedly a factor in her favour, as there is widespread feeling the organisation is overdue for a female head.
In his nomination, Mr Key was full of praise for his previous political rival, saying she had the requirements for the job, being ‘‘prudent, pragmatic and effective'' among other things. She clearly has the drive and determination - and the necessary fortitude.
But it is by no means a done deal. If the appointment continues to be made by geographic rotation, it is the turn of someone from one of the Eastern European countries to head the organisation, and Miss Clark faces stiff competition from several nominations, including Bulgaria's Irina Bokova, who heads Unesco, the UN's cultural arm.
Russia can be expected to push for a candidate from that bloc, and all nations will have their own agendas. It is also possible former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd will contest the job, in which case Australia's current support would shift from Miss Clark.
If Miss Clark were to get the role, it would be an almighty challenge. The Security Council - the ‘‘powerhouse'' of the UN - has seemed increasingly ineffective, often hamstrung by the right of veto of its five permanent members.
New Zealand has already voiced discontent about the set-up, but has not managed to make any changes during its term on the council.
Miss Clark has indicated there are aspects of the whole UN (established in 1945 in response to World War 2) that need a shake-up so it can better respond to the global security and humanitarian challenges today. There will be those resistant to change.
Given her career trajectory, many would think she could easily rise to the challenges, however. For the moment there is no small amount of pride and celebration - across the political and public spectrum - in her nomination alone.
New Zealanders dare to dream. Imagine if she did get the ‘‘top job''? She would become the first female head of the 193-strong United Nations, leading the charge in upholding its purposes of peacekeeping, diplomacy, development and human rights.
It would be amazing to think she could do it just for herself, let alone New Zealand. Of course, what matters is whether she is the right person for the job in the eyes of the world, whether she can make a world of difference, and whether the major players even want her to.
