New Zealand's former Prime Minister Helen Clark is seeking to become the first woman to become secretary-general of the United Nations.

Clark says she has nearly three decades of proven leadership experience in her own country and at the United Nations. Next week, the UN General Assembly will hold public hearings for the candidates for the first time in the United Nations' 70-year history.

The Security Council is expected to select the winning candidate in July, who will then need to be endorsed by the assembly. The new secretary-general should begin work on January 1st.