Senior New Zealand political figures don't believe former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd has much of a chance against Helen Clark in his bid to become the next UN secretary-general.
Ms Clark, a former New Zealand prime minister, is considered to be one of the front runners for the position.
Mr Rudd this week asked the Turnbull government to endorse his nomination, just days before the Security Council held its first secret ballot.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the coalition party room cabinet would decide whether to support his nomination, but it would not be an endorsement.
Neither NZ Economic Development Minister Stephen Joyce nor Labour's deputy leader Annette King thought Mr Rudd's entry would make much difference.
"If it was a horse race she would be halfway down the home straight by now and he is just getting ready to launch himself into it," Mr Joyce said.
Ms King said Ms Clark, who is head of the UN Development Program, had been "out there doing the job" and making connections.
The UN Security Council has held its straw poll to whittle down the 12 candidates but won't make the results public.
It will continue to hold closed-door informal secret ballots until it reaches a consensus on which candidate it will recommend to the General Assembly.
Nominating states will be told of the results for their candidate, but overall results will not be made public.
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